Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 05/21/08

Hello, again, everyone! I've been hard at work on the archives all weekend. Some of you may have actually noticed some of the pages going up, as links have popped up in the Thought Bubbles label cloud on the sidebar. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you can check out the actual archives page, which I haven't formally put a link to on the site yet due to its half finished state, you can view that by clicking here.

Again, it's not finished and I still have a lot of work left to do, such as linking reviews to their titles, finishing the comic events page, ordering a by date section and so on, but I've got more than half the DC related reviews and some Indy reviews already up and linked to as well as fully archived sections for the Post-Crisis Previews, Weekly Crisis Comic Book Reviews, Moments of the Week and so on.

I figure I should be done by next weekend, at the latest, and I'll do a formal launch of the archives then, but, for now, anyone interested can take a look at the pages, comment on any posted reviews (I'll see about copying and pasting older comments from the Wed / Thurs posts over to the new separate listing reviews at a later date), send me any feedback or what have you.

As for today's previews, I'm actually anticipating the new Amazing Spider-Man issue the most this week, despite books like Captain America, Avengers: Initiative, Catwoman, JSA and Fantastic Four coming out, which is surprising and speaks volumes about how much I enjoyed Slott's return to the title last week.

Hit the jump and enjoy all of this week's previews!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #560
Written by Dan Slott
Art by Marcos Martin

Peter Parker: Paparazzi! Part 2 of 3
"Flat Out Crazy"
Are Pete's paparazzi pics inspiring a super celebrity stalker? Is he responsible for all of her grisly acts? Even if he is, what can Spider-Man do about it? How can anyone stop the flatout freaky powers of Paper Doll? Also: Miss this issue, and you'll miss out on SOMETHING YOU'VE ALL BEEN ASKING FOR!!! Write it down, Spider-fans, ASM #560!!!

Kirk Says: I was really glad I jumped back on board Brand New Day with last issue and I'm hoping Slott can keep up the standard he set in that issue.

As for the excessive use of caps in the solicit, I take it, if I recall interviews correctly, that this is the return of Mary Jane. I could care less about her return at this point, but I'm looking forward to more Paper Doll and, hopefully, Screwball, as she isn't mentioned in the solicit.


AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #13
Written by Christos Gage
Art by Steve Uy

There's a contract out on The Taskmaster, and no shortage of villains willing to fulfill it. But what'll kill him first -- the bad guys, or his latest class of recruits? Welcome Annex, Prodigy, Gorilla Girl, Sunstreak and Batwing to the Initiative. But are they -- is anyone -- ready for the coming of...Butterball??

Kirk Says: I'm disappointed we're getting a new set of recruits, but I haven't read the issue yet, so maybe Gage (Slott not co-writing anymore?) does touch on Cloud 9 and the rest of the gang.

The previews released on CBR and Newsarama were a lot of fun to read, specifically the Butterball related scenes. I'm also happy to see Prodigy, as I didn't like how he was the sacrifical lamb in Civil War and used as a drunk that got punked out to show the enforcement of the SHRA.


BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #7
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Carlos Rodriguez and Bit

With Metamorpho still lost in space, Batman kicks his rescue mission into high gear! Meanwhile, the Outsiders are neck-deep in trouble of their own…deep in the heart of China!

Kirk Says: This is a fun, guilty pleasure type of book for me, much like Gotham Underground. I'd imagine if you aren't a fan of Batman or any of the characters involved in this book, you'd probably wonder what the heck I was doing buying this book every month, as I'll freely admit that this isn't exactly the cream of the crop.

However, I'm a big Batgirl fan and I've always enjoyed Batman comics and this is pretty much the only place to get BG. It's very much a summer popcorn flick of a book. Not much story, lots of action and very little time spent on relationships or backstories. Your mileage may vary.


CAPTAIN AMERICA #38
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Steve Epting

THE SAGA OF THE NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA CONTINUES!
Bucky Barnes never wanted to be Captain America, but he's doing his best to carry on the legacy of Steve Rogers, in his own way, while trying to save Sharon Carter from the Red Skull and his minions. But maybe he's not the only one running around in a Captain America outfit!
Part Two of "The Man Who Bought America" by the acclaimed team of Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting.

