Major Spoilers Staff Picks for April 04, 2012

Looking for something good to read this week? The Major Spoilers Staff has sifted through this week’s releases and have pick a number of books you might want to check out as well.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #683
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Stefano Caselli
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: VC – Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

SOLICITATION:
• The Biggest Movie Stars Of The Summer Team Up As The Amazing Spider-Man And The Avengers Square Off Against Doc Ock And The Sinister Six!

•The World May Be Ready To Buckle Under And Give In To Doctor Octopus’ Demands…But Spider-Man And His Fellow Avengers Sure Ain’t!

GEORGE: Don’t you believe us when we say this series is great?

ROB: Spidey’s been preparing for the Sinister Six for some time, and now that Ock has made his plans evident, Spidey will go to the Ends of the Earth to bring him down (heheh). Seriously though, Slott knows how to write both Peter Parker and Spider-Man better than anyone else today and anybody who is remotely interested in the web-heads adventures should be picking this up.

STEPHEN: I’ve got a stack of books that I haven’t even gotten to yet, but regardless, Amazing Spider-Man always finds its way to the top of the reading pile week after week after week (but not for the fourth week, because you don’t want to overwork your talent). Amazing Spider-Man is the title to watch, as Marvel prepares for the coming Marvel Superstorm (a.k.a. Spider-Man’s 50th anniversary, a.k.a. Marvel 616/617 reboot, a.k.a. The Death of Spider-Man), and I’m loving every minute that Dan Slott is serving up.

ANIMAL MAN #8
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Pencillers: Steve Pugh and Travel Foreman
Inkers: Jeff Huet and Steve Pugh
Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

SOLICITATION: “Animal vs. Man” Part 2! Buddy takes a stand as the horde of Rot-infested animals continues to grow and close in on the Baker family. But the results are disastrous, setting up a chain of events that may lead Maxine right to the Hunters.

RODRIGO: Well, I’m finally caught up with Animal Man… AND IT IS GREAT!

Ok, honestly I wasn’t crazy about a whole issue where 75% is a movie Buddy did back in the day (and not even the whole movie) but I think things are going to get a little more focused now.

BRILLIANT #3
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mark Bagley
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

SOLICITATION: The college cast of BRILLIANT does it! They cracked the secret to superpowers! But before they can even reveal their findings, one of them choses to abuse the power. Will Amadeus ruin everyone’s chances for true greatness with his own selfish actions? How will the world react to the discovery of superpowers? Another creator-owned blockbuster issue from the people who brought you the record-breaking ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN and the years No. 1 comic!

MATTHEW: A long time ago, I was introduced to Mark Bagley’s art on a book called “Strikeforce: Morituri,” and I’ve followed him ever since, even to horrible stuff like the deeply flawed “Trinity” miniseries. Now he’s back at Marvel, working with Bendis on a creator-owned title (the place when Bendis shines) and it’s a story that I really enjoy and relate to…. Can’t beat that kind of schtick.

CHEW #25
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Rob Guillory
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

SOLICITATION: “MAJOR LEAGUE CHEW,” Part Five
For sale: One Cibopath, slightly used, extremely damaged.

ROB: Tony Chu is a cibopath. This means that when he eats something, anything except beats, he gets a psychic impression of where its been and what its life has been up to that point. As a member of the FDA, the most powerful of government agencies, he used this power to solve crimes. Now, with that lead in, who wouldn’t want to pick up the best series coming out right now.

ZACH: I can never say enough about this series. It is one of the only books that I will buy in print and digital, simply because it is that good and want to support it. John Layman and Rob Guillory continually take each issue up a notch, but never venture outside of what was originally planned, and it has been planned since the beginning, just to draw more attention. If you can only buy one book this week I seriously recommend getting Chew.

EPIC MAD TP
Writer/Artist: The Usual Gang of Idiots
Price: $12.99 (Cheap!)
Publisher: DC Comics

SOLICITATION: The Usual Gang of Idiots is at it again – and this time, they’ve come up with the new EPIC MAD TP! Ripped from the pages of the magazine that inspired the hit Cartoon Network show, this new collection features some of the oddest and most stupid and ridiculous MAD articles ever!

BRUCE: MAD Magazine is stupid, offensive and juvenile. Its humor aims for the lowest common denominator and hits it. It often insults those of even the lowest intelligence, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. I still pick up an issue of MAD every now and then and still find it very funny. A collection of more recent material is welcome, as older material has been collected and re-collected in many configurations over the years. Even if something on page one makes you roll your eyes, something on page two will make you laugh out loud. MAD’s job is the same as it has always been. Lampoon pop culture, society, and anything else it can think of in the most direct way possible.

FLEX MENTALLO MAN OF MUSCLE MYSTERY DLX HC
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Frank Quitely
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $22.99

SOLICITATION: Once he was Hero of the Beach…and of the Doom Patrol. Now Flex Mentallo, Man of Muscle Mystery, returns to investigate the sinister dealings of his former comrade, The Fact, and a mysterious rock star whose connection to Flex may hold the key to saving them both.

Don’t miss this deluxe hardcover collecting the four-issue miniseries from the team behind ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, including a special sketch section and recolored art.

GEORGE: After years of legal wrangling, it is finally here. Flex Mentallo is an oddity of a character, introduced during Grant Morrison’s superb run on Doom Patrol, inspired by those old Charles Atlas ads that used to pepper comic books. This story takes place in a separate reality from the Doom Patrol and is one of the best examples of Morrison’s signature strange meta-narratives that mediate the intersection of reality and art. Flex Mentallo is one of my all-time favorite comic heroes, and I cannot wait for the opportunity to read his adventures in a solid format. C’mon, read the story that made a man out of Mac.

