Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 11/23/11

The yo-yoing of comic book buying continues in this week's Post-Crisis Previews!  We've moved back to what is considered lean times for me, so I've got some short and sweet thoughts on offer for one and all.  Behind the cut, you'll find my thoughts on Captain America and Bucky #624, Flash #3, and a pair of classic Vertigo titles.  What're you waiting for?  Let's get with the clicking and get this show on the road!

CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #624

Written by Ed Brubaker & Marc Andreyko

Art by Chris Samnee

The final chapter in Cap and Bucky's first arc is here, completing the retelling of Bucky's early days with a heartbreaking tale of the Winter Soldier and Black Widow in the 1950s, and our secret narrator is finally revealed - as are the things that tie this series to current continuity.

Grant: As someone who hasn't really ever read a comic book series starring Captain America or Bucky, this reintroduction to both of these characters has been right up my alley.  Brubaker and Andreyko have been doing some wonderful things plotwise, and after his stunning work on Thor: The Mighty Avenger last year, I'm prepared to follow Chris Samnee to the ends of the Earth.  Sadly, Samnee is moving on to other projects after this issue, but on the plus side, he's being replaced with one of my other favourite artists, Franceso Francavilla as of next issue, so it's hard to be too upset about that.  Even better, unless I'm terribly mistaken, Ed McGuinness will be off covers, so this book can finally start looking as respectable outside as it does inside.

FLASH #3

Written by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato

Art by Francis Manapul

If the Fastest Man Alive is going to capture Mob Rule, he must first tap into his new amped-up super brain to save the citizens of Central City from the EMP that has blacked out the city. Witness a spectacular sequence of out-of-control cars, trains and even airplanes that must be stopped from destroying the city!

Grant: We got just a small taste of the exciting things that Francis Manapul has teased that he'll be doing with Barry Allen last issue, and it was phenomenal.  I was hesitant at first, but Manapul and Brian Buccellato's writing is more than capable, and as long as Manapul's art keeps doing all those crazy things it does, I'll keep being excited for this book.  As things are, I wonder why they didn't give Manapul the reigns to the Flash sooner; he definitely knows what to do with them.

SCALPED #54

Written by Jason Aaron

Art by R.M. Guera

“Knuckle Up” part four. There’s war on the rez, and like any other war there are bound to be casualties. As bullets fly, bonds are forever broken, and Dash moves to finally face his fiercest foe.

Grant: I feel like I'm always saying that things are heating up in Scalped, but it always seems to be true.  Jason Aaron has not wasted a single issue up to this point, and as we near the concluding issue 60, he's pulling out all the stops from everything that's come before.  And with a series this well-paced, that adds up to a lot of stuff.  Can't wait to see what Dashiell Bad Horse gets up to next.

UNWRITTEN #31.5

Written by Mike Carey

Art by Michael WM. Kaluta, Rick Geary, & Bryan Talbot

“Tommy Taylor and the War of Words” continues! Throughout history, a mysterious group of men and women has shaped the stories that humankind tells. Who were they? Where did they begin? What were their motives and their strategies? From ancient China to Medieval Germany to turn-of the century America – in the pages of Wilson Taylor’s journals, the real story unfolds...

Grant: I said it two weeks ago, and I'll say it again: I'm really excited for this "Tommy Taylor and the War of Words" arc.  Two issues a month is a lot, but if they're all as good as #31 was, it won't be that hard of a sell.  I'm interested to see how these .5 issues will fit in, as it's my understanding that they'll move away from the main group of protagonists to focus in on how the "war" is impacting other characters in the world.  As far as I'm concerned, this should be some pretty good stuff.  My only reluctance is the number of artists they have slotted for working on this issue.  Individually, they all look pretty alright, but we'll see how their different styles mesh in a single issue...

So that's me this week.  What do you think?  Am I on the straight and narrow?  Committing cardinal sins?  Are there some titles that I should absolutely be dropping my hard-earned moneys on?  I'm always open to suggestions, so tell me what you're getting and why and we'll see where things go!

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