The Weekly Crisis vs. March 2013 Solicits

We're moving ever closer to the end of December, meaning that it's the perfect opportunity to take a look at the Weekly Crisis solicitation picks for March.  As always, there's plenty of books flying your way, and we've scrutinized the solicits to try to separate the wheat from the chaff for you.  So hit the jump for a look at some of the best, strangest, and coolest things that will be hitting stands in three months time!

Grant's Thoughts

Best Things in March

Savage Skullkickery

I love how Jim Zub and Edwin Huang's Skullkickers have been poking fun at the constant relaunches happening over at the Big 2 with their most excellent fantasy / humour book.  Last month was Uncanny Skullkickers #1, and this month we get Savage Skullkickerse #1.  I particularly enjoy the advice to retailers to "rack this comic beside other new 'Savage' comics you may have hanging around the shop".  Brilliant.  This kind of tongue in cheek ribbing puts a big smile on my face, and part of me hopes that they'll keep it going for next month, too.  Superior Skullkickers, anyone?

Some Action Comics Action

I don't rightly know what they'll be getting up to, but I can tell you that I'm starting to feel excited to see Andy Diggle and Tony S. Daniel on Action Comics.  I've often found myself enjoying Diggle's writing and I've always found Daniel's art to be pretty easy on the eyes.  Frankly, I'm glad to see Daniel back on art duty in general.  While I understand that he's wanted to flex his writing muscles more these past few years, I've always preferred his work as an artist, so I'm eager to see how he approaches the Man of Steel.

Worst Things in March

Batgirl Blowup

There's been a lot said about Gail Simone's sudden removal from Batgirl by DC editorial.  Fired by email from writing one of the characters that she is most asccoiated with, it certainly feels like DC could have handled this whole thing a tiny bit better.  It's unfortunate that Ray Fawkes' start on the book has to occur in the shadow of that event, because he is a crazy talented comic book creator and I'm really eager to see what he does with Barbara Gordon's ongoing adventures.  It's a weird way to begin, but I'm sure that Fawkes work will be more than enough to move past this awkwardness.

Oh, uh, never mind.

Constantine's Beginning = Another Nail in the Vertigo Coffin?

I will freely admit to having never read an issue of Hellblazer, but it still feels off that DC is closing shop on so many of their Vertigo titles without offering much in the way of replacement.  Taylor wrote about the phenomenon a while back here, and I feel that his words are more and more relevent every day.  And obviously the departure of Karen Berger earlier this month doesn't help things either.  Vertigo has offered untold number of terrific books and series, and it's sad to see the imprint seemingly dying a slow and painful death.  I may not have read Constantine, but I definitely won't be reading Constantine.  There's too many brilliant Veritgo books that I still need to check out to waste my time on another mainstream DC book.

Coolest Things in March

Secret Identity Reprint!!!

Oh my goodness, guys, I had no idea that they were reprinting Kurt Buisek and Stuart Immonen's Secret Identity!  The solicitation is actually a great description of what makes this book special, so I'll just grab that for you.  "Set in the real world, SECRET IDENTITY stars a young man named Clark Kent. All he wants is to be a writer, but his daily life is filled with the taunts of his peers, comparing him to the Clark Kent with superpowers—until the day he discovers he really can fly..."  This book is quite possibly my favourite Superman story, making use of the character and mythos in an amazing and innovative manner that resonates with me to this day.  The trade is technically on sale April 3rd, but it's listed in the March solicitations and I can't wait another month to gush about what an amazing story this is.  If you haven't had the pleasure of going through it, mark your calendars, because you're in for a treat.

Ryan L Hearts My Little Pony

That's right, ladies and gentlemen.  The Weekly Crisis' own Ryan K. Lindsay has his first Diamond carried book coming out in March and it's everyone's favourite series, My Little Pony!  In point of fact, it's for IDW's "micro-series", which focuses in on one pony each issue, so we'll be getting a Lindsay-styled Rainbow Dash extravaganza.  While I am far from considering myself a brony, I'll definitely make an exception to see what Ryan gets up to with these characters and franchise.  I'm sure I speak for everyone at TWC when I say how excited we are for you, Ryan.  Well done, mate.

Sledgehammer 44

Mike Mignola is releasing yet another new series, and it looks amazing.  Okay, I don't actually know anything about Sledgehammer 44 except that the solicitation calls it "Mignola's Iron Man" and makes it clear that whatever the story is about is set in the midst of World War 2.  If that's not enough reason to get you excited, then I don't know what to tell you.  I certainly can't wait.

Ryan's Thought

Coolest Things in March

Alex Maleev's Batman

Having Alex Maleev draw a Batman back up is genius. It's also something I didn't think I'd be seeing any time soon. I welcome this with open arms and heart because it just seems so damn obvious that Maleev is going to draw the hell out of this world. Now, if only it wasn't for five pages.

Time Warp #1

Another one of those $7.99 Vertigo style anthologies. You can't guarantee you'll dig it all but then I see names like Damon Lindelof, Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, Ray Fawkes, and Rafael Albuquerque I know I'm going to drop money on this.

