Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 12/05/12

The first Wednesday of December appears to be Uber Long Solicitation Week, as there are some real humdingers in today's round of Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews.  Fortunately, these novel-like solicits are attached to some mighty fine titles, including the likes of Hellboy in Hell #1, Stumptown #4, and The Legend of Luthor Strode #1.  I'd invite you to hit the jump to see my thoughts on these and many more upcoming titles from the week!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #699

Written by Dan Slott

Art by Humberto Ramos

• This is the MUST READ issue that turns over all the cards and reveals secrets that have been set as far back as ENDS OF THE EARTH, SPIDER-ISLAND, and 99 issues ago in ASM #600!

• Doctor Octopus has hours left to live. He knows Peter Parker’s secret. He has no master plan—all he wants is vengeance. Which members of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery will heed Ock’s call to arms?

• Special appearances by the Lizard, the Spider-Slayer, Morbius the Living Vampire, and some surprising Spidey Foes!

Grant: Although I decided to jump off Amazing Spider-Man twenty-odd issues ago, I ultimately could not resist the siren call of our Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man.  Dan Slott has been pumping the heck out of this book, and I finally caved last issue, buying ASM #698.  I must say that I was not disappointed.  I don't know if I'll necessarily make the transition over to Superior Spider-Man, but I'll definitely check out the final issues of the current run (who am I kidding?  I'll probably check out Superior, too).

ANIMAL MAN #15

Written by Jeff Lemire

Art by Steve Pugh, Timothy Green II & Joseph Silver

• “ROTWORLD: THE RED KINGDOM” part three!

• Trapped in a horrible future controlled by The Rot, Animal Man battles Grodd and his Gorillas in a city they’re claiming for their own!

• Frankenstein joins the fight!

• Guest-starring Steel, Black Orchid, Beast Boy and John Constantine!

• Plus: Find out what happened to Maxine after Buddy left with Swamp Thing to enter Rotworld. Hint: It’s not good…

Grant: I'll be honest; as much as I've enjoyed Jeff Lemire's run on Animal Man, the current Rotworld stuff has left me a little cold.  It's hard to get too engaged when it's clear as day that this whole "everyone in the DC Universe is dead" isn't going to last.  I mean, they just rebooted the whole thing, so they aren't going to throw it all out the window for the sake of two titles.  The one redeeming part of the current story has been following Maxine and family in the present-day.  I hope we get a bit more of that as we move forward.

ATOMIC ROBO AND THE FLYING SHE-DEVILS OF THE PACIFIC #5

Written by Brian Clevinger

Art by Scott Wegner

This is the conclusion. Did you read the first four? If so, you'll want this issue like you want air. If you haven't, well, there's not much to be done with you.

Grant: Yes, please.  Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegner are hands down two of my favourite creators in the biz right now.  I don't know if I'd place The Flying She-Devils of the Pacific in my top three Robo stories of all time, but it still stands head and shoulders above a whole whackload of stuff that's currently on stands.  Besides, things have been heating up these past few issues, so I'm certain that this conclusion will be worth its salt.

CREATOR OWNED HEROES #7

Written by Steve Niles, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray & Darwyn Cooke

Art by Scott Morse, Jerry Lando, Paul Mounts & Darwyn Cooke

SPECIAL EXTRA PAGES ISSUE!

A brand new story by STEVE NILES and SCOTT MORSE, and more madness from DARWYN COOKE!

“KILL SWITCH,” Part Three

Locked in a Peruvian Prison, Kill Switch awaits a Mexican hit squad as he tries to discover who put a bounty on his head and why. The bullets fly as our hero is led into a deadly game of death against the world’s best and most eccentric assassins, but the gloves come off when they threaten his family.

“MEATBAG,” Part One

Detective Paul DeSanto works the seedy side of Los Angeles. He specializes in cheaters and losers, but he never chooses sides. In Hollywood cheats and loses work both sides of the street. After one of his operatives is eviscerated in an alleyway, DeSanto discovers the strange side of seedy.

Plus: LEAPING TALL BUILDINGS: INDEPENDENT SPIRITS a profile feature by Christopher Irving and Seth Kushner spotlighting EVAN DORKIN.

Grant: This series has been really interesting up to this point.  The stories that have been appearing have been pretty fun, but the reason I keep coming back is for the unique insight into the industry that the various essays and interviews that appear throughout every issue.  There's a lot of really interesting insight to be gleaned from these pages, and if that kind of stuff turns your crank, you should definitely be checking this book out.  Darwyn Cooke comics and extra pages don't hurt either.

CYBER FORCE #2

Written by Marc Silvestri and Matt Hawkins

Art by Khoi Pham and Sunny Gho

FREE (A $2.99 VALUE!)

TOP COW’S TOP-SELLING SERIES OF ALL TIME CONTINUES IN ITS GROUND-BREAKING RELAUNCH! APHRODITE V DEBUTS!

For the first time in history, mankind is outpacing evolution. It takes nature thousands of years to adapt to changes and the things humanity has accomplished technologically in just the past 100 years has thrown its ability to evolve, and in turn survive, completely out of whack. In other words, a world full of wonders and conveniences is being created that none will hope to survive. This dilemma is at the heart of what CYBER FORCE is all about. 

The massive corporation CDI continues to engineer technologically enhanced humans. Cyber Force, terrorists or resistance fighters depending on your point of view, try and regroup and reveal the conspiracy that is behind the heart of CDI and its mission. Aphrodite V and Stryker make their debut!

