Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 10/26/11

Welcome to the last round of Post-Crisis Previews for October.  As the month draws to its end, so to do a number of books that I've been faithfully following.  But it's not all conclusions, as we've got a couple of new beginnings coming up this week, as well.  So hit the jump to see some of my thoughts on Spider-Island: Cloak and Dagger #3, Spaceman #1, Green Wake #6, and more!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #672

Written by Dan Slott

Art by Humberto Ramos

The final war for Spider-Island! What will it mean for Spider-Man, Manhattan, and the Marvel Universe?

Three words: Change is coming.

Big action! Big consequences! Big Time! All in the Mighty Marvel Manner!

Grant: Oh man, oh man.  Spider-Island is zipping right along, and I continue to enjoy every moment of it.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again, this is an event that is, simply put, a whole lot of fun.  The solicitations are claiming that it will bring about a bunch of change, since that's what solicitations do, but I couldn't give a fig about what the fallout from this storyline is, because every issue is just so darn good.  Amazing Spider-Man is definitely showing that the journey can be at least as important as the destination, which is a lesson I wish more series preached.

BUTCHER BAKER RIGHTEOUS MAKER #7

Written by Joe Casey

Art by Mike Huddleston

Just when things couldn’t get any weirder… Just when the nightmare couldn’t get any darker…Just when it you thought it was safe to go back in the comic bookstore, it’s the newest issue of BUTCHER BAKER! This issue: The envelope is finally pushed to the breaking point!

BUTCHER BAKER IS THE BOMB BETWEEN YOUR LEGS!

Grant: I don't even know what to say to that solicitation.  This series has a unique perversity to it that I find somewhat charming and entirely refreshing.  Joe Casey and Mike Huddleston's weird take on the superhero genre is a nice palette cleanser after reading a bunch of straight superhero books from Marvel and DC week in and week out.  I'm still trying to work out what the "point" of this series is, but I'm enjoying the experience as I try to figure it out.

CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #623

Written by Ed Brubaker & Marc Andreyko

Art by Chris Samnee

Behind enemy lines! Bucky and Cap have faced the horrors of war on many fronts, but this issue, they go further into the depths of evil than our young heroes realized possible. And what is the secret that connects the Cap and Bucky series to the modern day stories - the clues begin to add up this issue, as Brubaker, Andreyko, and Samnee keep the pedal to the medal.

Grant: I've written about how much I've enjoyed this pseudo "Bucky: Year One" story that Brubaker, Andreyko, and Samnee are doing here.  I liked the emphasis on Bucky as the only non-superpowered hero last issue, and I'm eager to see where that might lead.  That being said, I've got to admit that, as much as I love what's inside this book, I really hate these Ed McGuinnes covers.  I find that his figure work looks really weird here - that is one ugly looking Bucky, in my opinion.

DAREDEVIL #5

Written by Mark Waid

Art by Marcos Martin

THE DEATH DEFYING DEBUT OF MARCOS MARTIN!

One honest man -- just one -- exists in the vast criminal corporation known as Roxxon Oil, and Daredevil has to find him before a nightmarish disaster claims the entire Eastern Seaboard! Can DD get to him in time--or will this issue's surprise villain get to him first?

Grant: First, I'm confused as to why they would claim this as the "death defying debut of Marcos Martin" when he drew part of the first issue and was the artist for issue #4.  Second, I'll let it slide since it means the world gets more comics drawn by Marcos Martin, which is always a good thing.  I already liked his work from what I'd seen in Amazing Spider-Man, but he's really kicked things up to the next level on Daredevil.  His work is generally fantastic, but it is his attention to detail that's really sold me on this arc.  Oh yeah, I guess that Mark Waid guy is pretty good, too.

FLASH #2

Written by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato

Art by Francis Manapul

The Fastest Man Alive learns he can make his brain function even faster than before – but as much as it helps him, it also comes with a steep price. Plus: The mystery behind Barry Allen’s friend Manuel Lago deepens as Barry investigates his kidnapping at the hands of Mob Rule!

Grant: I must admit to being a little disappointed that Flash #1 wasn't more exciting.  I'd heard a lot of claims from Francis Manapul and others in the industry that he was doing some really innovative stuff with this book. And while his beautiful strokes were apparent throughout the inaugural issue, there wasn't that much that really leaped off the page.  It was by no means a bad issue, but it wasn't nearly as inventive as I was expecting.  I hope that issue #2 can succeed in shifting into that higher gear.

GLADSTONE’S SCHOOL FOR WORLD CONQUERORS #6

Written by Mark Andrew Smith

Art by Armand Villavert

All Hell breaks loose when the Gladstone’s Cadets take on their parents’ old superhero nemesis. But have they bitten off more than they can chew? Can they restore their parents’ villainous honor? It's an action-packed "don't miss" issue, with far reaching events that change the Gladstone’s universe forever.

Grant: Mark Andrew Smith and Armand Villavert have been creating quite the interesting little superhero universe over the first five issues of Gladstone's School for World Conquerors.  While they haven't given the reader all the answers, they've provided a number of clues hinting at a wide spanning conspiracy between the heroes and villains of their world.  All the while, they've also succeeded in providing some engaging protagonists for the reader to root for, and it looks like they'll need all the support they can get as they are getting in way over their heads by taking on an honest to goodness superhero.  I know that these supervillain children are going to be okay, but I am looking forward to seeing how they manage it.

