Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 07/24/13

As you prepare for your weekly journey to the comic book shop tomorrow, might I suggest checking out our Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews to get an idea of some of the exciting books that will be waiting for you there?  It's a smaller crop this week, but there's still plenty of quality comics, including Hawkeye Annual #1, The Unwritten #51, Wild Blue Yonder #2, and more!  So check behind that cut to see what there is to see!

Major Releases

HAWKEYE ANNUAL #1

Written by Matt Fraction

Art by Javier Pulido

 

• Go west, young lady! Kate Bishop heads to Los Angeles -- to get away from New York, life, and Clint Barton—but NOT trouble!

• But Madame Masque is hanging out at poolside with the rich and famous as well!

• Who is Kate Bishop? Find out alongside Kate Bishop herself as a wild new status quo comes to HAWKEYE.

 

Grant: We're back with another issue of Hawkeye sans regular series artist David Aja, which means it's time for me to bemoan his absence from this title.  It's not very original on my part, I'll admit, but I strongly maintain that this title simply isn't the same without Aja's unique touch.  It also doesn't really help that Javier Pulido was the artist on Hawkeye #4 and #5, which have been my least favourite issues thus far.  All this being said, I'll still definitely be picking up this book, but that doesn't mean I won't be wishing that Matt Fraction's words were being drawn by Aja's talented pen.

HUNGER #1

Written by Joshua Fialkov

Art by Leonard Kirk

 

The fallout from AGE OF ULTRON rips open a dangerous rift in the universe! Prepare for a hunger so strong, that no universe is safe. Is this the beginning of the end?

 

Grant: So the scuttlebutt has been (or has it been confirmed?) that Galactus is going to rip open the walls between the mainstream 616 Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe.  If that's the case and if that's something that sounds appealing to you, then I imagine that Hunger is going to be a title you're going to want to follow.

 

 

 

LAZARUS #2

Written by Greg Rucka

Art by Michael Lark

 

“FAMILY,” Part Two

 

The Carlyle Family has been attacked by their enemies to the south, and Forever’s father suspects a conspiracy amongst his children. To root it out, he sends Forever into the arms of the enemy, Family Morray.

 

Grant: Lazarus #1 was a great opener for Greg Rucka and Michael Lark's brand new creator-owned series from Image.  We've got some brilliant science fiction dystopian literature at play here, with the very wealthy controlling every aspect of everyone else's lives, and employing one particular member of their family to act as their enforcer against the Waste and other competing families.  The first issue did a great job setting the stage, and we'll hopefully be able to dive into Forever's journey as she struggles with her responsibility to the Carlyle Family and her discovery of the secrets behind it.

New Kids on the Block

LOBSTER JOHNSON: A SCENT OF LOTUS #1

Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi

Art by Sebastián Fiumara

A series of brutal Chinatown murders sets off a manhunt for an Imperial Japanese agent even the Tong are afraid to kill. The Crimson Lotus, first introduced in B.P.R.D.: The Dead in 2005, finally stands revealed!

• Essential ties to B.P.R.D. Plague of Frogs!

"Lobster is the hero who gets things done instantly ..."–Comic Book Resources

 

Grant: Lobster Johnson remains one of my favourite parts of the Hellboy mythos.  He's the perfect embodiment of a 1930s pulp vigilante hero, has an awesome costume, and an even better name.  I'm always eager for more, and I'm excited to see what Mignola and company have cooked up for A Scent of Lotus.

THE ROCKETEER / THE SPIRIT: PULP FRICTION #1

Written by Mark Waid

Art by Paul Smith

The Spirit, created by Will Eisner, and The Rocketeer, created by Dave Stevens, are two of the most beloved characters in the history of comics. Now, these two great pulp-inspired heroes meet for the very first time! A Central City Councilman disappears and is found dead in Los Angeles. Commissioner Dolan, along with Denny Colt (AKA The Spirit) and his daughter Ellen in tow, treks out to the City of Angels to investigate. Meanwhile, Cliff Secord (The Rocketeer) consoles his sweetheart Betty… who is traumatized after accidentally discovering the politicians body!

Grant: The Rocketeer is a character that I feel should be right up my alley.  He's got a catchy name, a swell costume, and a rocketpack to bring the whole package to new heights (sorry for that).  Indeed, I actually quite enjoyed IDW's collections of short comics featuring the character, but their miniseries have left me a little underwhelmed.  That being said, I am interested to see how Mark Waid, a man who lives comic book history, will manage bringing The Rocketeer together with The Spirit.  That's a meeting that seems rife with potential, so hopefully Waid and Paul Smith will hit the mark.

