I'm flying solo this week with a slightly delayed installment of the Post-Crisis Previews as Kirk is taking the night off. Want to know what comics I'll be picking up this week and what my early impressions are? Hit the jump to find out!
AVENGERS ACADEMY #1Written by Christos Gage
Art by Mike McKone
Determined to keep the tradition alive, founding Avenger Hank Pym leads a core team of veteran heroes in creating a place where the next generation of Earth's Mightiest can be trained by the greatest of those who preceded them. An institution where everyone who has ever been an Avenger can share their skill, knowledge and experience. The future is in their hands...and in the hands of the six young superhumans chosen to make up the inaugural class. But who are they? And what dark secret will turn their world--and potentially the entire Marvel Universe--upside down by the end of the issue? If you think this is just another teen hero book...the last page shocker will prove you wrong! Writer Christos Gage (AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE) and superstar artist Mike McKone (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) unite to bring you a bold new era of greatness!
Ryan: While I’d rather see a fulltime ongoing Young Avengers comic round out the Avengers lineup, I’m certainly not going to argue with Christos Gage and Mike McKone’s Avengers Academy. You’ve got a solid premise, interesting new characters, and a superb creative team. I look for this comic to be criminally underestimated, but tremendously satisfying…much like Avengers: Initiative was before Secret Invasion killed all interest I had in it.
BATGIRL #11Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Lee Garbett
In part 3 of ""The Flood,"" Oracle faces off against the Calculator, while Batgirl is forced to team up with the Calculator's daughter in an attempt to save the citizens of Gotham City from a crippling techno-plague. But who will save Batgirl from an infected and rampaging Man-Bat?
Ryan: It still shocks me that so few people are buying and talking about how awesome this comic is, as it has become one of the single best comics released by DC these days. While everyone else has been focused elsewhere apparently, Bryan Q. Miller and Lee Garbett have created a wonderful comic that is well worth your cash. Last issue ended Batgirl alone against nanite-infected zombie-esque folks like Man-Bat and Huntress, and I cannot wait to see how she gets herself out of this deadly situation. I suspect it will involve some solid action and a lot of great personality—the hallmarks of this series.
BATMAN #700Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Various
Grant Morrison returns to BATMAN with this oversized special! And he's brought an all-star roster of artists along with him including Andy Kubert, Tony Daniel and Frank Quitely to celebrate this milestone 700th issue featuring stories spotlighting each of the Batmen from different eras — Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne. You won't want to miss this blockbuster story that paves the way for the return of Bruce Wayne!
Ryan: The first time we saw Damian as Batman (Batman #666), it was one of the worst comics Grant Morrison had put together during his run on the title (second only to that horrible prose Joker story, which should never have made it out of DC Editorial). Since then Damian has become a much more interesting and well-rounded character, so I’m interested in seeing where Morrison takes this, though if we are going to see stories from multiple eras of Batman, I’d rather see multiple writers to truly celebrate the concept rather than just Morrison, who will no-doubt peddle his own self-congratulatory approach that has plagued his time with the Dark Knight.
GI JOE: COBRA #5Written by Mike Costa and Christos Gage
Art by Sergio Carrera
NOW AN ONGOING SERIES! After the revelation of a major character on the last page of the previous issue, what can you possibly expect from this issue of G.I. Joe: Cobra? How about the revelation of ANOTHER major character on the FIRST page? Costa and Gage begin an all-new storyline in a book that continues to dazzle readers and defy expectations.
Ryan: I picked up the full run of GI Joe: Cobra during a Free Comic Book Day sale at my local comic book shop and was hooked from the beginning. The creative team put together a great companion piece to Chuck Dixon’s great main series. This issue promises the return of Serpentor, one of the most ridiculous characters to come out of the regularly ridiculous GI Joe cartoon. I have no idea how Costa and Gage will fit him into the more grounded and realistic take that on the franchise that IDW has put together, but I can’t wait to find out!
S.H.I.E.L.D #2Written by Jonathan Hickman
Art by Dustin Weaver
Why don't we know about the first super heroes of the Marvel Universe? Leonardo Da Vinci, Imhotep, Sir Issac Newton, Nostradamus and Galileo are among the members of the Brotherhood of the Shield and have saved us all countless times. What events did they set in motion that still affect the Marvel U today? Do not miss the book that will be talked about for the next ten years.
