Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 01/13/10

Ryan went AWOL on me, so just me handling the previews this week. I'll have to send the ninjas after him later. In all seriousness, he was busy tonight, but will have reviews up for this week, so no worries on that end.

It's actually a pretty light reading week for me. Only a handful of titles making the cut, including Secret Six, Amazing Spider-Man and SWORD, to name a few. Hit the jump for my thoughts and expectations for the books I'll be buying this week!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #617

Written by Joe Kelly

Art by Max Fiumara

The Gauntlet continues to close around Spider-Man in this heartbreaking story of love, loss and lust for power as the Rhino charges into Spider-Man's life, out to make a name for himself...by killing the Rhino? Joe Kelly & Max Fiumara, who kicked off The Gauntlet in Amazing Spider-Man #600's prelude, return for this pulse-pounding chapter!

Kirk: My up and down relationship with Amazing Spider-Man is currently riding at an all time high after the Fred Van Lente Sandman arc. I can't imagine any story being bad enough to take me off that high. Add Joe Kelly back as the writer for this Rhino arc and ASM should be able to ride this wave of euphoria for another month or two stay of execution from my pull list at the very least.

PUNISHERMAX #3

Written by Jason Aaron

Art by Steve Dillon

"KINGPIN," Part 3 Wilson Fisk's plot to become Kingpin of New York finally brings him face to face with Frank Castle, as well as drawing in a 97-year-old, shotgun-toting mob widow and a mysterious hitman known only as The Mennonite.

Kirk: KingpinMAX, as I've been calling it, has been fantastic. I didn't think the Kingpin could work in the MAX world, but Aaron has grounded him in such a way as to make it unique while still keeping him faithful to his 616 origins. The only problem is that there's been barely any Punisher. I think we can count the number of appearances on one hand.

REALM OF KINGS: IMPERIAL GUARD #3

Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

Art by Kev Walker

Can the Imperial Guard actually team up with their hated enemies the Starjammers? They will if they don’t want to be turned into worm bait by the giant decaying corpse they’re trapped in! What horrors has The Fault unleashed now, and is someone else from our universe winning the race to explore this dangerous new zone? Majestor Gladiator will not be pleased!

Kirk: This has been the weakest of the Realm of Kings titles so far and will only really appeal to the die hard fans that need all things cosmic Marvel. Even as one of those self styled fans, I'm having trouble really getting into this book. Writing and art is fine, but the characters just offer nothing to me. I don't care about them in the slightest and cannot relate to any of them save the rare Gladiator appearance. If DnA can make me care about any of these Imperial Guardsmen, things could change, but at this point, I just follow along for any potential story beats that may be important to Realm of Kings.

SECRET SIX #17

Written by John Ostrander and Gail Simone

Art by J. Calafiore

John Ostrander and Gail Simone continue their epic team-up that begins in SUICIDE SQUAD #67! Suicide Squad has taken capture of Deadshot, forcing him to rejoin their ranks. But the Secret Six doesn't see that happening any time soon!

Kirk: Last week's Suicide Squad issue was one of the best "Secret Six" issues yet and it was probably due to the fact the Black Lanterns barely appeared. Sadly, it looks like, based on how the Suicide Squad issue ended, that this issue will be the defacto Black Lanterns show up, say mean things and/or kill someone story that has been the tried and true pattern for every tie-in so far. I'm hoping Simone and Ostrander can avoid that pitfall that has plagued every other tie-in and as they did in the first part of this story, but the Black Lanterns inevitably have to show up and this is the issue they will, so going in with low expectations.

SWORD #3

Written by Kieron Gillen

Art by Steve Sanders

Agent Brand, Beast, Sydren, Beta Ray Bill, Marvel Boy, Jazinda, Karolina and all the other aliens on Earth have been captured by Henry Gyrich and his “NO MORE ALIENS” agenda. Only one person can free them and save the world: Lockheed.

Kirk: While I've been enjoying SWORD for the most part, it has yet to really establish itself. I'm just not sure where the story is going, what kind of title this is or other simple details, like establishing a supporting cast. It really reads like a miniseries that is just throwing things at the wall and telling a single story with no regard to longterm plans at the moment.