You May Have Missed

MIND MGMT #13

Written by Matt Kindt

Art by Matt Kindt

Prepare for MIND MGMT's most surreal arc yet, in this first in a series of one-shot stories! This month, how will sleeper agent The Home Maker maintain her cover when Mind Management invades suburbia?

SEASON 2 STARTS HERE!

• Optioned for the big screen by Ridley Scott!

"If you are a fan of mysteries, if you are a fan of Kindt, if you are a fan of comics: pick this up!"—Comics Bulletin

Grant: Mind MGMT continues to be one of the most interesting comic books on stands.  Every month, Matt Kindt manages to create a new chapter to this ongoing tale that looks beautiful, reads like a dream, and adds to the overarching mystery of the world.  I'm mighty intrigued to see what an arc of one-shots will look like, but considering my love for done-in-one books, this feels like it will be right up my alley.  Can't wait.

WILD BLUE YONDER #2

Written by Mike Raicht and Austin Harrison

Art by Zach Howard

The critically acclaimed creator-owned book from IDW continues! As the newest recruit aboard an elusive solar-powered airship, Tug begins his training as a "Gun." On the run from The Judge, Tug has just joined the sky's Most Wanted, but with the beautiful Cola as his pilot, and the ferocious Scram as his coach, what could go wrong?

 

Grant: I find it mildly amusing that this solicitation, which was written months ago before the first issue was released, claims that Wild Blue Yonder is a critically acclaimed book, but at the same time, I also agree with the assertion so I'm not that put out about it.  Mike Raicht, Austin Harrison, and Zach Howard have created something mighty interesting here.  I didn't know it before, but in one issue they have proven to me that I've always wanted a comic about post-apocalyptic airships and dogfights, which is exactly what this book delivers.

The Balance

THE GREEN TEAM: TEEN TRILLIONAIRES #3

Written by Art Baltazar and Franco

Art by Ig Guara

The richest teens in the world are dealing with some serious buyers’ remorse when the Commodore’s battle armor causes him tons of trouble! And not even a trillionaire can afford the trouble that the Commodore’s new hired muscle, Deathstroke, brings with him!

 

Grant: Green Team is fun.  It may not sound like a lot, but that's something that is in mighty short supply in DC books right now.  It feels like every single comic they're publishing is grim, dark, and far too serious, which makes books like Green Team feel all the more necessary.  DC has a wide world, and it feels like a wasted opportunity for all of their books to read and look the same way, which is why I'm glad that Art Baltazar, Franco, and Ig Guara have somehow managed to carve out at least one part of the universe where fun things can still happen.  Amanda Connor's cover really sells this, as I cannot wait to see how Deathstroke deals with a bunch of teenagers who have hired him for some mission.  It should be (you guessed it) fun.

 

UNWRITTEN #51

Written by Mike Carey

Art by Peter Gross

In “The Unwritten Fables” part 2 of 5, Tom Taylor steps into the role of warrior and protector in a war between storybook characters. His first mission: save the Big Bad Wolf. But a job like that might need TWO Tom Taylors...

 

Grant: The Unwritten-Fables crossover started last month in The Unwritten #50, and it is already shaping up to be one of my favourite crossovers ever.  For one thing, I don't have to buy issues of Fables to understand what is going on, as that book is continuing uninterrupted.  And for another, it's been all kinds of awesome.  I imagine the crossover is happening to try to get more readers into The Unwritten, but as long as Mike Carey and Peter Gross keep telling a good story, I have absolutely no issue with that.

 

YOUNG AVENGERS #8

Written by Kieron Gillen

Art by Jamie McKelvie

 

• The Young Avengers desperately race across the multiverse. Nothing can stop their pursuit of their missing friend. Except the urge to stop and take photos, obv.

• Lots of cleverly hidden exposition.

• Kieron decides it’s time to make all the JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY readers scream.

 

Grant: It feels like yesterday that Young Avengers #7 came out, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.  Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie continue to deliver some of the most enjoyable and most unique superhero comics around (which is saying something when Marvel is also publishing Hawkeye and Daredevil), and this is a rare instance where I won't complain too much that it is being double shipped.  I mean, I'm still not in love with the practice, but at least the double shipping is with the same artist on both issues (thanks to the fill-in on Young Avengers #6, but still...).

 

Pick of the Week

 

Wow, this is one mighty hard pick of the week.  Normally I'd be all over Hawkeye, Young Avengers, or Lazarus, but with them all dropping at the same time, narrowing down between the three is no simple task.  Instead, I think I'll roll with The Green Team: Teen Trillionaires #3, because as I said above, the book is tons of fun, and that's something I'd love to see more of in comics right now.

 

That's how things look from this end of the afternoon.  What are they like on your side of things?

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