New Comic Day 5.26.2010

Lord, Big week. Even with a "maybe" in there, it's a big week.

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #2 (of 6)

Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by FRAZER IRVING
Covers by ANDY KUBERT
Variant cover by FRAZER IRVING

The most anticipated series of 2010 is here! Superstar writer Grant Morrison tackles his most ambitious project to date with THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, a special six-part series that chronicles the return of the original man behind Batman's cape and cowl! Each issue spans a different era of time and features the dynamic artwork of one of today's artistic juggernauts, starting with Chris Sprouse (TOM STRONG) on the extra-sized issue #1 and Frazer Irving (SEVEN SOLDIERS: KLARION) on the 40-page issue #2!

Issue #1 was definitely interesting, and Chris Sprouse really nailed the art. Just beautiful stuff. If Morrison can keep his plotting up, this series will be a winner on all fronts, because the artist line up is without peer.

The Brave and the Bold #34

Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ

Don't miss this first chapter of a most unexpected two-parter! This wouldn't be the first instance where the Legion of Super-Heroes have gone back in time looking to add to their ranks. But the sheer craziness the Doom Patrol will bring into their lives just might make that it the last time... and the Legion's mission will lead to some rather unexpected consequences next issue!

HA! Cool team-up. There's really nothing more you can ask for from a book with the proud The Brave and the Bold title. JMS has picked two teams that are always fun to play with. He's kept the series at a pretty high level, so I expect he'll play well.

Detective Comics #865

Written by DAVID HINE
Co-feature written by GREG RUCKA
Art by JEREMY HAUN
Co-feature art by CULLY HAMNER
Cover by CLIFF CHIANG

Batman spends the night in the bowels of Arkham Asylum attempting to uncover its mysteries. Plus, the horrifying fate of Black Mask is at last revealed! In the co-feature, The Question discovers the shocking true identity of the man responsible for the human trafficking and gunrunning.

Well, Batwoman is gone from this title, but Rucka's still working the Question back-up feature.

That kinda makes me sad.

Green Lantern #54

Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY
Cover by SHANE DAVIS and SANDRA HOPE

BRIGHTEST DAY shines its light on the "New Guardians" who have been forced to make Earth their new home! Why? You'll have to read it to believe it. While Hal is forced to deal with Larfleeze and his newfound appreciation for Earth culture, Sinestro uncovers the mystery behind Parallax's disappearance.

I'm only reading this book, not the sister Green Lantern Corps. I wonder if that's why it feels a little disjointed and random. I can only assume it's my fault, as Johns usually has things under control.

But I'm also a tiny bit pissed I gotta read another book for this to make sense.

Justice League; Generation Lost #2

Written by KEITH GIFFEN and JUDD WINICK
Art by JOE BENNETT
Cover by TONY HARRIS
Variant cover by KEVIN MAGUIRE

Spinning out of BRIGHTEST DAY, DC's new biweekly event begins here! Someone is targeting the old members of the defunct Justice League International. Now, surviving members Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Fire and Ice have to figure out what unseen mastermind is threatening to destroy the entire Super Hero community! There are no gray areas here – it's black and white and red with blood all over for this lost generation of Super Heroes as original JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL writer Keith Giffen is joined by superstar scribe Judd Winick (BATMAN, GREEN ARROW) for a new era in excitement! And don't miss the monumental reteaming of Giffen and his former JLI writing partner J.M. DeMatteis on this month's BOOSTER GOLD #32!

This is a "maybe" leaning more to "probably not."

Why?

Because this series was promoted as the return of the Justice League International, in all it's silly, gooftastic glory. It's not. This is a very serious story, which is fine, but JLI managed to tell serious-as-a-heart-attack tales, and still make time for goofy antics between the cast. That makes this series feel like a bait-and-switch. I'm sure Giffen has no interest in just repeating himself, but that doesn't wash because he and DeMatteis ARE repeating themselves over in Booster Gold.

So,I'm likely back on the bus with Booster, but this generation will remain lost.

