Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 08/28/13

Time for another round of Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews!  As always, we've plenty of great books coming our way on the morrow, including Lazarus #3, Itty Bitty Hellboy #1, and more!  So grab that jump and check the whole crop out!

Major Releases

LAZARUS #3

Written by Greg Rucka

Art by Michael Lark

“FAMILY,” Part Three

Forever, now a “guest” of Family Morray in Mexico, shares a message and ultimatum, and gets to know her opposite number, the Morray Lazarus, Joacquim. In Los Angeles, the Twins continue their plot against their father, using Forever as their pawn.

Grant: We're only two issues in at this point, but Lazarus is leaping to the top of my pull list.  Greg Rucka and Michael Lark are telling one incredibly engaging science fiction tale that is replete with layers.  Rucka's writing is as sharp as ever, and Lark's art is something to behold.  I mean, just take a look at that cover.  What's not to love?  If you haven't been reading Lazarus, you're making a huge mistake, and you should endeavour to rectify that post-haste.

YOUNG AVENGERS #9

Written by Kieron Gillen

Art by Jamie McKelvie

• We wanted to just write “Screaming! Screaming! Screaming!” for this solicit, but we’re told we need boring old facts. :(

• Anyway! The Young Avengers road trip across the multiverse goes proper crazy as it reaches it’s destination. It’s destination is mainly EXCITEMENT and HEARTBREAK.

• Several Young Avengers decide what to do next. The question is, whether what they do next is to be Young Avengers...

• Honestly, screaming.

Grant: Young Avengers is another sensational title that is perennially among my favourite comic book ongoings at the moment.  This title is equal parts fun, superheroics, feels, and most anything else that you could want from a team book.  It's also hard not to love the thing when it routinely has the best solicitations from any company out there.  While Hawkeye is another noteworthy one, when it comes to solicits, Young Avengers reigns supreme, which I always appreciate.

New Kids on the Block

ITTY BITTY HELLBOY #1

Written by Art Baltazar and Franco

Art by Art Baltazar

A ghost named Rasputin has been spotted! And Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. are going to find out what he’s up to.

Who is Hellboy anyway? Why does he have such a big hand and what is it used for? Who's weirder, him or his friends? What is the B.P.R.D.? And what does chicken soup have to do with all of it? This and more answered in the debut issue, where BIG things happen to itty bitty Hellboy!

• The creators of Tiny Titans, Superman Family Adventures, and Aw Yeah Comics comes to Dark Horse!

• A new kids’ comic with Mike Mignola’s characters reimagined by Art Baltazar and Franco!

Grant: While I wasn't the biggest Tiny Titans fan, I love that Dark Horse has found a way to resurrect Art Baltazar and Franco's adorable creations.  It's obviously not quite the same, but the switch over to the Hellboy universe sounds like it's going to make for some really fun comics for readers young and old.  Aw Yeah! 

One Night Only

AMERICAN VAMPIRE ANTHOLOGY #1

Written by Scott Snyder, Jeff Lemire, Greg Rucka, Gail Simone, Gabriel Bà, Fàbio Moon & Others

Art by Becky Cloonan, Rafael Albuquerque, Jeff Lemire, Gabriel Bà, Fàbio Moon, Francesco Francavilla, Declan Shalvey & Others

You are cordially invited to a party—to die for! This special features eight amazing stories set in the world of American Vampire, with “lost tales,” new characters and old favorites. Don’t miss these stories brought to you by series creators Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque, as well as other awesome comics talent like Becky Cloonan (BATMAN), Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon (DAYTRIPPER), Jeff Lemire (SWEET TOOTH), Greg Rucka (The Punisher, BATWOMAN), Gail Simone (BATGIRL) and many more!

Grant: Even if you don't read American Vampire (not that I can imagine why you wouldn't), the creative talent involved in this anthology alone should be reason enough for you to pick up this title.  Every single name is that of a superstar creator, and to think that they all contributed in some way to the stories in this anthology gets my blood running hot.

BATMAN INCORPORATED SPECIAL #1

Written by Chris Burnham, Joe Keatinge, Dan Didio & Others

Art by Chris Burnham, Ethan Van Scriver, Jason Masters & Others

An all-star special featuring the various members of Batman Incorporated—Man-of-Bats, Red Raven, El Gaucho, Dark Ranger, Knight, Batman himself and more! In the wake of their epic struggle with Talia al Ghul, the Heretic and Leviathan see what’s next for the members of Batman’s army. Featuring stories written and drawn by a collection of industry greats! Plus: Bat-Cow makes her solo debut in a tale by writer Dan DiDio and artist Ethan Van Sciver!

