Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 08/11/10

Quick note before getting to the Post-Crisis Previews - winners have been contacted for our Three Years Later contest and we will be making a formal announcement as soon as we receive confirmations from the winners.  So make sure to check your emails and/or spam folders!  Once you get back here from checking your email, hit the jump for some previews as Ryan and I go over the books we're buying this week and our general thoughts and expectations of each!

BATGIRL #13

Written by Bryan Q. Miller

Art by Pere Perez

Clayface infiltrates Gotham City Bank & Trust looking to make a sizable withdrawal. There's just one problem: waiting in line at the bank is Stephanie Brown – Batgirl! But when Clayface begins morphing into different people, Batgirl must hold the entire bank hostage until she can uncover and stop him!

Ryan: In its first year, this title has become one of the strongest books that DC is putting out and from the looks of this solicit, its second year will be just as strong. Stephanie against a constantly-shifting Clayface should be a great story, especially given how much she second guesses herself as a hero. This is just one of the many books in this week’s haul that will make a strong case for number one on this week’s Power Rankings.

BIRDS OF PREY #4

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Ed Benes

The explosive first arc of BIRDS OF PREY concludes here! The Birds race against the clock to protect the Super Hero community, but can they make it in time and find their blackmailer? And the final showdown between Black Canary and White Canary is a can't-miss fight between two martial arts masters!

Ryan: As things have gotten worse for the Birds in this storyline, things have gotten better for readers. Simone has not lost a single step as she returns to the title that made her career while Ed Benes’ work has been quite strong as well. I’m guessing we will finally see White Canary’s identity here and I’m sticking with my theory that she is really Black Canary’s former “daughter” Sin, somehow much older than the last time we saw her. This is the second book that will make a strong run for number one in this week’s Rankings.

DAREDEVIL #509

Written by Andy Diggle & Antony Johnston

Art by Roberto De La Torre

As Daredevil's Shadowland stronghold in Hell's Kitchen grows, more heroes step forward to try to bring The Man Without Fear back to his senses. But any foe of Daredevil knows he is not a man easily stopped. The battle for New York continues!

Kirk: Daredevil #508 perfectly complimented Shadowland #1.  Shadowland #2 was a little weaker than that opening issue of Shadowland, but I'm hoping this issue of DD will help flesh out the event in much the same way 508 did.  

 

GI JOE #21

Written by Chuck Dixon

Art by Alex Cal

Action at crush depth as Shipwreck and his crew board a massive COBRA submarine to take control. But the clock is ticking as a nuke set in a deep underwater trench could blow, killing them and dooming Scarlett and Ripcord. This special image and its incentive cover pay homage to the classic G.I. Joe #21 ""silent issue"" from yesteryear!

Ryan: I really hope that this issue won’t echo the classic GI Joe #21 by going all silent, as I don’t think that Alex Cal is quite to the level that he can pull such a feat off effectively. That being said, as long as there is some dialogue to even out the art, I think this will be another great issue as it has a solid plot in the solicitation.

GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS #1

Written by Peter Tomasi

Art by Fernando Pasarin

Guy takes fellow Emerald Warriors Kilowog and Arisia along as he explores the Unknown Sectors — but what happens when they discover his mission and what's waiting for them in the unpatrolled darkness? BRIGHTEST DAY! A whole new chapter in the epic GREEN LANTERN saga gets under way as Guy Gardner begins his secret mission for Atrocitus, bringing him into conflict with Hal Jordan with massive repercussions for the Green Lantern Corps!

Guy takes fellow Emerald Warriors Kilowog and Arisia along as he explores the Unknown Sectors — but what happens when they discover his mission and what's waiting for them in the unpatrolled darkness?

Ryan: Guy Gardner + Kilowog + Arisia + Secret mission from Atrocitus + Peter Tomasi = the perfect replacement for Green Lantern Corps, which I recently dropped from my pull list. There is so much awesomeness in this solicitation that I really hope this book can live up to its potential. I’m trying to keep my expectations in check, but I’m really excited for this one.

Kirk: Another Green Lantern title?  Written by Peter Tomasi?  Starring Guy Gardner and Atrocitus?  Just take my money already DC.  It's like they're in my head and this book is tailor made for me.

STEVE ROGERS: SUPER-SOLDIER #2

Written by Ed Brubaker

Art by Dale Eaglesham

Steve Rogers’s past and present collide as he digs deeper into the mysteries at the center of a global conspiracy and comes face-to-face with the first woman he ever loved. All this, and the secret manipulator behind the scenes twists his knife in Steve's back with an ending that will leave readers stunned! From the pen and pencil of Ed Brubaker and Dale Eaglesham.