Ryan: SHIELD #1 burst onto the scene two months ago and immediately polarized fans with its revisionist approach to the history of the Marvel Universe. Personally, I was totally blown away by the issue, which is one of my favorite comics of the year thus far. While I’m disappointed it took so long for the second issue to drop, I cannot wait to see where insane concepts Hickman and Weaver are going to offer up this time, especially with the surprising appearance from the seemingly time-displaced Leonardo da Vinci, Agent of SHIELD that closed out the first issue.
SECRET SIX #22Written by Gail Simone
Art by Jim Calafiore
It's the bloody (and we mean bloody) conclusion to the ""Cat in the Cradle"" arc! Catman rages against those that have been trying to destroy his life. Will tensions within the Six force them to leave Catman to fend for himself? And is someone leaving the team? Let's hope not!
Ryan: This storyline has been Gail Simone at her darkest, as she has put Catman in the midst of one of the bloodiest and most disturbing “superhero” stories in some time. Naturally, it has also been bloody brilliant and full of quirky personality. I’m guessing we will see more of the same here, plus hopefully we will see more of Jeanette and Bane’s “Substitute Six” as their first appearance last issue was ridiculously awesome. I mean, come on, how can you not love a team that includes Z-list villains like King Shark and Lady Vic?
ULTIMATE COMICS: SPIDER-MAN #11Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by David Lafuente
After the shocking drama surrounding Kitty Pryde is exposed, an edict is made: ""No more super heroes!!"" Will Peter and his friends be able to keep the costumes off?? Especially when J. Jonah Jameson reveals himself to be the biggest threat Spidey has faced in years? Looking for a Spidey adventure you've never seen before? Look no further as Eisner-nominated writer Brian Michael Bendis and fan-favorite artist David Lafuente, bring you another blockbuster story!
Ryan: Things have been getting considerably worse for Spider-Man and his ragtag group of superhero pals, which all came to a head last issue with Kitty Pryde’s violent eruption after being chased from school by federal agents. I’m interested to see the fallout from that, though I’m also curious about Ultimate J. Jonah Jameson. If he is anything like the regular version, I can’t imagine things will be getting any better for Spider-Man and his “amazing friends.”
UNCANNY X-MEN #525Written by Matt Fraction
Art by Terry Dodson
Things have never been worse for the X-Men. They're stuck in an impregnable dome of Bastion's creation. As if that's not bad enough, inside this dome is a portal to the Days of Future Past timeline through which thousands of Nimrod Sentinels are pouring. Cyclops has sent Cable, Cypher and X-Force on a suicide mission into the future to destroy the portal, but do they stand a chance?
Ryan: I don’t think that I realized that this story was directly tying into Days of the Future Past, despite picking up the allusions to it. I think that is a cool place to branch from, though it will be interesting to see how far Matt Fraction goes with that now that X-Force has been sent to the future to stop the onslaught of Sentinels from destroying the trapped X-Men and all of San Francisco in the process. Fraction’s X-Men are always hit-and- miss with me, but the chances that I’ll enjoy it always go up with the art is done by Terry and Rachel Dodson. Even though things look bleak for the mutants, I’ve actually got a good feeling about this.
YOUNG ALLIES #1Written by Sean McKeever
Art by David Baldeon
The patriotic girl without a world in need of a home. The insecure newbie striving to be a better super hero. The illegal immigrant with a tortured past and a dream. The disillusioned Midwesterner desperate for direction. The veteran team player given a second lease on life. Five heroes against tyranny in all its forms. Five students pushing to make the grade. Five friends together on the road to adulthood. They are NOMAD, ARANA, TORO, GRAVITY and FIRESTAR--the YOUNG ALLIES! But even their combined might may not be enough to take on the team of teen terrors known as the BASTARDS OF EVIL!
Ryan: Having skipped over the recent Nomad miniseries and only having a passing familiarity with the characters (the existing ones anyway), I’m not entirely sold on the concept of the series. I am, however, a huge fan of Sean McKeever, particularly when it comes to his teen superhero work. Since I have room on my pull list now that I’ve dropped Teen Titans (which I was only reading for McKeever’s Ravager co-feature), I might have room for this comic, should it live up to the potential of its creative team.