Grant: The first issue was alright, but the thing to remember here is that this book is FREE.  The first five issues of Cyber Force will not cost you a dime.  Unless you happen to a serious dearth of extra space in your humble abode, you should be picking this up.  It's an interesting experiment on Top Cow's part, and the least we can do is snag the copies that they are literally giving away.  It's hard to say if this book can work its way into the buy pile by issue #6, but the only way you'll know is if you give it a shot.

FASHION BEAST #4

Written by Alan Moore, Malcolm McLaren & Antony Johnston

Art by Facundo Percio

There is no nuclear winter in the seasons of the fashion world. And while life outside of Celestine’s empire is tumbling toward oblivion, within the doors of the temple to fashion Doll becomes enwrapped in the disdain and contempt of the madams. But while Doll strives to raise her station from commoner to elitist, she discovers that the wrong turn of phrase can do more than ruin a career, it can take a life. For in this world only the designs of Le Patron are immaculate and everything else is terminally flawed and to be scorned, used, and eventually discarded. And it may be too late when Doll realizes that her obstinate and haughty projected image may turn out to be a mortal detriment to her newly found stardom as the jewel of Celestine’s eye. Fashion Beast brings Alan Moore’s unearthed masterpiece into the limelight after nearly thirty years!

Grant: Like many of Alan Moore's works, Fashion Beast is mighty odd.  Fortunately, it also shares the common trait of being mighty interesting.  This Cold War-era tale is definitely a product of its time, but it still feels relevant to today.  Whether that's due to Moore and Malcolm McLaren's excellent writing or Antony Johnston's quality adaptation is difficult to say, but I'm happy to reap the benefits of it either way.

HAWKEYE #5

Written by Matt Fraction

Art by Javier Pulido

• THE TAPE CONCLUDES!

• Someone has a deadly secret will change the course of Hawkeye’s relationship with the Avengers.

Grant: As much as I love Matt Fraction's Hawkeye, it loses a lot when David Aja is not on art.  I've nothing against Javier Pulido, but the book just isn't the same without Aja's presence.  I'll also admit that it didn't help that Matt Hollingsworth's colours weren't nearly as focused as they have been in previous issues.  I'll definitely stick around, but I'd be lying if it wasn't in part because I know that Aja well be back in the artist's seat next issue.  This series has been great, but it's the collaboration between Fraction and Aja that's made it so good.

HELLBOY IN HELL #1

Written by Mike Mignola

Art by Mike Mignola

Ongoing

After saving the world in The Storm and The Fury, but sacrificing himself and Great Britain, Hellboy is dead, cast into Hell, where he finds many familiar faces, and a throne that awaits him. 

Mike Mignola returns to draw Hellboy's ongoing story for the first time since Conqueror Worm. It's a story only Mignola could tell, as more of Hellboy's secrets are at last revealed, in the most bizarre depiction of Hell you've ever seen.

• Mike Mignola writes and draws the next phase of Hellboy’s story.

• Dark Horse horror gets under your skin!

Grant: Guys, it's Mike Mignola returning to Hellboy to write and draw.  There is absolutely no reason for you not to be buying this.  Mignola is one of the greats, and while his writing is terrific, his art is something else entirely.  Go out and find yourself a copy of this book.  No excuses.

PUNISHER WAR ZONE #2

Written by Greg Rucka

Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico

• Kings take Castle. Now its his move!

• It takes more than bullets to take out the Avengers’ biggest guns.

Grant: Greg Rucka's Punisher has been one of my favourite titles from Marvel this past year-plus, and while I desperately miss Marco Checchetto's interpretation of Frank Castle and the world he lives in, Carmine Di Giandomenico has been a decent replacement.  It's definitely some big shoes to step into, but it looks like Rucka's really going to take this whole thing out with one heck of a bang, so Di Giandeomenico will have ample opportunity to prove himself over the coming issues.

STUMPTOWN V2 #4

Written by Greg Rucka

Art by Matthew Southworth

The new story arc from Eisner Award-winning writer Greg Rucka and acclaimed artist Matthew Southworth continues! The skinhead thugs are back and they’ve broken in and trashed Dex’s office! But when Dex and Mim show up unexpectedly, it’s a high-speed chase through the streets of Portland that’s sure to wind up on TMZ!

Grant: As if one Greg Rucka title per week wasn't enough, we also get another issue of Rucka's wonderful Portland-based Private Investigator, Dex Parios.  While there's been a slow burn in these first three issues, it looks like things are finally heating up to levels comparable to the original Stumptown series.  I've also heard that there's some interesting page layouts to be found in this issue, so colour me intrigued.

THE LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE #1

Written by Justin Jordan

Art by Tradd Moore

Luther Strode lives.

Five years after losing everything, Luther has become more than a nightmare for the evil men in his city… he has become a legend. But somebody is hunting the bogeyman, and he has dangerous allies that Luther will never expect. Luther Strode lives; but for how long?

The sequel to 2011’s breakout hit begins here!

Grant: I was tardy to the original Luthor Strode party, but I shan't be making the same mistake twice.  A hyper-violent gorefest with a surprising amount of heart, I expect more of the same in Strode's triumphant return to the comic's page.  While I haven't been wild about much of Justin Jordan's recent work at DC or Valiant, his writing on the first volume of this series was some pretty impressive stuff.  The same holds true for Tradd Moore's brilliant art throughout those six issues of Talent.  I'm definitely excited to see these two back together.

And there we have it!  Lots of cool looking books coming my way this week.  What about you?  What's going to be at the top of your buy pile come the morrow?  Hit the comments to let us know!

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