While DC dominated last week's releases, aside from Sky Doll #2 and Invincible #50, this week is decidedly in favour of Marvel. We've got Captain America, Fantastic Four, Old Man Logan, 1985 and several other high profile releases, as well as the pre-requisite Secret Invasion tie-ins, heading up the pack.On the DC side of things, there's only slim pickings with Batman and the Outsiders and Catwoman picking up the slack. While I'm not following it anymore, Trinity marks its third week of the year long story and that was about all that was noteworthy on DC's side of things from what I could see in the previews.
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When you're ready, hit the jump for the weekly previews and feel free to let me know what you're picking up or what you think of the books shipping this week in the comments below! No registration required and you can even post as Anonymous if you like!
UPDATE - Seems I was using out of date solicits and Captain America, 1985 and a couple of other titles aren't coming out this week. They've been removed from the listings.
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #8Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Julian Lopez and Bit
As the Outsiders' situation deep in the heart of China worsens, the team must turn to the member they trust least to bail them out: Batgirl. All this, plus REMAC in full-force action and a guest appearance by the former leader of the Outsiders — Nightwing!
Kirk Says: With Dixon off this title in a few months, I'm not sure how much longer I'll be following this series. I enjoy it, but mostly because I'm a fan of Batgirl and most of the Batman related titles, not for the actual Outsiders component. The series has been mostly a popcorn action flick of a comic book and there's not much depth to the title, so I'll probably be dropping this once Dixon exits.
CATWOMAN #80Written by Will Pfeifer
Art by David Lopez and Alvaro Lopez
Catwoman's quest to get back to the top of Gotham City's underworld hits a giant snag! Her rival has brought in some unexpected (and deadly) assistance, and it turns out Batman isn't too happy to see Selina Kyle back on the streets of Gotham!
Kirk Says: Only a couple of issues remain in one of DC's best titles before it gets the axe. Shame, really. If DC promoted books, like Catwoman, Shadowpact or Checkmate, as much as they did things like Countdown or the numerous Superman and Batman projects, I think they'd be able to steal some market share back from Marvel. It's as if they want to stifle any and all attempts at new and original storytelling in favour of the Crisis or other insular, continuity ladden event.
Maybe the big comic news sites are to blame. They have access to all of the creators, yet continually spotlight things like Secret Invasion, Trinity, the Crisis du jour, and other high profile books on a daily basis and choose to leave the lower tier titles to wallow in the shadows with cult followings. I know I'd rather read a Seven Captial Cities of Heaven Iron Fist monthly article with Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker or a Greg Rucka Checkmate interview over the 33rd Secret Invasion "spotlight" explaining regurgitating Bendis quotes and information that should have been told in the actual book.
Bah, I'm just bitter over another book cancellation. I'm sure I'll enjoy these last few issues of Catwoman and I hope Pfeifer gives the title a good send off with what little time he has left.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #2Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art by Paul Pelletier
Groot is here! And so is…hey, wasn’t he sunk in Antarctica? One day on the job, and our cosmic protectors have already made themselves a major new enemy! But how does that connect to Adam Warlock’s mystical past? Could it really be the threat he’s spent years trying to deny? And exactly what or who have the Guardians discovered frozen & adrift in space? It can’t be...can it? If you’re curious, give GUARDIANS a go and find out why critics like ComicAddiction.com say “Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are the unsung heroes of the writing staff at Marvel Comics.”
Kirk Says: Groot is back and all is right in the world.
One of my readers, Cierdwyn2 had an interesting theory on who this "Captain America", or at least the shield, belongs to back when issue one came out in May and, in case you missed it, I've quoted the comment below:
I am actually expecting that the reveal next issue will not be Captain America, or an alternate, but instead one Major Vance Astrovik, last seen as a leader of the old Guardians of the Galaxy. Back in the run of the 90's, early on, they recovered Captain america's shield, which Vance remembered from his days on earth, and took to using.I can't argue with his logic and I think he's hit the nail on the head with his educated guess. I imagine we'll find out when issue two hits the stands.
And for those not aware, major Astrovick is an alternate dimension version of the current Justice, formerly of the New Warriors, currently of the Initiative.
DnA have said in interviews that these Guardians would have a link to those old, classic Guardians, who are part of a future, alternate timeline. I also seem to recall that issue 3 or so's solicit shows that team's Starhawk making an appearance. Either way, I'm looking forward to it.
My only complaint with this series, the "reality TV" interview / mission log segments, continues with this issue based on previews and it reminds me a lot of the now defunct The Order series. I hated that kind of narrative there and I hate it now, but I believe I am in the minority on that one.
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #118Written by Fred Van Lente & Greg Pak
Art by Rafa Sandoval
A SECRET INVASION TIE-IN!
The "SACRED INVASION" continues! In order for Hercules and his divine allies to attack the realm of the Skrull gods, they first must pass out of our own Earthly pantheons -- with a fear-fraught voyage through the dimension of NIGHTMARE! What could possibly terrify a god? The Dark Lord of Dreams knows -- and he'll use it to destroy the last, best hope of stopping the Skrull invasion before it even starts!
