Late Winter/Early Spring 2012

 

• Uncanny X-Force - A secret, lethal team that takes care of the dirtiest work. Writer Rick Remender has made the early issues scarce and the collections go into multiple printings. Ask us to catch you up on one of Marvel's top titles and prepare for a brutal ride.

• Amazing Spider-Man - Still consistently entertaining, energetic, and fun thanks to Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos. Pick it up as a palate cleanser after reading Uncanny X-Force.

• Batman - Scott Snyder has us all enthralled with the mysterious Court of Owls as Bruce struggles to uncover plots against his family that run generations deep.  Arguably the best title of the DC relaunch.

• Daredevil - Deftly sidestepping Shadowland Mark Waid has returned our hero to the courtroom to battle injustice at street level once again.  If you've ever loved Daredevil this is for you.

• The Ray - A mini series featuring a teenage Korean-American who has so much energy pumping through him he can't even wear clothes! Former Zatanna artist Jamal Igle returns to the DCU with co-writer superteam Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti.

• Swamp Thing and Animal Man. Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire. Flora and Fauna. Green and Red.  Alive and Dead.

• Fatale - We've witnessed the amazing duo of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips produce sultry crime-noir Criminal in mini series after mini series, now we get to witness that glory with a cosmic-horror element.  Don't get left behind.

• Unwritten - Mike Carey spins a tale of literature about literature and what happens when life imitates art too literally.

• Invincible - The self-proclaimed Best Superhero Book in the Universe pretty much is. If you want big fights, aliens, super villians, team-ups, and a dash of romance look no farther than beloved Robert Kirkman and mind-blowing Ryan Ottley and our Trade Paperback section.

Late November 2011

If you've been to the shop in the past month you'll know Sarah's all giddy for The Walking Dead: Rise of The Governor, by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga. The novel-novel (no pictures!) is the first in a trilogy exploring the history of individual characters from the comic series.  We meet Philip Blake prior to the events of Woodbury and learn the story of how The Governor came to be the individual he is. 

Knowing The Governor or reading any Walking Dead at all is unnecessary to appreciate the horrors of a zombie apocalypse, but a strong stomach is recommended.  The Rise of The Governor is a dramatic telling of human nature against unnatural odds, perfect for any fan of horror, zombies, human trauma, and cataclysmic events. A must-have for any Walking Dead fan!
 

Image Comics

Strange Talent of Luther Strode - Luther Strode is just your average nerd until he sends away for a bodybuilding course from an old comic book, one that works a whole lot better than he ever imagined. His newfound strength and strange talents make school a lot easier, but they?ve also caused some very, very bad people to take a very, very keen interest in him. Things will never be the same for Luther Strode if he survives.   Strange, disturbing, and definitely not for kids. 

Morning Glories - Nick Spencer's mysterious prep school with more coincidences and secrests than stereotypical brats has us all nervosly waiting to find out what goes bump in the night.  Stunning art and spot-on character development keep this flying off the shelves.

Witch Doctor - He's trained in the magical and medicinal and is looking for the cure to the apocalypse.   The first four issues, the #0 issue, and 14 additional pages of art , sketchs, and commentary are available as a trade paperback on December 14th.  It's comical and disgusting.  Check it out.

 

DC New 52:  What We're Still Reading

These are the books we're still reading each week.   There are many more that are solid stories, but we can't keep up with them all.  Here's the short list, in no particular order:

Batman  * Pretty much our favorite New 52 book. 

Batman & Robin

Nightwing

Batgirl

Aquaman

Justice League

Wonder Woman

Birds of Prey

Animal Man

Swamp Thing

Demon Knights  *Beautiful from page one.  The Medieval Magnificent Seven.

Captain Atom

Men of War

Savage Hawkman

Resurrection Man

Supergirl

Superboy

Action Comics

DC Universe Presents   *The first story arc follows Deadman as he deals with the residue of all of the people he has inhabited.

Catwoman

Flash

Frankenstein

Teen Titans

All-Star Western

Marvel Short List

In no particular order:

Uncanny X-Force   *Titus won't shut up about how awesome this book has been.  No prior X-Force knowledge needed, just pick up Vol 1: The Apocalypse Solution and get ready for a great ride.

Captain America & Bucky  *Captain America and Bucky in the 1940s. 

Avengers

FF / Fantastic Four  *The Future Foundation carries on with Val, Franklin, and the rest of the kids looking towards the future.  The core group of the Fantastic Four does their thing.  Both stories will be written by Jon Hickman and complement each other as he brings his story arcs to a close.

Secret Avengers  *Warren Ellis has been writing energetic one-shots about Steve Rogers' clandestine group.

Avengers Academy  *Top of my stack, every single week.  ~Sarah

New Avengers

Amazing Spider-Man   *Spider-Island was a fun "event" that didn't involve too many or irrelevant crossovers, and Dan Slott delivers multi-monthly shots of grue comics goodness. 

Thunderbolts

Daredevil  *Mark Waid deftly sidesteps Shadowland and delivers a classic Daredevil.
 

DC The New 52: Top Picks

Week 1  9.7.11

Action Comics - Grant Morrison, Rags Morales.  Emphasis on action!  Action and Justice League take place five years prior to the rest of the titles in the relaunch.  We get to meet Superman at his earliest as he begins to make his place as the hero for the little guy.