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36 comments:
Only getting Ulimate Comics Spider-man and Avengers, along with the third Gotham Central hardcover.
Um if I remember correctly Grant Morrison had one of the best runs I've seen on batman. And while you blast his 666 issue and prose story they were trying something new as opposed to rycycling the same super hero cliches.
however despite some quips against talented creator you do have a very good site
@The Beaty - I wouldn't exactly say that Batman #666 was trying anything new. Yes, it was a "new" Batman, but it was also cliched dialogue, poor characterization, and cheap shock value. While I would say that the prose story was trying something different, I didn't think that it was very good. In fact, it was barely coherent.
I'm glad that you like the site and, as I've explained in the past, I don't have a problem with Morrison. I think he is one of the most talented creators of the Modern Era. My problem is that in the last 3 or so years, his output has been completely subpar and self-serving. It's a far cry from his brilliant work (We3, Invisibles, Animal Man, Doom Patrol, etc)
Totally agree about Avengers Academy, but I'm still eagerly awaiting the Young Avengers in ongoing form.
I'd have to disagree about Batman #666 being bad, I absolutely loved it. If anything I'd have to say it was Morrison's best issue of his entire run. Though I did hate that Joker story, it was so boring to read.
yeah I see what you're saying... it wasn't the best morrison stuff I've read. And by something different on the joker story i ment try I wasn't saying he suceeded lol I also hated it
i dont pick up batgirl because i didnt like her in the war games storyline, where she disobeys bruce and causes a gang war, resulting in her near death. i mean, you gotta tell me if she redeems herself from that
I wonder if Gail will have Dwarfstar showing off his mini-corpse of Ryan Choi to his new partners in Secret Six.
How long is too ridiculous a period for the murder of a hero to go unpunished in comics?
Makes about as much sense as how Marvel AND DC keep showing us how the villians can completely organize a large group without a lot of infighting or secret keeping, but the heroes all barely trust each other, never call each other for help and have no ability to organize or work as true teammates.
ahaha it didn't take long for a morrison fan to dislike something you said eh?
Glad to see that someone else is picking up Young Allies, I've been screaming its potential from the rooftops since its announcement
the problem i have with ryans morrison hate on is that he always states his opinion as fact. Take "it was one of the worst comics Grant Morrison had put together during his run on the title" for Batman 666. that issue is considered one of his best on the book during that run, yet ryan says it is the worst one not that he disliked it the most or thought it was the worse one. jus feels like he wants to take a pot shot every time morrisons name comes up. not sure if he actually feels that way, but there should be beter ways to say the same thing or just take high road when referring to him instead of always how much his work he hates.
@anon 12:
Let us see... Morrison works for a company called what? DC comics? oh yeah now I remember!
This site only needs to see the letters "D" and "C" together to express their bias and endless love for Marvel output and their enormous hate for all DC fans.
Just wait until they bash Geoff Johns, Bedard, Tomassi, etc
I talked to Jonathan Hickman at HeroesCon, and he said S.H.I.E.L.D. will continue to be bimonthly because of the time it takes for the art. Which, considering the first issue, is completely fine by me. I'd much rather wait an extra month between issues for that level of art than get a rush job more frequently.
@Anon #13: See, now I know you are just trolling. In this same article you are commenting on, Ryan talks immense praise for two DC comics. But you keep on fucking that chicken, anon, and don't let reality or facts get in the way. Just keep fucking that chicken.
DAMODAR
and the MARVEL vs DC war continues, damn!
I wish all the readers were just like me, I love me some iron man, avengers, green lantern, secret six, invincible and atomic robo and do not think that DC are printing only shit or that marvel are bullies or that Dark Horse or Image are laughable.
I just enjoy my comics.
Peace guys.
@anon12 see, the great thing about being a critic is that you CAN say things like they're fact, and like anything you say, it just becomes a critical opinion, which can be as wrong as the next persons. because opinions are never right nor wrong, some just don't suit peoples' tastes
@Matt - Many thanks for introducing the phrase "keep fucking that chicken" into my lexicon. It's just a beautiful phrase that deserves insertion into my everyday vocab.
/\ I was gonna say! It's the first time I read it, and I absolutely love it. I plan to use it on a daily basis.