Kirk Says: Incredible Hercules, when the little twit, Cho, isn't opening his mouth, is one of the best books coming out of Marvel as of late. While I'm still waiting for that definitive Must Read issue, it's still remained highly entertaining and the God Squad / Secret Invasion tie-in has been fun so far.
While I don't think you'll be missing anything Secret Invasion related if you skip these tie-ins, you will, however, be missing some solid comic book reading.
IRON MAN: DIRECTOR OF SHIELD #30Written by Stuart Moore
Art by Roberto De La Torre
“WITH IRON HANDS”
Iron Man and the S.H.I.E.L.D. Alpha Team race against the clock to stop the terrorist from Tony Stark’s past! But an even greater threat awaits them: the strange weapon called the Overkill Mind -- powered by a man whose only conscious desire is for Tony Stark’s death! Part 2 of 4.
Kirk Says: With Iron Hands may be the last story arc I follow on the Iron Man: Director of SHIELD title. With the Knaufs off the book for good and what looks like a string of fill-in writers scheduled for the rest of the year, I just don't feel the need to pick this book up anymore. It was a great run while it lasted, but it looks like Marvel is phasing this title out in favour of Invincible Iron Man.
RUNAWAYS #30Written by Joss Whedon
Art by Michael Ryan
The jaw-dropping conclusion to Joss Whedon (ASTONISHING X-MEN, Buffy) and Michael Ryan’s (NEW X-MEN) time-traveling saga! A HUGE shakeup to the Runaways comes as the kids try and find a way out of 1907. But can they escape a super-powered war on the streets of New York?
Kirk Says: This book must be like Countdown, I take it? It's just weird for new titles to start at such a high number instead of the usual number one. Considering this isn't some huge blockbuster title, I can't imagine it being a book that was delayed for the better part of a year. That wouldn't make sense for a niche title starring relatively unknown characters.
To say my interest in this book is pretty much nil at this point would be an understatement. Why Marvel didn't just fire Whedon on the spot and get someone that could, I don't know, string a few words together every couple of days to finish a script is a mystery to me, especially considering how completely unremarkable his Runaways has been. I'm picking this book up simply for the sake of finishing off the series and we'll never speak of this again as we look forward to Moore's relaunch of the once great series.
SECRET INVASION: FANTASTIC FOUR #2Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Art by Barry Kitson
Part Two [of Three]: "He's Just Not That Into You"
Trapped in the Negative Zone with Franklin and Val, beseiged by monsters, Ben and Johnny are scrambling to get back home before a cosmic anomoly with the power to consume, well, everything swallows Manhattan. But the team's biggest brain, Reed Richards, is nowhere to be found, and the Skrull who infiltrated the FF isn't just any Skrull, it's Johnny's ex, Lyja. Forget worldwide domination, hell hath no fury like a Skrull scorned...
Kirk Says: I wanted to find out what happened to Reed and the Fantastic Four after Secret Invasion #1. So, when this tie-in was announced with a solid creative team attached, I thought I'd pick it up as one of the few SI tie-ins I'd be committing myself to for this event.
The first issue didn't exactly do much for me, but, considering it's only a three issue mini-series, I'll stick with it for the duration. While not terrible, it's a decidedly average and pedestrian story as of issue one. Maybe issue two will pick up the pace a bit.
ULTIMATE X-MEN #95Written by Aron Coleite
Art by Mark Brooks
HEROES writer Aron Eli Coleite continues his run – and introduces a team of X-Men like you’ve never seen before! Who are Ultimate Alpha Flight? What do they want with Northstar? What is Colossus willing to do to get him back? And just wait until you see that last-page shocker!
Kirk Says: With Coleite at the helm, Ultimate X-Men is actually good again! It's a miracle! If you dropped this title after the abomination that Kirkman's run turned out to be, I highly recommend grabbing Ultimate X-Men #94 and this week's issue and get back on the UXM train. After only one issue, I'm willing to call this the best the book has been since Millar originally launched the title way back when.
WOLVERINE #66Written by Mark Millar
Art by Steve McNiven
“OLD MAN LOGAN” Part 1 (of 8)
MARK MILLAR and STEVE MCNIVEN—who last teamed for the monumental CIVIL WAR—bring us the most important WOLVERINE story of the 21st Century. Nobody knows what happened on the night the heroes fell. All we know is that they disappeared and evil triumphed and the bad guys have been calling the shots ever since. What happened to Wolverine is the biggest mystery of all. For 50 years, no one has heard hide nor hair from him…and in his place stands an old man called Logan. A man concerned only about his family. A man pushed to the brink by the HULK GANG. A man forced to help an old friend—the blind archer, HAWKEYE—to drive three thousand miles to secure his family’s safety. Get ready for the ride of your life, Logan.
Kirk Says: After Jason Aaron and Ron Garney's recent storyarc, Mark Millar and Seve McNiven have a lot of work cut out for them if they want to impress me. Get Mystique! was probably the best Wolverine story I've read in years and I'm not sure if even McNiven's pretty pictures can push Millar's Old Man Logan story over the top.