Power Girl #12

Written by JIMMY PALMIOTTI and JUSTIN GRAY
Art and cover by AMANDA CONNER

All the pieces of the puzzle come together as Power Girl faces friend and foe in the no-holds-barred climax of the Ultra-Humanite's mad grab for control of Earth!

Holy crap! A one-sentence comic blurb?!?! No crossovers? No continuity to try to explain?

This book will go on, but I'm not going with it. This creative team made this book for me, and, as this is their last issue, it unmade it for me as well. I wish the new team well, but I KNOW they won't pull off what Palmiott, Gray and Conner did with a smile. I'll miss you Karen Starr, but I have a feeling it won't really be you anymore, anyway.

Ultimate Comics Enemy #4 (of 4)

COVER BY: Ed McGuinness
WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
PENCILS: Rafa Sandoval
INKS: Paul Tutrone
COLORED BY: Alberto Saichann

The heroes and Nick Fury make an uneasy alliance to hunt the mysterious enemy that has ruined their lives and murdered their friends. It’s a team-up like you’ve never seen before as Spider-Man and his truly amazing friends must go undercover to try to do what the U.S. government refuses to do. All this plus Ben Grimm makes an amazing transformation unlike anything you can imagine! Comic book sensations BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS and RAFA SANDOVAL bring you the shocking conclusion to part one of the Ultimate Enemy trilogy!

I bought the other 3 issues. Might as well finish it.

New Comic Day 4.21.2010

Big, almost HUGE, week...almost $30.

**sigh**

Sometimes I do wonder about how much I spend on this stuff. Doesn't help I also have a $25 fundraiser for my current show on Friday night, and I'm working hard to put away a significant dollar amount each week for San Diego. Oh well, I could be spending it on smack.

Batman: Streets of Gotham #11

Written by Paul Dini
Art and cover by Guillem March

As Gotham City swirls in a maelstrom of evil and villainy, three of the most unlikely candidates – Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn – step forward to bring some light to the situation. But will their efforts enough to stem the tide of madness and mayhem?

This series is kinda like comfort food. I'm never disappointed, but rarely excited, either. Dini is a master, but that doesn't mean the stories are always brilliant. However, sometimes they are, and I approach each new issue he writes with that hope.

The Brave and the Bold #33

Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art by CLIFF CHIANG
Cover by JESUS SAIZ

Oh yes, it's ladies' night! Batgirl, Wonder Woman and Zatanna enjoy a nice, peaceful evening on the town that absolutely won't be interrupted by any kind of superheroic hijinks whatsoever... and if you believe that, there's a giant bronze globe in Metropolis we'd like to sell you!

Aw, yeah...ladies' night! **BOW-chicka-wow-wow**

**ahem**

JMS has been holding up his end of the deal so far, although the series isn't nearly as regular as it used to be. However, Straczynski promised odd pairings, and he's lived up to that. I stand by my previous assertion that this is old-school comics at it best. We don't need sweeping crossovers for heroes to get together, just sharp, done-in-one, fun storytelling. All 33 issues of the modern version of this title have lived up to that. Totally recommended.

Green Lantern #53

Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY
1:25 Variant cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI

A BRIGHTEST DAY tie-in! Exploding out of BLACKEST NIGHT comes the next exciting chapter in the Green Lantern mythos: "New Guardians"! Forced together during the rise of the Black Lanterns, Hal Jordan, Sinestro, Carol Ferris, Saint Walker, Atrocitus, Indigo-1 and Larfleeze must agree to disagree if their next mission is to succeed. But when one of the strangest beings from Green Lantern's past returns, the future of the Lanterns and the universe at large once again falls into question.

Of course, there's noting wrong with huge crossovers, if done right. I'm excited to see what the post-Blackest Night/Brightest Day universe will mean for the assorted ring corps. I don't know if I've pontificated over this already, but it really needs to be said...Kudos to Geoff Johns for introducing the multiple color/emotion ring corps. It's, hands down, the best, most story-generating (which is the most important part) new element to be added to the Green Lantern mythos in decades. There's nothing wrong with the changes writers like Ron Marz put into effect, but rebuilding the Green Lantern Corps as a galactic police force, and then adding the additional spectrum corps...it's just opened up the cosmic DC universe in a huge way.

