Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 04/11/12

Happy Post-Crisis Previews, everybody! Seeing as it's the second week of the month, that of course means that, for whatever reason, I have an extra large haul on my hands. I still don't understand that phenomenon, but as long as this calibre of books keeps ending up in my hands, I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. So get clicking on that jump to see some of the wonderful books I'll be grabbing, including Batwoman #8, Saga #2, Unwritten #36, and much more!

ADVENTURE TIME #3

Written by Ryan North
Art by Shelli Paroline & Chris Houghton

Algebraic! Don't miss Finn, Jake, and all of their friends on their biggest adventure yet! Trapped by the dreaded Lich, the guys gotta stop all of Ooo from being sucked away forever - and rescue a bunch of wayward Princesses.

Luckily, no one does adventure - and looks cooler doing it - than Finn and Jake! The Cartoon Network sensation's brand new comic is the hot new series you can't afford to miss!

Grant: Hooray for Adventure Time. I've finally manage to catch a few episodes of this show, and while I must admit that it's not exactly my cup of tea, I am finding myself greatly enjoying this Ryan North-helmed comic book adaptation. As long as that continues to be the case (and why wouldn't it?), I'll continue getting my monthly dose of adventure in this fun ka-Boom! book.

AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #6

Written by Mark Waid & Greg Rucka

Art by Marco Checchetto

• “The Omega Effect” Begins Here Bringing Together Marvel’s 3 Biggest Heroes From The Most Acclaimed New Books Of The Year!

• Spider-Man, Daredevil And Punisher In An Epic Chase Across Manhattan For A Mysterious Treasure That Will Change The Course Of All Their Lives.

Grant: As I said last week, I'm terribly excited for this whole "Omega Effect" thing. Really, anything that gets me more Greg Rucka-penned comics is good news in my books. The only thing getting me down here is that Avenging Spider-Man remains $3.99 despite the fact that it is being written as a tie-in to and by the same writers of two books that sell for $2.99. That's a wee bit frustrating, but I'll make an exception. This time.

BATWOMAN #8

Written by J.H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman

Art by Amy Reeder & Rob Hunter

Six lives moving through different points in time, all heading toward a crossroads.

Batwoman faces gnashing teeth, claws and otherworldly powers. But can she defeat the villains of Gotham Harbor?

Maro, an arcane wizard, harnesses violent magics to create the vile creature known as The Hook.

Kate Kane struggles with living multiple lives and how that affects her relationship with Maggie.

Detective Maggie Sawyer transports a double agent named Sune.

Jacob Kane still holds onto hope for a life that he so desperately needs in his.

DEO Agent Cameron Chase covertly aids Batwoman in abducting one of the villain Falchion’s inner circle.

The creative team’s unique take on spy stories continues!

Grant: It seems like these Batwoman solicitations are getting longer with each month, but as long as the quality of the book proper stays at the same level, I'm not going to complain about it. It's definitely worth noting that this will be the last Amy Reeder drawn issue of the series, which is a damn shame. Having Trevor McCarthy come in as a replacement should be alright, but it certainly won't be the same. You'll be missed, Amy.

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #3

Written by Brian Wood

Art by Becky Cloonan

Alone, Conan was the most fearsome warrior to ever walk the planet! Now, joined with the pirate queen Bêlit, he is swept to new levels of danger and passion. Wood and Cloonan continue to redefine the Cimmerian as he embraces piracy and begins his joint reign of the Black Coast alongside the deadly siren, Bêlit!

Grant: I love this series. I've loved every issue (all two!) to pieces. Brian Wood's writing is rock solid here, perfectly channeling the pulpy roots of our Cimmerian comrade, and Becky Cloonan's art is out of this world. Any way you look at it, this is a winning combination. I believe that this whole thing is intended to run for 24 issues, and I sure hope that's the case, because I'll happily follow this story for two years or more.

DEMON KNIGHTS #8

Written by Paul Cornell

Art by Bernard Chang, Diogenes Neves & Ocliar Albert

Just how exactly did Madame Xanadu become the paramour of both Jason Blood and Etrigan, the foul demon trapped inside him? On the road to Alba Sarum, there’s nothing but time for tall tales…and this one’s as unbelievable as they come! Featuring guest art by Bernard Chang (DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS)!

Grant: Oh man, it looks like it's time for some Canterbury Tales - Demon Knights style! As long as this isn't as terrible as the tacky Canterbury Cricket one-shot from Flashpoint last summer, I'll chock up this issue as a success, which considering how bad that issue was (sooo bad), shouldn't be that hard.

