Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 04/22/09

Fairly busy week for me, but very few 'big' releases either. Gaiman and Kubert's Detective Comics, the second part of Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?, is obviously the biggest release this week and absolutely nothing will compete with it for my pick of the week. Supergirl is the only other DC title I'll be getting and only due to the strength of Sterling Gates' writing.

Marvel makes up the bulk of my purchases with various titles, most notable being Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy. More on the flip side.

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #23
Written by Christos Gage
Art by Humberto Ramos

This is it...the explosive issue that changes everything! From the moment it was formed, the Initiative has had more than its share of dark secrets. Now, they've all come out. On top of everything else, can the Initiative survive this? Well, the title of this story is THE INITIATIVE: DISASSEMBLED...

Kirk: I skipped that dinosaur kid one-shot they put out a little while ago. I doubt anything important happend in it, but worth pointing out.

As for this issue, is that the Night Thrasher on the cover? Looks like his new New Warriors will clash with the originals' team. The Disassembled arc has been good, but lacks any kind of direction. Still want to know where this book is going and does it even have a future with the Initiative defunct and Norman in control of the world?


DARK REIGN: ELEKTRA #2
Written by Zeb Wells
Art by Clay Mann

Even for a lethal ninja assassin who’s been to the far side of death and back, Elektra faces the fight of her life! Freed from her torment at the hands of mad Skrull scientists, and delivered straight into the grabby hands of Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R., Elektra’s been imprisoned, tortured, vivisected, and even replaced with a genetic double. But the deadliest woman in the world still managed to free herself, and now, hobbling and wounded, she struggles to clear her name for her impostor’s crimes even as she fights to stay alive!

Kirk: First issue was good enough to get me to stick with this title. But does it have enough gas in the tank to keep me hooked for this miniseries?


DETECTIVE COMICS #853
Written by Neil Gaiman
Art by Andy Kubert and Scott Williams

"Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" part 2 of 2! This second part of Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert's special collaboration is sure to be a BATMAN story for the ages. This extraordinary tale, told as only Gaiman and Kubert can, explores the intricate relationships between Bruce Wayne and his friends and adversaries and builds toward an exciting and unexpected climax. It's a classic in the making.

Kirk: Calling it now. Best book this week. Gonna have to re-read the first part though. Razzafrazza Kubert delays.




GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #13
Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art by Brad Walker

A WAR OF KINGS tie-in! The guns of the Kree and the Shi\'Ar have thundered — and there will hell to pay! Star-Lord’s Guardians spring into desperate action in an attempt to stop the planet-shattering battle, but will either side listen? If they don’t, the walls of the galaxy will disintegrate! It’s more mind-blowing cosmic heroics from the book that made CBR.com rave “if comics were movies, this would be the one people would be talking about all summer!”

Kirk: This issue features the Guardians of the Galaxy in a bar room brawl at a bar called Starlins. It's worth buying just for that.


INCREDIBLE HERCULES #128
Written by Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
Art by Dietrich Smith

The DARK AVENGERS versus the OLYMPUS GROUP versus Herc & Co! 'NUFF SAID!

Kirk: Not a fan of the art on this book over past month or two. I hope this is only a fill-in and we can get back to the normal artist because this book has been one of Marvel's bests and deserves better. Take this issue. It features a fight with Hercules and his friends caught between the Dark Avengers and Hera's minions. What should be awesome is marred by some substandard artwork. It's never terrible, but it hasn't been overly good either.




KICK-ASS #6
Written by Mark Millar
Art by John Romita Jr

This is it—the moment Dave Lizewski has spent his whole brief career as KICK-ASS preparing for. When the chips are down, when everything’s at stake…whose ass will be kicked? KICK-ASS’ origin story unfolds as the smash hit super hero comic of 2008—by legends MARK MILLAR and JOHN ROMITA JR.—continues!

Kirk: I don't remember what happened last issue, but I probably liked it. Guess I'll buy this one, too. I'd like to know how they make a movie about a comic with so few issues out.





SUPERGIRL #40
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Jamal Igle and Jon Sibal

"Who is Superwoman?" part 4! Following last issue, Supergirl must decide what to do with a shocking piece of information that casts all of "New Krypton" in a new light! Meanwhile, Lois begins putting together clues regarding the body found in Metropolis Harbor and the strange message it was broadcasting.

Kirk: Gates made me like an issue of Supergirl when I tried it out last month. That is quite the accomplishment, so I'm back again this month for more.





THOR #601
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by Marko Djurdjevic

Has Thor turned his back on Asgard…? Has Asgard turned its back on Thor?! After the monumental and cataclysmic events of THOR #600, the God of Thunder’s life has changed completely! New readers…now’s your chance! Jump on board!

Kirk: Djurdjevic is back on interiors. Should be worth it for that alone. Also curious to see what Loki has planned for the now Thor-less Asgard.






X-FORCE #14
Written by Chris Yost
Art by Clayton Crain

"X-FORCE/CABLE: MESSIAH WAR"
STRYFE STRIKES! Cable and X-Force’s greatest nemisis returns! The X-event of the decade continues in MESSIAH WAR, and things go from “bad” to “worst case scenario” as X-Force and Cable struggle to keep Hope alive. While Cyclops fights to keep X-Force's involvement a secret in the present, Cable and Wolverine butt heads in the future over control of the child. Making matters worse, a member of X-Force abandons the team as an army of darkness descends upon them, leaving the team a man down with their backs to the wall. Past, present and future collide as the war for Mutantkind's survival continues. Part 3 (of 7)

Kirk: Kyle wasn't credited with this issue. Wonder if it's a mistake or if it's just Yost on duty. Either way, hoping this issue renews my faith in this event. The prologue was mostly recaps of the past year of X-Force and Cable while the Cable issue was a waste of time and money and failed to progress the story in the slightest.

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