Justice League of America #44

Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art and cover by MARK BAGLEY and ROB HUNTER
1:25 Variant cover by David Mack

A BRIGHTEST DAY tie-in! Following the events of BLACKEST NIGHT, the brand new Justice League of America enters into BRIGHTEST DAY with an arc featuring the Justice Society of America. The epic team-up begins with a character from the end of BLACKEST NIGHT joining the JLA. But when the storyline's over, what mysterious villain will be revealed – and which hero will switch teams?

Oh, God...WILL SOMEONE MAKE THIS BOOK GOOD AGAIN!?!?! I mean, I won't drop it, I love Mark Bagley too, too much, but, if he goes, I'm out. Unless they get someone writing this thing that can run with it, AWAY FROM THE ASSORTED CROSSOVERS, and make the team matter.

I mean, seriously, this title has been hamstrung with editorial mandates and tie-ins for years, and when Dwayne McDuffie up and admitted he was having trouble writing a compelling series when it had to tie-in to every DC event down the pike, they fired him. Bad form, Dan Didio. I love so much of what you've put in play at DC, but...You need to let this title breathe, get a team in place, and let it gell into a cohesive unit. Hell, the series has even become about how the team has problems working together!

Pull it out of continuity for a year, and let it establish it's own identity.

Power Girl #11

Written by JIMMY PALMIOTTI and JUSTIN GRAY
Art and cover by AMANDA CONNER

Power Girl's life has been torn apart, and the last thing she needs is to find out that one of her closest allies is now one of her deadliest enemies! But, we're sorry to say, that's exactly what Satanna has managed to serve up!

One part sad, one part glad. Sad because there's only one more Palmiotti/Gray/Conner issue of this series left, and it's become one of my favorite reads on a monthly basis. that's all because of what that team brought to the table. Especially Conner's strong-but-sexy artwork. I'll miss the hell out of this series when I drop it after next issue. Like I said at the top of the page...I need to cut back on the comics $$ for a bit, and if the team is gone, what I was reading for will be gone.

The Spirit #1

Written by MARK SCHULTZ
Co-feature written by Dennis O'Neil
Art by MORITAT
Co-feature art by Bill Sienkiewicz
Cover by LADRÖNN
1:10 variant cover by MARK SCHULTZ

The Spirit returns in an all-new ongoing series! Central City destroys everyone who lives within its borders...so it's a good thing The Spirit already died once! International crime syndicate The Golden Tree wants to help Central City's Octopus consolidate control over the underworld and the Spirit is the kind of mess the Golden Tree was created to clean up. They've offered the Octopus the services of one of their finest assassins to take his breath away for good – and the sight of this killer would get anyone's heart pounding!

This issue also features the debut of the eight-page THE SPIRIT: BLACK and WHITE co-feature, showcasing the industry's finest talent. And who better to kick things off than DENNIS O'NEIL and BILL SIENKIEWICZ?

More of DC's First Wave line...A little background here;

The Spirit was created by a genius cartoonist named Will Eisner in 1940. It was a comic book series that was actually an insert into Sunday newspapers, and Eisner owned the property outright, holding full creative control. He managed to tell many different and affecting stories within the framework of The Spirit's world. The Eisner series is sheer genius. (Despite the ugly stereotype of the Ebony White sidekick character)

The most recent version of The Spirit was a series DC published starting in 2007, with the first 12 issues being handled by modern genius cartoonist Darwyn Cooke. After Cooke left with issue 12, the series limped along for about another 20 months, but no one really captured the way a modern Spirit ought to work like Cooke did. (I should've stopped reading with his departure).

The recent movie, directed by sometimes-genius cartoonist Frank Miller was nothing but a nightmare. I never saw the whole thing. The power went out about 20 minutes in the film, and it felt like a reprieve from Hell.