LOBSTER JOHNSON: THE BURNING HAND #4

Written by Mike Mignola & John Arcudi

Art by Tonci Zonjic

As dead gangsters bloody the floor of his secret hideout, crime-fighter Lobster Johnson goes head to head with the powerful Nazi boss—the Black Flame!

Grant: I keep misremembering to review this miniseries, but it's not due to the book being bad. On the contrary, after a first issue that was perhaps a bit on the slow side, things have really picked up and they have not let off the accelerator. With the explicit supernaturalism from the Black Flame really coming to the fore, I'm awful excited to see where this whole thing is going to end up.

PETER PANZERFAUST #3

Written by Kurtis J. Wiebe

Art by Tyler Jenkins

"THE GREAT ESCAPE," Part Three

The boys commandeer Nazi transport and high tail it out of Calais. But, before they can get too far, a passenger plane crashes nearby. Bravely checking for survivors, the boys are startled by what…and WHO they find!

Grant: The second issue wasn't quite as strong as the opener, but considering the level of Wiebe's other works, I'm more than willing to show some patience as this miniseries finds its exact place and voice. At the end of the day, I'm still intrigued by the mixing of Peter Pan and World War Two, and that's more than enough for the moment. Let's see how things go with the introduction of their Wendy, shall we?

SAGA #2

Written by Brian K. Vaughan

Art by Fiona Staples

The ongoing epic continues! After deserting their galactic armies, former soldiers Marko and Alana must now protect their newborn girl from the lethal killers dispatched to destroy their family.

Grant: This one is an absolute no-brainer. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples' science fiction epic is off to a great start, and I can't imagine how things won't continue along the same vein. I know that this won't be the forty-odd pages of story without ads that we got last time, but the twenty or so pages that we'll get will be well worth it.

SECRET #1

Written by Jonathan Hickman

Art by Ryan Bodenheim

“TEETH, WITH WHICH TO EAT”

A man gets shot in London, a law firm gets broken into in Washington, an accountant gives away the password to his computer, and something put to sleep 20 years ago awakens. What is the unsavory relationship all these things share, and how could it bring down two of the largest governments in the history of the world?

It's SECRET, a brand new, ongoing, monthly comic from the creators of A RED MASS FOR MARS.

Brought to you by award-winning writer JONATHAN HICKMAN and break-out talent, RYAN BODENHEIM, SECRET is an espionage thriller that takes a deep look into the shadow world existing between the government and private security firms.

Grant: I wasn't super keen wasn't keen on Hickman's Manhattan Projects, but we'll see if Secret can have a bit more success at grabbing my attention. That being said, I'm starting to suspect that Hickman's writing just might not be for me, as I've never really clicked with anything of his I've encountered in the past, but that doesn't mean I won't keep trying. The solicitation certainly lends a certain appeal, but if there's one thing I've taken from this weekly exercise, it's not to put too much stock in solicits, so we'll see.

UNWRITTEN #36

Written by Mike Carey

Art by Peter Gross & Rufus Dayglo

The war of words is over, and the aftermath is worse than anyone could have imagined. A great tide of chaos is sweeping through all the places that never existed, overwhelming old friends and enemies alike, and sparing neither man nor...rabbit?

Grant: I say it every time another issue of The Unwritten drops, but I'll say it again: this title is amazing. And if the solicit (and cover) is a reference to the return of Pauly Bruckner, the foul-mouthed rabbit from issues #12 and #24 (and going by that count, #36 would be the perfect time for his return), I for one am ecstatic. Frankly, that alone could make this the best issue in ages, which is saying a lot, considering how strong this series has been throughout the War of the Words storyline. I certainly hope we'll be getting a good dose of wascally wabbit action, because that would be quite the treat.

WINTER SOLDIER #4

Written by Ed Brubaker

Art by Butch Guice

• Bucky Vs A Gorilla! You Heard Me, Look At That Cover.

• The Villains Plot Revealed!

• Featuring Dr. Doom, Red Ghost, And More!

Grant: This title always frustrates me, because I feel like its solicitations and covers are almost always horrid, and this month's offerings are no exception. In fact, the solicitation seems extra dumb this time around. On an unrelated bit, the inclusion of a gorilla on the cover means that this issue will sell like hotcakes, right? Do people still buy more copies of comics that have gorillas on the cover? Is that still a thing?

Seriously, I know that publishers used to plaster gorillas all over their comics due to the fact that the mere suggestion of gorillas would increase sales. Is this something that's still effective in this day and age? Looking at that gorilla, are you more or less inclined to pick up Winter Soldier #4? A man needs to know, so please share your two cents in the comments below.