Kirk: First issue didn't overly impress me.  Failed to really deliver anything new or exciting with the current Steve Rogers status quo.  Was basically Rogers doing the spy bit and you could have swapped in anyone and the story wouldn't have changed a bit up until the very end, which tied into Rogers's origin and was the only interesting part of the issue.  Thankfully, it was interesting enough to get me back for a second issue.  Let's see if they do something with the story this time.

THE THANOS IMPERATIVE #3

Written by Andy Lanning and Dan Abnett

Art by Miguel Sepulveda

Thanos faces twisted versions of the Avengers—while Nova assembles a star-studded cosmic strike force! As the staggering consequences of the Cancerverse’s invasion become apparent, Star-Lord and his battered band of heroes fight to protect Thanos, who has actually become the universe’s only hope! But it’s literally a life and death struggle, and one being hardwired for destruction may ruin everything! Check out this next stunning chapter and find out why AintItCoolNews says “this writing team has taken the Marvel Cosmic line to levels of cool never before seen”!

Kirk: Thanos Imperative has been picture perfect so far.  The scope and scale of the threat, the epic feeling of the story so far and the feeling that anything could happen and probably will has just permeated every page of the first two issues.  Easily my most anticipated issue this week.

THOR: MIGHTY AVENGER #3

Written by Roger Langridge

Art by Chris Samnee

The Mighty Re-Imaging of the God of Thunder Rumbles On! What do famed scientist Henry Pym and the lovely Janet Van Dyne have to do with a recent murder? And why is Thor seeing visions of his beloved Asgard?

Ryan: Both issues of this title released in July topped my Power Rankings and this third issue certainly has a chance to make it a three wins in five weeks. Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee have been absolutely brilliant on this series so far, but when you add in guest stars like Ant-Man and Wasp, they could hit an even higher level with this issue. You can add this to the list of titles that will be clawing at each other’s throats as major contenders to top this week’s Power Rankings.

X-FORCE: SEX AND VIOLENCE #2

Written by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost

Art by Gabriele Dell’Otto

WARNING: This issue lives up to the title. Not for the squeamish or easily embarrassed, wink wink. Wolverine finds out why the Assassins Guild is after Domino, and it's a funny story. Well, Domino thinks it is. But Logan is grumpy and doesn't see the humor in it, probably due to the fact that Dom's actions have put a half dozen of the worlds deadliest assassins on their trail. And then things get complicated. Ahhh, romance.

Ryan: I was blown away by the intensity of the first issue as Domino and Wolverine find themselves in a mess of trouble thanks to some of the former’s shady dealings. I’m on the fence about picking this issue up though—not because I didn’t care for the first issue (I loved it), but because Gabrielle Dell’Otto’s art deserves to be enjoyed in an oversized hardcover format, which I’m assuming is an inevitable release from Marvel at this point! The only question is whether or not I can wait that long to enjoy this awesome series!

Kirk:  The first issue of this miniseries was excellent.  Dell'Otto's art was absolutely stellar and the main draw for me, but Yost and Kyle put together the perfect story to show off his art.  It's like watching your favourite action movie - just non stop bullets and action.  Another title I'm really looking forward to this week.

X-MEN #2

Written by Victor Gischler

Art by Paco Medina

Upon discovering that San Francisco has been invaded by Dracula and his vampire army, the X-Men set out to find the evil and destroy it. But when Blade the Vampire Slayer shows up and drops a bombshell, the X-Men realize all of their assumptions have been wrong. Their only chance to survive hinges on a desperate plan which might prove their undoing.

Ryan: I’m still not sure how I feel about the new X-Men series, but I’m willing to give it some time as I feel like I’m already biased against it simply because it is opening with a bandwagon vampire plot. Gischler and Medina have their work cut out for them because of this, though I am perfectly willing to put up with more bloodsuckers if the creative team can dazzle me with their craftsmanship. Of course, if Medina continues to draw teenage characters like Pixie as though they were Hustler models, this may not happen.

ZATANNA #4

Written by Paul Dini

Art by Chard Hardin

Zatanna loves Vegas, and Vegas loves her — but should Zee be wary of the attentions of a handsome, well-connected casino owner? She can hold her own against the most ridiculous Royal Flush Gang ever assembled, and she can just about cope with her cousin Zachary's immature antics, but she'd better watch out for the sultry fire demons that are hot on her heels!

Ryan: Rounding out my list of four titles that are all odds-on favorites to top this week’s Power Rankings is the newest issue of Zatanna. This series has been simply amazing from issue one, page one and I suspect it will be more of the same here. It does look like Dini is going a lighter route with this story, but as long as he maintains the strong character work and inventive approach to superheroics, this will be a solid win!

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