GREEN WAKE #6

Written by Kurtis J. Wiebe

Art by Riley Rossmo

"LOST CHILDREN”

The next chapter of the critically acclaimed saga returns and the face of Green Wake has been forever changed. A new threat to the once-quiet shores surfaces when rowboats wash ashore with nothing but fresh blood as a passenger and a new arrival begins a campaign to unite Green Wake’s inhabitants with unknown purpose.

A brand new story arc begins…perfect jumping on point!

Grant: Green Wake really came out of left field for me.  I picked it up solely on the recommendation of The Weekly Crisis's own Ryan K. Lindsay, and I haven't looked back.  Kurtis J. Wiebe's tale of the mysterious Green Wake has been quite a page turner, and Riley Rossmo's art has been the perfect compliment to this strange and dark world.  If this next arc is anything like the first one, you're going to want to check this out.

SCALPED #53

Written by Jason Aaron

Art by R.M. Guera

“Knuckle Up” part 3 of 5. The web tightens around Dash and Chief Red Crow. Will they aid each other in their hour of greatest need – or only add to the destruction?

Grant: Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera's Scalped has been a pretty intense book since the first issue, but as we move towards the conclusion of the series, things have really been ramping up in a big way.  "Knuckle Up" has been all kinds of crazy, and the cliffhanger from last month only makes me more excited to see what comes next.  Also, Jock's covers are always stunning, and this one is clearly no exception.  Can't wait.

SPACEMAN #1

Written by Brian Azzarello

Art by Eudardo Risso

Writer BRIAN AZZARELLO and artist EDUARDO RISSO – the Eisner Award-winning creators of 100 BULLETS – return to Vertigo with a new 9-issue miniseries, kicking off with a debut issue priced at just $1.00!

Set in a post-apocalyptic near future, SPACEMAN tells the story of Orson – a hulking, lonely loser who spends his days collecting scrap metal and dreaming of the startrekking life he was promised.

That is, until he finds himself at the center of a celebrity child kidnapping case. Seeing his chance to be a hero, Orson takes matters into his own hands...but will his actions only cause more heartbreak?

Grant: While I still haven't read 100 Bullets (one day...), I was enamoured with Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's work on the Batman: Dark Knight of Vengeance Flashpoint mini-series.  I also enjoyed the sneak peak at Spaceman in Strange Adventures #1 back in June, which might be a better indicator of what this book will be like.  Either way, the first issue is a single dollar, which is a deal that is just too good to turn down when a title has talent like this working on it.  Consider me sold.

SPIDER-ISLAND: AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #3

Written by Paul Tobin

Art by Pepe Larraz

THIS IS IT – THE BIGGEST DECISION IN SPIDER-GIRL’S LIFE! Caught in a war between The Kingpin, The Society of Wasps and a Manhattan infested by Spiders, Anya Corazon buckles down to protect her own – and will make a decision at the end of this story that will forever change Spider-Girl! Paul Tobin (SPIDER-GIRL) and Pepe Larraz (WEB OF SPIDER-MAN) bring you this fight-filled, web-walloping, death-defying tale to its rollicking conclusion!

Grant: This mini-series has been alright, but it hasn't grabbed me quite as strongly as some of the other Spider-Island tie-ins have.  I'm mostly still on board due to having bought all eight issues of the previously cancelled Spider-Girl series by Paul Tobin, whose story this one is clearly continuing.  There have been interesting elements in the first two issues, so I'm hoping that Tobin and Larraz can turn things up a notch or two for the big, bad finale that the solicitation claims this will be.  Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but I'll be there to see it one way or another.

SPIDER-ISLAND: CLOAK AND DAGGER #3

Written by Nick Spencer

Art by Emma Rios

Mr. Negative has created a monster…and the ultimate destiny of Cloak & Dagger is warped beyond recognition! Will Ty and Tandy live through the ordeal…and even if they do, can they ever be together again?! By Nick Spencer (SECRET AVENGERS, IRON MAN 2.0) and Emma Ríos (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, OSBORN)!

Grant: I was a little disappointed with the second issue of this mini-series, but that was mostly because it wasn't quite as good as the phenomenal opener.  However, that still left it as way better than 90% of stuff on stands right now, so I gotta say that I'm still pretty excited for this conclusion.  I think that Nick Spencer will be able to turn things around, and either way, Emma Rios' beautiful artwork will guarantee that it looks darn purty at minimum, which is good enough for me.

VENOM #8

Written by Rick Remender

Art by Tom Fowler

Flash Thompson has suffered a terrible loss, just when his Venom persona is needed to protect New York City the most! The Infestation’s architects have gained an unimaginable edge and Venom must go head-to-head with the Spider-King! With a broken heart and the fate of New York on his shoulder, well, folks you've heard it before but after this, trust us, Venom's world can never be the same again! By Rick Remender (X-FORCE) and Tom Fowler (AGE OF HEROES)

Grant: My favourite part of Venom recently is that, not only is it a good Spider-Island tie-in, it has continue to tell the story that Rick Remender has been telling since the first issue.  Flash Thompson has been a great Venom in ways that I feel like few people expected, and I'm excited to see the big ol' brawl the solicitation promises play out.  Should be good.

So that's me for the week.  I'm still pulling down a few more books than my bank account would like, but I have managed to cull a few from the list.  On the plus side, this does once again mean that I'm pretty pumped for all the books you see above, so there is that.  What are you picking up this time around?  More of the New 52?  Leaning towards the House of Ideas?  Or are you looking to the smaller companies for your weekly fix?  Let me know!

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