I hope this series gets it right, I really do. The property is too ripe, and too historically important to lie fallow. I am most intensely interested in the "Black and White" back-up feature. It'll be cool to see various creators play with the property, and O'Neil and Sienkiewicz are a hell of a way to start.

Ultimate Comics Avengers #6

COVER BY: Carlos Pacheco
WRITER: Mark Millar
PENCILS: Carlos Pacheco

Like father like long-lost psychotic son? Not quite! Looks like this anticipated Father-Son reunion will result in bullets instead of tears! Will the Avengers get there in time to keep Captain America and Red Skull from blowing themselves away and the world in the process? Hold on to your masks!

Y'know, this title debuted the exact month that Ultimate Comics Spider-Man (below), and Millar and Pacheco are already 3 months behind Bendis and Lafuente. Go figure.

The Ultimate Red Skull being Ultimate Captain America's illegitimate son is a fairly interesting concept, but I can hardly tell you what's going on in this story arc. It's been that long since I read an issue. However, I usually enjoy the title when it comes out, and Pacheco is no slouch in the art department.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #9

COVER BY: DAVID LAFUENTE
WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
PENCILS: DAVID LAFUENTE
INKS: Todd McFarlane
COLORED BY: Allan Jefferson
LETTERED BY: Jared Fletcher

It's the return of Spider-Woman! And guess who she totally makes out with in this issue! What?? Yeah, you heard me!! Wanna see a Spider-Man story you have never ever ever ever seen before? We promise you, it’s right here!! All this and Kitty's Pryde's world comes crashing down around her as the U.S. government comes to Midtown High to collect her.

This title is great. It's a great all-ages title staring a familiar hero, and, while it carries some continuity BS with it, it's not the 40 years worth the "regular" title carries. I love this book, and I have from the start. I love the voice Bendis gives these kids, and the way he spins the superhero action in to the mundane High School hijinks in a pretty effortless way. It's top-notch.

But I still miss Mark Bagley's art.

New Comic Day 3.24.2010

Extremely light week last week, with only 2 titles, so, of course, bigger hit to the wallet this week.

as a new "feature" I'll be including the official solicitation copy for each of these issues, as well. This will be in Red.

Batman: Streets of Gotham #10

Written by PAUL DINI
Co-feature written by MARC ANDREYKO
Art by DUSTIN NGUYEN and DEREK FRIDOLFS
Co-feature Art by JEREMY HAUN
Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN

It's Batman, Robin and Abuse struggling against the deadly clutches of Mr. Zsasz. With the lives of kidnapped children at stake, it's up to Gotham City's finest heroes to save the day. And in the Manhunter co-feature, Two-Face's trial comes to a surprising end as a new trial starts! Can Kate balance all of that with her need to spend time as Manhunter? And what's Kate's son Ramsey doing in Gotham?!

Likely another solid issue of a solid book. Dini's work is shining here, I just really wish we'd see some of this over on Gotham City Sirens. (I REALLY need to drop that book.)

Green Lantern #52

Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and Cover by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY
1:25 Variant Cover by SHANE DAVIS and SANDRA HOPE

BLACKEST NIGHT'S penultimate chapter is here, and you do not want to miss this issue. Trust us on this one.

Penultimate, huh? This is a classic example of the solicit that tells you nothing, because you're buying the book anyway. I'm more excited to see what happens AFTER Blackest Night, at this point.

Power Girl #10

Written by JIMMY PALMIOTTI and JUSTIN GRAY
Art and Cover by AMANDA CONNER

Power Girl squares off against Satanna and her Animal Army just as Terra enters the fray! This should be a good thing, but somehow it looks like Power Girl's got a new enemy!

This issues strikes me as a bit bittersweet, because it was recently announced that the creative team will be leaving with issue #12. I'll be honest, one year with Palmiotti, Gray and Conner's Power Girl is not enough. Not by a long shot...

However, when Palmiotti and Gray eventually leave Jonah Hex, I'll proclaim a day of mourning.