Kirk Says: While I hold this title with high regards, the last few issues, while still great, have been a bit of a let down for me. It's been almost completely setup for the Red Skull's secret master plan, which I still have no idea what it actuall is other than to destablize the US economy, and to ease Bucky into the Cap uniform with progressively tougher situations, ranging from AIM goons to scrub D-list super villains and so on.

I still love the book to death, but I feel like I'm reading chapters to a trade instead of the usual monthly Cap story that has typically delivered complete stories that read well in trade and monthly format, regardless of which you choose to pick up to read this great series. I'm hoping the story picks up the pace a bit soon.


CATWOMAN #79
Written by Will Pfeifer
Art by David Lopez and Alvaro Lopez

Home sweet home! Catwoman's getting the hell off the Hell Planet, but all's not well back on Earth. Things have changed in Gotham City since she's been gone, and what was once a minor threat has turned into a price on her head! Plus, the return of a face from the past!

Kirk Says: I love that cover. The colours, Catwoman's pose and the expression on her face just scream what this issue's about and make me want to read it.

I'm a little confused on what Pfeifer is going to be doing, as, if I recall correctly, this title is due for cancellation at issue #80 or thereabouts. It'd be nice to see her and Batman have some interaction, similar to the pre-Salvation Run tie-ins, and maybe some more insight into how she feels about giving up her baby. Hell, Holly should be home by now, maybe a little get together with her before the series ends.


FANTASTIC FOUR #557
Written by Mark Millar
Art by Bryan Hitch

“World’s Greatest” concludes! It’s the ultimate engine of peace pitted against Reed Richards’ most lethal invention, for all the marbles! And a shocking final page that’ll have you feeling every minute of the thirty-day wait until the next issue!

Kirk Says: Fantastic Four, under the Millar / Hitch regime, is not the Ultimates. It's just a fun ride with the Fantastic Four and if every creative team could make the FF this fun, I'm sure it would be on everyone's pull list.

This title isn't trying to be Captain America or other titles with deep, intricate plots or "epic" storylines that span years. It's just simple, yet fun plots that focus on what makes the FF great. I'd easily rank this up there with Waid and Ringo's run from a while back and it definitely channels the early Lee/Kirby days, but with a modern twist.


INCREDIBLE HERCULES #117
Written by Fred Van Lente & Greg Pak
Art by Rafa Sandoval

SECRET INVASION TIE-IN!
The Greek Goliath gathers the most powerful super-team ever assembled to counter-attack the Skrull gods! Face front, True Believers, and prepare for the pantheon-pounding premiere of... THE GOD SQUAD!

Kirk Says: Not sure how great this "God Squad" is going to be, but Incredible Herc has been, well, incredible, with the exception of Cho, the biggest dick on the planet, but I digress.

I'm curious to see where Athena managed to get the decapitated Skrull head. Was she attacked? Did she find them first? Did she get it from someone else's battle?

I'm also interested in finding out what kind of gods the Skrulls have and how they stack up to our pantheons.


IRON MAN: DIRECTOR OF SHIELD. #29
Written by Stuart Moore
Art by Roberto De La Torre

Beginning “WITH IRON HANDS,” a four-part epic! When an unseen terrorist throws a struggling nation into chaos, Tony Stark’s past as a munitions manufacturer collides with his present role as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Is Tony himself responsible? And what’s his connection to the deadly menace growing within S.H.I.E.L.D. itself?

Kirk Says: Where'd the Knaufs go? I don't recall hearing they'd be taking a break or that we'd have a fill-in writer in the future. I guess it just goes to show how underappreciated this title is that it gets so little press in regards to things like this.

While I'm a little disappointed we'll be taking a break from our regularly scheduled program with the Knaufs, I'm curious to see what Moore has to offer with this four part fill-in story. It seems to be drawing on themes from the movie and older Iron Man related material with the Stark brand weapons in foreign nations and the ramifactions on Tony and what his responsibility to them is.

However, this sounds like an Invincible Iron Man-style plot, with Tony centric problems, his role as Iron Man and what sounds like a more action oriented plot instead of the typical Director of SHIELD-style political / noir stories the Knaufs' have used. Yes, we've seen some of the best fights all year with the Mandarin story, but it wasn't popcorn movie-style action that this sounds like it has the makings of being.

We'll just have to wait and see how this plays out, I suppose.


JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #15
Written by Geoff Johns and Alex Ross
Art by Dale Eaglesham and Ruy Jose

"Thy Kingdom Come" continues! The cracks begin to show within the Justice Society as the "Heartbreak Slayer" stands revealed. Now, the Justice Society are face-to-face with an ancient being whose mission to help the world surpasses even their own.

Kirk Says: The cliffhanger ending, and all of the last issue, was amazing and Johns is finally giving us what was promised with this less than spectacular and, what I'd describe so far as, boring storyline. I can't believe it's taken so long to get to this point, but this book just skyrocketted back up to the top of my list.




MIGHTY AVENGERS #14
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Khoi Pham

SECRET INVASION TIE-IN!
Where has Nick Fury been and who are the new Howling Commandos? It’s the debut of all-new characters and some surprising revelations about some classic ones as Nick starts to put his plan to stop the Invasion together. But will it be enough?
The Eisner award-winning team of Bendis and Maleev bring this very important Secret Invasion issue to life.

Kirk Says: I thought I read in an interview or solicit that they were going to be called the Secret Warriors instead of the new Howling Commandos. Old solicit info or did I misread an interview?

As good as these New and Mighty Avengers tie-ins have been, they seem to just be rehashing old events that we should have learned about months ago. Not something we should be getting alongside the actual event to explain what the hell is going on in the main book and why random people are showing up and where they came from.

Also, I'm really getting sick of these homage covers. One is great, a couple are fun, 258 different homage covers is just lazy and shows a lack of creativity to me. If they'd at least had something to do with the issue, I could see them being used, but they didn't even bother Skrull-ifying an old Nick Fury and the Howling Commandos cover for these issues.


ROBIN #174
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Chris Batista and Cam Smith

They thought the Penguin was bad, but he was nothing compared to Sin Fang! It's an all-out brawl, and Robin, Violet and Spoiler will have to work together if they want to get out alive. By the end of the night, casualties will be counted and the ultimate mystery of Spoiler's true identity will finally be solved!

Kirk Says: Um, didn't they reveal her face already when she took the mask off and we say the blonde, blue eyed girl? She looked like Stephanie to me and even knew who Robin was, both in and out of the mask, so it kind of hurts the otherwise compelling cover and solicit this issue has.

Now, if it was just bad art and some weird cop out writing and this issue actually reveals Spoiler to be someone completely random, I guess I'll have to change my tune.

Dixon's return to Robin has been a lot of fun and, while not as good as Tomasi's revival of a near dead Nightwing book, is one of the best runs on Robin in ages.


X-FACTOR #31
Written by Peter David
Art by Pablo Raimondi

Never has a title said it all quite like "The Middle East Side is Burning." X-Factor's battle with Arcade may be over, but the former Mutant Town is now paying the price. Walled in, cut off from any possible aid, the residents of the Middle East Side are hemmed in by flames on all sides, and their only hope of survival are the embattled members of X-Factor.

Kirk Says: X-Factor has sparks of life here and there, but it's very much in freefall ever since Messiah Complex co-opted the book for the event, ousted the main cast, wrote Layla and Rahne out of the book and, generally, made a mess of the plots and stories PAD had been building up.

I'm hoping this Arcade story is as low as this book will go and we'll begin to see a return to greatness as PAD starts hitting his stride on this book again.


X-MEN: DIVIDED WE STAND #2
Written by Mike Carey, C.B. Cebulski, Duane Swierczynski & Andy Schmidt
Art by Scott Eaton, David Lafuente & Frazer Irving

Exploring the fallout of Messiah CompleX, the second part of this collection of short stories follows some of our favorite mutants as they make their way in a world without the X-Men. And only those who adapt will survive. Featuring Beast, Dark Beast, Havok, Vulcan and Surge!

Kirk Says: X-Men: Divided We Stand #1 was an amazing book and one of the best single issues of any X-title I had read in a long time.

As such, I was looking forward to #2 until I read the solicit and saw that none of the people that made the first one great, Yost, Kyle, Young, McKelvin, etc, were going to be a part of this issue.

On top of that, it's focusing on what looks like an Endangered Species', that horrible backup story that plagued the X-titles for months last year, subplot, featuring Beast and Dark Beast, will be one of the stories featured, as well as a Havok and Vulcan (Ugh) story.

As it stands, the only one I'm interested in is the Surge story and I'm not even all that thrilled about that. I'll give this a shot, but I'm not expecting much, if anything, from it.

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