Batgirl - Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf.   Babs is back!  The issue of her rehabilitation is discussed but not fully, we're focused on who she is now, but more is sure to unfold.  Energetic art and predictably solid writing have Batgirl at the top of the stack.

Detective Comics - Tony Daniel and Ryan Winn.  A bit unsettling.  A thrilling ride and great first issue.
 
Animal Man - Jeff Lemire, Travel Foreman.  Never heard of Animal Man?  Check page 1.   Like Animal Man #1?  Pick up Sweet Tooth.

Swamp Thing - Scott Snyder & Yanick Paquette.  Dr. Alec Holland is back, with Swamp Thing's memories.  The best artwork of the week.

Men Of War - Ivan Brandon & Tom Derenick.  Corporal Rock only knows being a soldier, and he's about to learn how to fight a different kind of enemy.



What We're Reading 6.19.11

Reed Gunther (all ages, Image)

Our hero and his bear adventure through the Old West in this new favorite from brothers Shane and Chris Houghton. The duo self-published five issues in black and white before being picked up by the rapidly expanding Image empire. Now in full color, we’re treated to a raucous romp with monsters, villains, and runaway trains that will be followed by an ongoing series of new material!

Note: “All Ages” does not mean “Just For Kids.” This is truly a book to be enjoyed by all ages; it is not insipid nor infantile. It does, however, have only a fraction of the reading required by most “All Ages” books, with the majority of the story being told through clear and vivid image. Young readers will not be overwhelmed at the thought of trying to read this book, they will be encouraged that it is an attainable feat. UPDATE: 9.7.11 Kids are really picking up on this one. Who doesn't want to read about a cowboy who rides a bear?

Flashpoint (limited series, DC)

Everything you know has changed in a Flash. This summer we’re following Barry Allen and the rest of the Flash family as they try to fix fissures in time that have disrupted the past, present, and future as we know it.

The five issue mini-series is accompanied by tie-ins with Booster Gold, a few one-shots, and 16 three-issue mini-series. Not all of it is required reading but it sure wouldn’t hurt; to date, each part of the story has been well written. Booster Gold is a true companion book, and the Aquaman and Wonder Woman minis have the most to add to the overall story.

What happens during Flashpoint sets the stage for the overhaul of the DC universe in the fall. The fifth and final issue of Flashpoint will be the only book DC releases the week of August 31st, 2011, in addition to the first issue of Justice League.

 

Fear Itself (limited series, Marvel)

The Red Skull’s daughter, Sin, has called the God of Fear to Earth so she might posses power enough to conquer the world and destroy anything in her path. The Serpent has chosen seven Worthy to wield it’s Mjolnir-like hammers; heroes and villains alike succumb to the deity. Thor and Captain America are key players as they and others face their greatest fears in Marvel’s first big event in two years.

Although there are a few mini-series and several crossover titles for this story, Matt Fraction has taken great care to create a complete package in his seven-issue titular series. When the story has been completed, the ramifications will be felt throughout the Marvel universe.

Avengers: Children’s Crusade (Marvel)

Possibly the best Avengers title right now, we follow the kids from the Young Avengers on a quest to find the Scarlet Witch – mother of twins Wiccan and Speed! The story finds the kids banding together and challenging the adults, then adventuring to Doctor Doom’s to save the day! Not only is the story gripping (I wish it wasn’t bi-monthly) but the elegant art by Jim Cheung makes the pages jump to life. More, please!      UPDATE: 6.19.11 Still on top of the stack.

Heroes for Hire (Marvel)

Bionic detective Misty Knight is taking a break from fighting crime and is instead facilitating a group of heroes – heroes for hire. As Control, she contacts those who are needed for a particular mission, and they complete their objectives with swift justice. But there’s something a little different about Misty lately…. HFH features a broad crew that showcases individual talents yet the story isn’t encumbered by the variety. Action, adventure, and intrigue!  UPDATE: 6.19.11  Still on top of the stack.

  
Infinite Vacation (Image/Shadowline)  

From the writer of the sleeper hit “Morning Glories”, Nick Spencer brings us a fresh story of the commodity culture where you can buy your way into a parallel life at your whim. Christian Ward uses an infinite color palette and mixed media to match the expansiveness of the script. This is just what I needed to mix up the daily Marvel/DC capes and crossovers.    UPDATE:  6.19.11  Although there are five solid solicitations for the series, only two issues have been released in the past six months and the remaining three are in release-date limbo.  We'll be keeping our eyes open for this one, but aren't expecting anything soon.
 

Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel)

The Big Time storyarc has us happy again. Things are finally working out for the wall-crawler, well as much as can be expected when everyone you know is a target for scheming masterminds bent on revenge. Each issue is like a little bit of candy –a tease of energetic pep and a coherent story that goes by too fast.  UPDATE:  6.19.11  Still on top of the stack.  Just when I think I'm getting annoyed that the publication is thrice monthly, I'm always a little sad that week that Spidey isn't on the wall (no pun intended).  [- Sarah]
 

Our Army at War featuring Sgt. Rock (DC) one-shot  

Yes, I know this came out a few months ago, but I still love this book. A touching story that parallels soldiers of wars past and those fighting today. Pick up a copy to share with your friends and family in the military.  UPDATE:  6.19.11  Now available with four other war story one shots as a trade paperback by the same name.  Highly recommended.  [- Sarah]