Captain America #604

COVER BY: Gerald Parel
WRITER: Ed Brubaker & Sean McKeever
PENCILS: David Baldeon & Luke Ross
INKS: MK - Andy Kubert & James Raiz
COLORED BY: Jeff Parker & James Raiz
LETTERED BY: Jason Paz

The penultimate chapter of TWO AMERICAS! As two Captain Americas clash in the heartland, the Falcon fights to stop a terrorist attack on American soil by the new Watchdogs! Plus, Nomad: Girl Without A World back-up by SEAN MCKEEVER and DAVID BALDEON.

This series is trying my patience. Steve Rogers is back, and I want Steve Rogers as Captain America, not Bucky Barnes. Brubaker is still telling snappy espionage tales, but...I dunno, I want some of that rah-rah-sis-boom-bah Steve Rogers speechifying. Cap is supposed to be the best of all the things that make up America, not a skulking cold warrior.

Maybe it's just me.

The Stand - Soul Survivors #5

COVER BY: Mike Perkins
WRITER: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
PENCILS: Mike Perkins

Somehow, by luck and by pluck, Nick Andros led his group through the wilderness to Hemmingford House, the home of Mother Abagail. But they can't stay long, and an even more dangerous task awaits them: Seeking out and facing down Randall Flagg. In the midst of a crisis of faith, Nick makes a fateful choice that will forever change his life. Also: In a world without doctors, what happens when a member of Stu and Frannie's group requires an operation? Pick up a scalpel and say your prayers, True Believers, as the third volume of Stephen King's horror epic concludes!

I've grown to really enjoy this series or mini-series, adding up to a 30-issue adaptation of King's novel. It's very faithful to the source, so there are no surprises, but the art is beautiful. Plus, hey...Bruce Springsteen as Larry Underwood.

I say that with every issue, don't I?

New Comic Day 2.17.2010

What did I say last week? 10-title week?

So close to that, my wallet hurts.

Batman #696

Written by Tony Daniel
Art by Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea
Cover by Tony Daniel

Daniel has proven very adept at running this title without really doing anything spectacular. It seems like everyone knew that the eyes would be on Morrison over in Batman And Robin, so they just needed somebody to "mind the store." His art is very nice, and the writing is solid. No complaints, but nothing amazing.

Batman: Streets of Gotham #9

Written by Paul Dini
co-feature written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs
co-feature art by Jeremy Haun
Cover by Dustin Nguyen

Dini's back after an issue off. He and Nguyen have formed a solid, workmanlike team, and they get the job done with style and wit. The quality ebbs and flows from issue to issue, but it never drops below the baseline, and it sometimes can be stunningly good.

Blackest Night: The Flash #3

Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Scott Kolins
Variant cover by Francis Manapul

Time to be blunt...This series is better than Flash:Rebirth, and Scott Kolins is kicking Van Sciver's butt in the art department. I don't even care how that mini-series is going to end at this point, and every time Van Sciver posts some inane video or right-wing propaganda on facebook, I think, "shouldn't you be drawing?"

Which has nothing to do with this mini-series, which is quite good.

Green Lantern #51

Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy
Variant cover by Greg Horn

Blackest Night continues...Again, enjoying it, but I think I'm ready to start wrapping this up. Hal's possessed by Parallax again, and we'll see how that turns out.

Justice League of America #42

Written by James Robinson
Art and cover by Mark Bagley and Rob Hunter
Variant cover by Adrian Melo and Mariah Benes

Just keep repeating "Robinson and Bagley will turn this around. Robinson and Bagley will turn this around. Robinson and Bagley will turn this around."

Maybe it'll come true.

Power Girl #9

Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art and cover by Amanda Conner

The joyful read of the week. Superhero comic books at their best, fun, sexy and a bit cheesy. I'm so happy to have Amanda Conner drawing Karen Starr on a monthly basis. So many people claim to be trying for a "sliver age feel," and it just comes off as a little too precious and aware. This team has captured how to have the same energy and feel of those insane silver age stories, while still feeling fresh and modern. Great stuff.

