The Weekly Crisis vs. Solicits for May 2013

We're moving towards the end of the month, which means it's time to take a look towards the future.  The comic book future, that is.  As is our wont, some of The Weekly Crisis crew sat down to look through the May solicitations, finding the best, worst, and coolest things of the month.  So if you're interested in getting an idea of what will be coming to comic shops in three months time, we're here to help.

Grant's Thoughts

Best Things in May

Coming Back in Paperback

Comeback has been one of my favourite books of late, with each issue seemingly outdoing the one before it. The miniseries will be over and done with come May, but we'll get one more opportunity to experience Ed Brisson, Michael Walsh, and Jordie Bellaire's wonderful world of time travel and crime when the trade paperback comes out collecting all five issues.  It's slotted in at a mighty affordable $14.99 and promises some never before seen extras, so there's a lot to get excited about.  If you haven't been reading this book in singles, this is your chance to make up for that gross oversight.

Lobster Johnson!

There's a Lobster Johnson one-shot arriving in May, and more Lobster Johnson in my life is a good thing.  I recognize that I continually change my mind as to which Mignola creation is my favourite (mostly because they're all so solid), but the Lobster easily sits among the best of them.  And the fact that this feeds into my love of done-in-one comics sweetens the pot that much more.  I can't wait to get my mitts on this bad boy.

Worst Things in May

When Trades Run Over

What's going on here?  Both Marvel and DC seem to be shoving multiple, loosely related stories into single trades at an alarming rate.  On the Marvel side of things, we're getting two Marvel Noir collections that both count three different miniseries, for a total of six stories.  When it comes to DC, their Before Watchmen books are all combinations of various BW stories, and they're dropping a Robin / Batgirl: Year One trade for those who don't own either story and need to have them in a single volume.  While I appreciate the value for money promised by this type of action, these collections that seem to be connected solely by theme and not story are odd.  Especially since both Marvel and DC are doing it.  What's going on here?  Is there something in the water?

New Batwing

On the one hand, I admire DC for sticking with the Batwing concept in the face of low sales, but I don't understand why they feel the need to introduce a brand new Batwing to the series.  Judd Winick and Ben Oliver built a fascinating and nuanced character in David Zavimbe, only to have all the things that made the character unique be drowned out by constant crossovers with different titles and heroes.  That's what drove me away from the book, not who Batwing was.  I think taking this book back to basics and focusing once again on Zavimbe and his supporting cast would be the proper way to go, but unfortunately, no one asked me.

Coolest Things in May

Pizza Dog!

Matt Fraction and David Aja are giving us exactly what we never realized we wanted by dedicating an entire issue of Hawkeye to Pizza Dog.  Seriously, based on the solicit, it looks like Hawkeye #11 is going to be all Pizza Dog all the time, not only focusing on the saucy pooch but being told from his perspective.  Could we have an issue of the year on our hands?  What else could you possibly want from your comic books?

Wake Up

Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy, two of the hottest talents at DC right now are dropping a brand new Vertigo series about a marine biologist and the terrible threat that lies beneath the surface of the Arctic Circle.  To be honest with you, considering the pedigree of this book's creators, what this book is about is almost immaterial, because odds are that it is going to knock socks off.  Snyder and Murphy were already amazing in their collaboration on American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest, and the two have only upped their game since that time, with Snyder becoming on of DC's powerhouse writers and Murphy wowing everyone with Punk Rock Jesus last year.  This is going to be good.

Hansel's Thoughts

Best Things In May

Joe Hill Finds New Ways to Make Me Cry

Locke & Key: Ω #5 (of 6) from the talented Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez hits stands.

DO NOT PICK UP THIS BOOK AS AN INTRO to Locke and Key. Ask your store to order the first trade or buy online. This is not the jumping on point. While Joe and Gabriel are master story tellers you have to start at the beginning to get the full weight of this issue. And weight it is. When I read #4 I felt a pain in my chest and experienced shallow breathing and tears were streaming out of my face. Gabriel puts heart and soul into his work and you can see his love in the page. I love this story but I think I hate Joe Hill. Why do you hurt me Joe?

The End Of A Legend

The Legend Of Luther Strode 6 of 6 written by Justin Jordan and stabbed on to paper by Tradd Moore comes to its blood soaked conclusion. Legend is the second mini series covering the life of Luther Strode and his ill fated comprehension in the ways of war and complete mastery of his body.The hyper violence, oh dear lord, the hyper violence. Aside from an action packed story and a feeling of pure madness unleashed this miniseries has left me with near PTSD. Pick up a few copies and share it! They will thank you!

Worst Things in May

Another Stain In The Superman Legacy

Adventures of Superman #1 has a lot of talent behind it but I can't get behind a creator that publicly denounces a persons way of life. Superman should transcend our short comings and give us something to look up to. 

Another DC Shake Up

While we are no strangers to DC moving people around (and I have nothing against Michael Alan Nelson) I will mourn the loss of one of the best New 52 pairings: Mike Johnson and Mahmud Asrar. Supergirl was fun, adventurous and not heavy in the beginning. I wish the big Superman cross over would blow over and leave this title untouched, alas. However Mahmud Asrar has been doing stellar work and I'm glad he's still on board!

Coolest Things in May

More Justin Jordan!

This shake up works in my favor so therefore I agree (Hypocrisy!). Justin is doing great stuff in Luther Strode and Shadowman. His earlier foray into DC was with lower tier characters and the run didn't feel like a Justin Jordan story. I hope he finds his footing fast and swings for the fences. More power to him with the Green Lantern: New Guardians assignment!

B.P.R.D. Keeps Going Strong!

We can look forward to more B.P.R.D.! Hell On Earth #107: Wasteland Part 1, focuses on my favorite agent, Johann. B.P.R.D.: Vampire #3 brings Fabio Moon and Gabriel Bá back into my life. For those of you reading collected editions you can look forward to B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth Volume 5: The Pickens County Horror and Others that collects The Pickens County Horror #1-#2, The Transformation of J. H. O’Donnell, and The Abyss of Time Parts 1 and 2. This has to be my favorite fictional universe. Top notch story telling and amazing artists! 

New Image Title and One New Awesome Artist 

Man, Image has been popping! This month is no different. We have The Dream Merchant from Nathan Edmondson and newcomer Konstantin Novosadov kicking off with a double-size issue. Over on Bedlam #7 Nick Spence is joined by Ryan Browne (currently working on the amazing God Hates Astronauts Kickstarter) for art duties. Thanks to Riley Rossmo for the horrifying memories and I sincerely hope Ryan can leave me questioning my faith in humanity as much as Riley.

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