However, I do expect to enjoy this and Millar can always be counted on to tell an enjoyable, if superficial, story.
X-FACTOR #32Written by Peter David
Art by Pablo Raimondi
After the recent loss of both Wolfsbane and Layla Miller, and the destruction and evacuation of the former Mutant Town, X-Factor is left questioning their purpose more than ever. At that lowest moment, Val Cooper and the O*N*E* step in, giving the group an ultimatum that will change everything about the team.
Kirk Says: X-Factor really needs to get its groove back. It's been treading water since Messiah Complex and I'm not sure if I can hold out until Layla comes back. That is, if she returns in her one-shot special later this year.
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9 comments:
1985, Captain America, Secret Invasion : Runaways and Young Avengers, and Fantastic Four are not shipping this week.
1) I'm hoping that Frank Tieri will do good with B&TO in his next two issues; as I've previously mentioned before, he has a better handle on Batman and his world than other writers, such as, for example, Dini.
2) Agreed on the Cap issue. There's probably at least two equivalents for Cap that there were for the four Supermen during "Reign of the Supermen!". Here's hoping Bucky's appearance in Secret Invasion, together with Thor and Iron Man, will solidify him as the current 'authentic' Cap.
3) Rumour has it that a relaunched Catwoman or some sort of 'Bad Girls of Gotham' book will be the secret Gail Simone/Ethan Van Sciver project. Fingers crossed.
4) I always equated the 'Reality TV' thing in the Order as more evidence of it being the Superhero Big Brother. It works slightly better in Guardians.
5) I realized the other day that the main issue behind this new UXM arc - Drugs that increase Mutant Powers - was already covered by Grant Morrison, only with characters who weren't someone's hero and were therefore more expendable. This approach - a new side to the X-Men - may or may not work. Hurm.
6) Hooray for Old Man Logan. I just cannot wait for this arc.
@rawnzilla - damn, I probably should have double checked. I went through the Marvel catalog last week and it seems they've updated it and pushed those titles back. I'll update the post to reflect those not shipping this week.
@salieri - I can't see a "Girls of Gotham" type of book coming out as that's just Birds of Prey repackaged, but wouldn't be against it.
Well, it's basically the ultimate version of Mutant Growth Hormone and even calls it that as one of its names its known by.
Regarding Batman and the Outsiders, I'm actually a little curious about what will come after Dixon leaves. I'll follow the new writer for a few issues, whoever that will be.
I think you should do the same, depending on what writer comes in to pick up the book--there are a few that I would most definitely bail over. I don't know if leaving a book that's been quite mediocre (I feel I'm being too kind here) because the writer is leaving is a good decision--the newcomer might actually give it the depth it's been missing. Just a thought.
Runaways has been abysmal. I'm not even certain what happened in the last few issues anymore and, like, you, am picking it up just to finish the damned thing and wait for Moore. Which is sad, because I really do enjoy Whedon's work immensely.
This one, though, is just an utter disaster. And, sad to say, wasn't all that good--delays and the like ignored. Bleh.
Great previews.
My only pull this week is Guardians of the Galaxy, and I share the same opinion as the quote from the other reader. I'd love to see him here, especially with Nova's ties to Justice.
I've dropped DoS after learning of Knaufs being booted, and feel kind of cheated as the Mandarin storyline had all the makings of an amazing title. Damn it.
I've been told by friends to start reading Wolverine and this "Old Man Logan" storyline has me interested as a jump on point (Much more than Get Mystique! did). Would you suggest it's a good time to board the boat, so to speak?
@girl friday - Frank Tieri is coming on after Dixon for the Outsiders. Dixon was saddled with the Outsiders at the last minute, if you recall. The original writer, who's name escapes me, was "replaced" (quit or fired, forget) a month or two before teh book was set to launch. While it's not excuse for the current level of the book, the speed with which he was forced to put something together may have been a major factor in the first story arc.
Tieri, though, had a very similar run on Gotham Underground. It was neither spectacular nor horrible and I'm looking for a book to trim the fat on my monthly purchases and Outsiders, along with Green Arrow and Black Canary, which I've already dropped, are the current candidates.
@ethreal - Old Man Logan will be identical to Fantastic Four in that Millar is going to ignore everything that came before and tell his story, for better or for worse. I like the "Days of Future Past" style stories with the apocalypitic future and think his run will be a great body of work on its own, but won't be a good primer for getting into the monthly Wolverine title.
So, ya, based on what I've seen so far, this is definitely worth picking up, but if you are looking to get into Wolverine and his 616 title, it's not going to have anything to do with it.
I'm excited that Ultimate X-Men has the potential to be interesting again, but there's no way (especially based on just one issue) that it's better than BKV's Sinister-pushing-Xavier-down-stairs run.
Kirk - the original Outsiders writer was going to be Tony Bedard
I think Runaways has been pushed back again to the 25th...
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