Lost Vegas - McCann/Lee Together Again

The wonderful team that brought up Return of the Dapper Men deliver a new mini from Image. This looks like a very different story and a cool one. The creative team had me at hello, the covers have their hand up my sweater.

Severed Trade

This creepy horror offernig from Scott Snyder, Scott Tuft, and Attila Futaki had hands down one of the most gut wrenching scenes from the past year. You definitely want to be rocked by this book.

B.P.R.D. Vampire

Why? Gabriel Ba. Fabio Moon.

I bet you're glad I helped you not overlook this one now, right?

Daniel Acuna on Uncanny Avengers

I'm all for this. I dig Cassaday but he was never going to last - I was fine with that from the outset. I really like Acuna's style and think Remender will know exactly what to do with it.

Rainbow Dash by ME!

I have to admit, seeing my name in the solicits is very damn cool. Here's hoping I can make it happen more than once. I'm not going to say this is anything other than self-serving listing myself here. Can you blame me? This is a fun project. For those wondering, this issue is a one-shot, you don't need to have read anything else...hell, you don't even need to be a Pony fan. This is just a tale of a pony against a gremlin-filled cloud looking to spread sadness. This much I promise, there are some very cool moments and references for you all. There is one page turn I am insanely proud of.

Enjoy.

Ken's Thoughts

Best Things in March

Rocket Raccoon and Groot Collection
Do you want more Rocket Raccoon and Groot in your life? Did you miss out on those two awesome Annihilators minis? Well now you can get your dose of tree and rodent, as the upcoming RR & Groot trade collects not only their first appearances but team-ups outside of their Guardians of the Galaxy shenanigans.

Worst Things in March

Another Marvel Event

Age of Ultron, teased a while back in the first Point One issue, and then part of an Avengers .1 and FCBD reprint, finally arrives, and it's the usual talk about how nothing will be the same, etc. etc. It just doesn't seem necessary when we just started the NOW! relaunch. Sure, they say there will be a limited number of tie-ins, yet it always seems to be the case that they add more and more. And when you add to it Bendis is the writer for this event as opposed to Hickman or someone showing the newer face of Marvel, the whole thing just feels like an afterthought that really won't change anything. That's the problem with events, for it to really give the appearance of mattering it needs to tie in, but when you have events every summer nothing really is in the position to change forever.

Coolest Things in March

Time Warp!

Part of me thinks this is cool for the normal reasons, a bunch of writers doing an anthology book a la Dark Horse Presents. But really I think it's because it's a Vertigo book. It's been a brand that has basically been lost over time and only really publishes Fables and the Unwritten (now that American Vampire is on a break), so anything to increase the title count is something worthwhile.

Freaky Fermi
Manhattan Projects #12 finally talks about what the hell is up with Enrico Fermi, who has showcased some rather.....unique abilities in recent issues. Plus the cover is just cool. It's a little green alien! And any idea that the book will give as to why we haven't found other life on our own should be a good one.

Taylor's Thoughts

Best Things in March

Lone Wolf and Cub Omnibus Volume 1

One of the greatest pieces of graphic fiction of all time, Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima's epic tale of a lone samurai and his son travelling Japan on a quest for revenge on the evil Yagyu Clan is truly a must read. Credited with turning Frank Miller into the creator we knew and loved in the 80's, Lone Wolf and Cub is incredibly violent, surprisingly touching and utterly fantastic. Dark Horse deserve a round of applause for repackaging these tales into monster seven hundred page books. Adding to this, they are reasonably priced, as with all of Dark Horse's omnibus product.


Batman Noir: Eduardo Risso Deluxe Edition HC

Eduardo Risso is not only a fan favourite but an artist of the highest caliber. You would struggle to find someone who doesn't enjoy his beautiful line work and heavy use of mood and shadow. Risso and Batman therefore, is always a recipe for success and DC have been intelligent enough to put all his Batman tales into one handy hard cover. One thing though, Brian Azzarello's nose must be put out of joint considering he wrote all of the tales in this volume and doesn't get half of the credit.

Worst Things in March

Justice League of America 

Yes, I'm sure that I'll be sitting in the minority area with all the other haters, but Geoff John's hokey writing and Finch's sub-Image founder style is like taking a cheese grater to my eyes. Next!

Marvel Now Omnibus Edition

Why Marvel, why? Honestly, the limited amount of omnibus editions you release each month, surely that space could have been put to better use? 

Coolest Things in March

Sex

Oh Joe Casey, you naughty boy! Check the solicit - Finally, a good reason for you to come into the comic book store- to buy SEX! If anything, it's definitely provocative. But look behind the shock of the title and the solicit, Joe Casey is going through a renaissance when it comes to his writing and is adept at spinning a fantastic yarn. On top of this Piotr Kowalski is a talent deserving of wider recognition with a beautiful style that is heavy on the blacks. This is a recipe for success, and with a title like that it will definitely garner interest.

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