Grant: While the talent involved isn't quite of the same calibre as the American Vampire Anthology, this will likely be the last opportunity we'll get to play in Grant Morrison's  corner of the Batman world before DC conveniently "forgets" all the stuff that doesn't quite jive with the New 52 (I'm looking at you Batman, Incorporated).  Also: Bat-Cow.  How could that possibly not be enough for you?

You May Have Missed

ATOMIC ROBO: REAL SCIENCE ADVENTURES #10

Written by Brian Clevinger

Art by Erich Owen

In the wake of the Panic of 1893, a cabal of industrialists plot to overthrow the government. Their 'Black Coat' army works from the shadows to plunge the nation into chaos an usher in a new regime.

Grant: The latest round of Atomic Robo: Real Science Adventures, focused around Dr. Nikola Tesla and the Centurions of Science and their conflict with the shadowy cabal of wealthy industrialists has been somewhat hit and miss thus far.  Some issues feel crisp and fresh, while others have been sluggish and hard to follow.  I'm crossing my fingers that this is one of the latter instead of the former, because the concept definitely has merit, but it hasn't been paying off quite as it could have.

FBP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #2 FORMERLY CALLED COLLIDER

Written by Simon Oliver

Art by Robbi Rodriguez

They call it a "Bubbleverse." Not quite an alternate reality but a pocket universe-like a soap bubble forming on top of another soap bubble-that mirrors our own. People from our world are trapped inside, and FBP field-agents Adam and Jay volunteer for a daring rescue mission before a devastating collapse. But things are not what they seem: There's a traitor in the Federal Bureau of Physics, and things are falling apart. . .

Grant: I'm really sorry to see that Collider had to switch up its name due to a prior copyright claim to the title, as Federal Bureau of Physics is about as boring as you can get for the name of a miniseries.  However, I hope that you won't let that snorefest of a title keep you away from this book, as it feels like it's going to be something really unique.  The whole concept of physics plumb not working for reasons beyond our understanding is already pretty solid, but Robbi Rodriguez's art puts this comic into a completely different level.  Definitely worth checking out.

The Balance

GREEN TEAM TEEN TRILLIONAIRES #4

Written by Art Baltazar and Franco

Art by Ig Guara and J.P. Mayer

The richest teens in the world are in over their heads. Obviously, it’s time to go public with their existence! That is, if everyone survives the fight against Riot and the mysterious villain who’s been pursuing them all along!

Grant: Oh, Green Team.  You so often feel like the final bastion of fun and levity from DC's increasingly dour and dark stable of comics.  I honestly can't think of any other New 52 book that strikes anything approaching a lighthearted tone, which makes me like this book more and more every time it arrives with its effervescent salve.  I will admit that the title could use a little bit more direction in the next issue or two, but I'm willing to cut it some slack due to its unique position in DC's current titles.  Hopefully that faith isn't misguided.

SKULLKICKERS #24

Written by Ron Marz, Adam Warren, Todd Dezago & Jim Zub

Art by Lee Moder, Tom Raney, Stjepan Sejic & Edwin Huang

BEFORE SKULLKICKERS

A return to our classic legacy numbering just in time for a new set of Tavern Tales! Four short stories by top flight talent detailing the earlier adventures of our heroes.

Grant: I do enjoy Skullkickers' Tavern Tales issues.  While the ongoing story is always a good time, it's nice to get the opportunity between story arcs to enjoy the interpretations of different creators and the short stories they produce.  I'm also glad that Jim Zub managed to tie this issue into the parodies the last arc has been doing by poking some final fun at DC's Before Watchmen.  What more, I'm tempted to say that this perhaps the best pseudo-Watchmen cover I've seen.

UNWRITTEN #52

Written by Mike Carey and Bill Willingham

Art by Peter Gross and Mark Buckingham

In “The Unwritten Fables,” part 3 of 5, Mister Dark finds an ally—someone who hates Tom Taylor more than he ever could, and knows where to hit him so it hurts the most. But as Mister Dark realizes the opportunity he’s been offered, the stakes go from high to terrifying for Tom and the Fables refugees.

Grant: The Unwritten's crossover with Fables has far exceeded my wildest imaginings (which, considering I haven't read any of Fables, were admittedly somewhat tame).  Mike Carey and Peter Gross, in concert with Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham, have found a way to perfectly mingle the two properties in a way that is both natural and feels relevant to their overarching stories.  I obviously can't speak as much for Fables, but I'm really enjoying how this fits in with the wider narrative for Tom and company.

Pick of the Week

While Bat-Cow's is excessively great, I must say that the American Vampire Anthology is the book I'm most excited for this week.  Once again, you simply can't beat the talent that has been assembled to work on that issue.  On top of the brilliant cast of creators, I'm eager to have the simple opportunity to see people other than Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque play in the American Vampire sandbox that those two have created.

What about you?  Which titles are you jonesing at the bit to get your hands on?  Any glaring oversights on my part this week?

Related Posts