"Yeah costumer, I told you my price can't go any lower, but you keep on fucking that chicken, guy. Just keep on fucking that chicken."
There's a song in there somewhere.
"Keep on, keep on, just keep on fucking that chicken."
@Damodar
What an @ss hole u are. It must suck to be you
@ANON12 - reviewers need to use high modality (which is a level of certainty in your words), if we kept saying we think or we feel not only would it become boring but it's be redundant, if we typed it then we think/feel it. It's a review not an encyclopaedia, this is how this writing text works.
But I can understand with disagreeing with Ryan S's words (though just because others liked the issue doesn't then mean it IS the best and Ryan S is wrong, it's just silly to think that one review has more importance than another, it might to you but it doesn't wholistically) as I loved Morrison's #666 I was even thinking about doing a review of it now and contrasting it to the Batman & Robin run as it seems to have had so many cool hits that showed up later in that series. I was going to do that review/think piece but I haven't been reading B&R and so I'd hate to get something wrong and endure that wrath so I'll leave it be.
And the Joker prose issue, sure, he went for something but that was pretty damn tedious to read, I thought. Sadly, not a fan, though I wanted to be.
If you guys think Ryan can be harsh in some of his reviews (I don't, I actually think he is pretty nice to most books and artists) you should check Hannibal Tabu's The Buy Pile column on CBR. Weird guy...trashes regularly books like X-Men, Spider-Man and Green Lantern (although, with exception of GL, he might have a point) but constantly praises innane books like Transformers, anything Legion related and official handbooks.
I'm just thinking people shouldn't be allowed to post anonymously anymore. This is getting tedious...
THE GREAT ANONYMOUS
@Two-Bit Specialist: you have a good point but it would be sad for people like me who only comment as "anonymous". I do not comment like that because I can trash anyone and get away with it but because I do not know how to do it other than that way.
I am not sure if I have to suscribe or pay a quote or anything... yes I might sound dumb ass but I'm not really familiarized on how to post on blogs like this etc..
So the option of post anonymous is great but too bad that some trolls are leading to an action like this...
You can post under a Google account. Most people have one of these, because of g-mail and stuff.
If you don't have a Google account you might as well register one right now, before Google takes over the world and it becomes mandatory anyway. :P
There are actually a million ways to post. You can click Name/Url and type a name in without registering, there's any Google account name, Wordpress accounts, AIM, Livejournal and a couple others in the drop down box to pick from.
no one want to tell me why this batgirl is a good character?
Nice set of comics coming out this week.
From DC, I'm picking up Batman, with Morrison back on it I might actually enjoy it. I'm also picking up Secret Six, for obvious reasons.
Captain America, Daredevil, Invincible Iron Man, and Shield from Marvel. There's some interesting stuff elsewhere in Marvel. I might be interested in Ultimate Avengers if I weren't so scared for delays.
@Dangster - I really dig the parallels between Stephanie as Batgirl and Babs as Batgirl. Their natures and approaches are really similar. Plus the series has a really solid supporting cast. Even if you didn't care for her during War Games, I suggest checking out a few issues of the new series and let me know what you think. You'll probably be surprised.
@Anonymous#12 - I'm sorry, man, but I'm not going to sugarcoat my opinions because they don't gel with yours. I didn't care for those issues, but that doesn't mean you have to hate them too. Seriously, take a step back and realize that you are reading a REVIEW. Do you get your unders in a twist when Ebert doesn't like your favorite movie?
@Anonymous#13 - This is going to be my last response to this Marvel Bias bullshit. Do you even bother reading our site, specifically my reviews? I routinely praise DC books. The majority of the comics that I read are DC books and the majority of the Book of the Week winners on my Rankings tend to be DC comics. Get over the high school bull. You aren't impressing anyone.
Ivan/Dickey: I wish I could say I came up with it, but it's from a video that's pretty popular in Youtube, from some news anchor that said that phrase live on TV.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss8LDBNcsWc
(don't miss the woman's expression and the other guy's hand gestures. Priceless.)
Wow. You guys actually went through with it and removed the anonymous option... Good job!
@Ryan the Iowan: Actually, I do get upset when Ebert bashes my favorite movie, but I'd like to think that poetic justice has finally taken care of him.
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