Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 04/01/09

Rather slow week for comics, in terms of output, but noteable for the biggest release of this spring, Flash: Rebirth #1. That's actually the only DC book I'll be picking up this week, but it's quite possibly going to be my book of the week.

However, I'm actually a little worried about how it will turn out. I talk about it at length in the previews below, but I hope Johns doesn't plan to write Wally out of the Flash titles in much the same way he kicked Kyle Rayner to the curb. Kyle only had a little over a decade of seniority built up before GL: Rebirth sent him packing for cameo/guest appearance status. Wally only has about an extra ten years under his belt and Johns has a serious mad on for Barry, much like he does for Hal, so I'm quite concerned we'll be seeing Barry taking center stage here and in the Flash titles moving forward. Time will tell how it turns out.

Other noteable releases are War of Kings #2, a Marcos Martin drawn Captain America Comics 70th anniversary issue and one of my new favourites, Secret Warriors #3. I'm also going to be picking up Cable #13 to continue the Messiah War storyline since a lot of people showed interest in me picking up the prologue last week. Read about these and more after the jump.

CABLE #13
Written by Duane Swierczynski
Art by Ariel Olivetti

“X-FORCE/CABLE: MESSIAH WAR,” PART 2
The sequel to 2007’s MESSIAH COMPLEX continues here! Cyclops has complete faith that his son, Cable, will do everything he can to protect the so-called mutant messiah — who he believes will save mutantkind. But he also knows what havoc former X-Man Lucas Bishop has wreaked in the nightmarish future. So now he’s sent his black ops team, the X-Force, on a risky, time-traveling mission to save Cable and the child, completely unaware that there’s something else waiting for them in the future. Something not even Bishop was counting on…

Kirk Says: Previews for this issue showed that my guess about Apocalypse, which wasn't exactly a stretch or anything, turned out to be true. Not sure why they didn't go for a huge reveal at the end of the prologue like Annihilation, Conquest and just about every other event to use a prologue over the past few years did. Seems like a bit of a let down finding out in passing when we should have had a huge splashpage reveal.


CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1
Written by James Robinson
Art by Marcos Martin

Leading off a series of celebratory specials commemorating Marvel’s 70th Anniversary, James (STARMAN, SUPERMAN) Robinson and Marcos (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) Martin bring you an untold story of the living legend. In the days before he becomes Captain America, a scrawny kid from Brooklyn named Steve Rogers shows the world that you don’t need a super-soldier serum to be a hero. Plus a classic Captain America tale from the Golden Age by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

Kirk Says: Buying this for Marcos Martin art. If the story ends up good, I'll be happy, but don't exactly care if it is or isn't.



DARK REIGN: FANTASTIC FOUR #2
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Art by Sean Chen

The fallout of Reed's machine results in Sue, Ben and Johnny finding themselves in the middle of a super hero Hyborian-age civil war, while Reed searches for answers to questions that can only be found in alternate timelines. Back on Earth, it's Val and Franklin versus the agents of H.A.M.M.E.R.!

Kirk Says: First issue was pretty good. At least, good enough to get me to come back for a second look.







THE FLASH: REBIRTH #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Ethan Van Sciver

Through the decades, many heroes have taken the mantle of The Flash, but they all ride the lightning that crackles in the wake of the greatest hero the DC Universe has ever known, the man who sacrificed himself to save the Multiverse: Barry Allen!

Following the events of FINAL CRISIS, Barry has beaten death and returned to a fast-paced world that a man out of time wouldn't recognize. Or is it a world that is only just now catching up? All the running he's done before was just a warmup for the high-speed race that he and every other Flash must now run, because even though one speedster might have beaten death, another has just turned up dead! From Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver, the visionaries responsible for the blockbuster GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH and THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR, comes the start of an explosive and jaw-dropping epic that will reintroduce to the modern age the hero who single-handedly birthed the Silver Age of comics! DC history will be made, and the Flash legacy will be redefined!

Kirk Says: I think the expectations for this issue are at a fever pitch. Most seem to forget or didn't even read Green Lantern: Rebirth when it came out and probably forget that GL: Rebirth was more like pulling a bandaid off than a modern classic.

It simply had Johns retconning everything in sight to bring Hal back from the dead and painted him as a now-living saint that could do no wrong. Felt more like pandering to fans and some self-indulgence on Johns' part than anything remotely similar to his later Green Lantern or his previous Flash work.

Here's hoping that Flash: Rebirth doesn't throw the baby out with the bath water, similar to how everything pre-GL: Rebirth was washed away in favour of Hal, Hal, Hal. Hate to see Wally relegated to sidekick/cameo/Kyle Rayner status after being the one, true Flash for the past 30 years or so.


NEW AVENGERS: THE REUNION #2
Written by Jim McCann
Art by David Lopez

Ronin & Mockingbird have found each other again, but they might be wishing they hadn't! There's a ticking time bomb out there and these two are going to have to either set aside their issues or duke it out before an entire city goes "BOOM!" Odds are there'll be a fight! Plus, what secret has Bobbi been carrying with her since BEFORE the Skrulls abducted her? Find out here as THE REUNION continues!

Kirk Says: I received another advance copy of this book and will be reviewing it tomorrow. Where the first issue was a solid outing, the second was down right excellent. Was incredibly impressed with it and can't wait to review it tomorrow.



SECRET WARRIORS #3
Written by Jonathan Hickman & Brian Bendis
Art by Stefano Caselli

The most talked-about new Marvel series continues as HYDRA's plans pick up speed while more remnants of S.H.I.E.L.D. fall. Nick Fury reconnects with an old colleague and finds out that the balance has shifted between him and some of his former soldiers. All that, and the Warriors suffer their first casualty of war.

Kirk Says: Big fan of this new book and after that Hydra heavy second issue, I'm looking forward to getting to know the actual Secret Warrior team, who we've barely learned anything about since they first showed up back in Secret Invasion.




WAR OF KINGS #2
Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art by Paul Pelletier

The cosmic heavyweights come out swinging! Black Bolt! Gladiator! The Inhumans! Vulcan! The Starjammers! As Kree outworlds burn, Shi’Ar forces move in for the kill—as first blood goes to Vulcan and the Imperial Guard! Can anything withstand the military juggernaut of Vulcan’s Imperium? And are the lines of allegiance drawn as clearly as it first appears? The major players make their big moves as the battle that will reshape the cosmic power structure rages on!

Kirk Says: Loved the first issue of this cosmic event. Looking forward to seeing Black Bolt's reaction to the sneak attack last issue and what kind of retribution he'll dole out.

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