Captain America #603

COVER BY: Gerald Parel
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY: Gerald Parel
WRITER: Ed Brubaker
PENCILS: Luke Ross
INKS: Array

Ah, me...I used to love this series a lot. It was the lone mainstream Marvel title I could say I was reading an enjoying. Then Captain America: Reborn happened. That mini was such a botch, on so many levels, that I can't even explain. It's tainted the series for me. Is it my expectation that Steve Rogers would be back as Captain America being thwarted? Possibly, mainly because you KNOW when the movie hits in 2012, corporate synergy obsessed Marvel couldn't bear to have Rodgers out of the costume....

The Stand: Soul Survivors #4

COVER BY: Lee Bermejo
VARIANT COVER BY: Mike Perkins
WRITER: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
PENCILS: Mike Perkins
INKS: Array

If you like the novel, you should like this series. It's a very well-executed adaptation, and I've enjoyed it all so far. If you don't like the novel, or King...nothing for you here, move along.

Buckaroo Banzai: Hardest of the Hard #2

Written by Earl Mac Rauch
Art by Shawn Van Briesen

I love the movie The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th Dimension. It's a film that I saw 2 times on the day it was released, just sat in the theatre, pretty much alone, for two showings. These comics absolutely get the story and characters right, as they're written by original screenwriter Earl Mac Rauch, but the art can swing from passable to poor. Moonstone isn't a hotbed of art talent, apparently. However, I'll be coming back for the story, and the continuing adventures of my favorite rock star/surgeon/race car drive/physicist.

Let's take a moment to look at one other thing about these titles...six of the nine have something in common that I hoped we'd left behind in the 90's.

VARIANT COVERS....

Thank you, comic industry, for trying to suck more and more money out of the pockets of your loyal, but dwindling, fanbase by getting to buy the SAME BOOK twice, or even three times!

Comic Book Wednesday 10.21.2009

Hey, hey...Here we go!

Batman: Streets of Gotham #5

Written by Chris Yost
co-feature written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs
co-feature art by Jeremy Haun
Cover by Dustin Nguyen

Looks like Paul Dini's taking a break. Hopefully, Yost, who's work I've enjoyed in Red Robin, will come up with a good tale. His story apparently teams The Huntress with Man-Bat, which certainly sounds interesting on paper. we shall see.

The Brave and the Bold #28

Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art and cover by Jesus Saiz

The Flash teams with WWII heroes, The Blackhawks. Cool. I really do love team-up books like this, and, as I've said, new writer Straczynski is really digging deep for odd pairings, and that's really the fun of this kind of title.

Justice League of America #38

Written by James Robinson
Art and cover by Mark Bagley
Variant cover by Andy Kubert

And now, Robinson and Bagley come on board to try to inject somethign into this title. I'll be on board until Bagly leaves, but if Robinson's not bringing the heat, story-wise, I'm gone with the artist. Seriously, this ought to be a flagship title for DC, and it's been in such a slump for the last few years.

Power Girl #6

Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art and cover by Amanda Conner
Variant cover by Guillem March

So. Much. Fun. Seriously, good, goofy superhero fun. This team has really given Power Girl/Karen Starr a real swagger and energy, that just rolls off the pages. Amanda Conner's art just pops, and the women are dead-sexy without seeming exploitative.

The Stand: Soul Survivors #1

COVER BY: Lee Bermejo
WRITER: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
PENCILS: Mike Perkins
INKS: Mike Perkins
COLORED BY: Laura Martin
LETTERED BY: VC - Rus Wooton

This is the first issue of the 3rd mini-series that will make up Marvel's adaptation of Stephen King's novel. I'm a big fan of the novel, and the comics are doing the story justice. Ultimately, it's going to be a 30-issue adaptation in 5-issue mini-series, and that seems about right. Plus, we finally get to see "Bruce Springsteen" as pop-star Larry Underwood. That has to tickle King a bit.