GREEN ARROW #8
Writer: Ann Nocenti
Artist: Harvey Talibao
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

SOLICITATION: Part two of a three-part story introducing new creative team of Ann Nocenti and Harvey Tolibao! Green Arrow faces off against the enraged father of three beautiful sisters, which might not seem so unusual for Ollie until you add in the part about being trapped in a frozen tundra with a horde of bloodthirsty, mutating animals. Things aren’t what they seem as Green Arrow must race to uncover the truth about this “family” before he becomes a monster snack – or a frozen corpse!

SHANE: I loved the first few issues of this comic but the new team in #7 seemed to keep this going downhill. I’m hoping the cheesy dialogue and art was the pheromones speaking and that the new team didn’t completely create a new character. A lot is riding on this issue whether I’ll be spending or saving $2.99 each month.

INCORRUPTIBLE #28
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Marcio Takara
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

SOLICITATION: Since her apparent betrayal, Alana Patel has been on Max Damage’s long list of enemies. But when Alana is in danger and Max is called upon to save her, can he find the heart of a true superhero within himself and finally forgive the sins of the one person who forgave his? An unforgettable arc in the companion to Mark Waid’s Eisner-nominated superhero series, IRREDEEMABLE!

JIMMY: If you read my reviews and my staff picks, you know I’m a huge fan of Incorruptible and Irredeemable. As things are winding down towards the big finales, I have no idea how Mark Waid is going to conclude things. Will Max Damage actually be able to save Coalville from the huge radiation cloud? Will the Plutonian revert to being a hero (in my mind the ONLY way to fix the radiation cloud)? If so, does Max revert to being a criminal? I am very excited that Mark Waid is getting a chance to end the title on his own terms, and can’t wait for this issue.

INFESTATION 2: 30 DAYS OF NIGHT ONE-SHOT
Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Artist: Stuart Sayger
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99

SOLICITATION: December 1952. An Air Force pilot and civilian photographer embark on a top-secret mission to investigate a possible Russian installation near the North Pole. They discover they’ve been beaten to the punch by another team, and they’re not Russian. But they do have a fondness for red…

RODRIGO: Look out Fangly Draculas! A Chthulhu is trying to eat you!

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #8
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Aaron Lopresti
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

SOLICITATION: The plan was for the JLI was to be installed as Earth’s official protective team. But once Breakdown attacked, that all came to a swift and sudden end. Now, as the pall of death and injury hang over the team, all that matters is survival. Featuring the introduction of a surprise new team member!

ROB: After getting approval and being introduced as the UN’s officially sanctioned Justice League, the JLI were attacked, devasted, and told to disband. Now, how is the team gonna handle this. With Batwing showing up in this issue, it should be quite entertaining.

LEGEND OF OZ: WICKED WEST #3
Writer: Tom Hutchinson
Artist: Alisson Borges
Publisher: Big Dog Ink
Cover Price: $3.50

SOLICITATION: After a rough and tumble meeting with the Winged Monkeys, Gale and her newfound friend mount up and ride for the Emerald City. The desert gives way to forest and forest means lions and tigers and bears – and Kalidahs! The Wild West reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz continues!

JIMMY: I reviewed the second book in this series from Big Dog Ink a while back, and what I expected to be a series I could make fun of turned out to be an incredible title, with gorgeous art and a really well-crafted story. It’s still early enough in the series that you can get your LCS to order you a copy of the first several; I highly recommend doing so.

MUDMAN #3
Writer: Paul Grist
Artist: Paul Grist
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

SOLICITATION: Did you ever have the problem where a cute puppy follows you to school? Owen (Mudman) Craig has the exact same problem. Only it’s a vicious homicidal robot, not a puppy. Still cute though.

JACK: I love it when DC Comics takes their villains and gives them their own title – even if that title is short lived. Yeah, the company got Clayface’s name wrong in this book, and they accidentally put another publisher’s logo on the cover, and I’m pretty sure we didn’t see Clayface or Batman in the last two issues of this book, which makes this one of the biggest buildups to a character reveal since Jean Paul Valley first appeared on the scene. Also, Matthew said he would give me such a purple nurple if I didn’t let one of his choices become the Major Spoilers Staff Pick of the Week this week. So pick up this oddly named title, I’m sure you’re gonna love it as much as I have since the first issue came out!

MATTHEW: I was actually relieved to find that I didn’t miss an issue of this one, as #1 was a catalyzing bolt from the blue. It’s all the best parts of old-school storytelling, married to amazing storytelling from Paul Grist. (If you ever get the chance, look up a book called “St. Swithin’s Day” that Grist did with Grant Morrison. Not really relevant, but it’s awesome, too.)

RODRIGO: This book looks pretty interesting, I’m going to try to find some back issues along with this one. And then I’m going to buy a soda and drink it while I read them. Ah yes, the good life.

ZACH: For as much I have enjoyed playing in the mud all my life Owen Craig’s power set of being made of mud isn’t something I would initially dismiss, he has survived a few gunshots because of it. Overall this series has the same as the beginning of Invincible, and if any book can fill me with those same emotions than it’s okay in my mind.

STATIC SHOCK #8
Writer: Marc Bernardin
Penciller: Scott McDaniel
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

SOLICITATION: Static has faced some of the most merciless and deadly villains that both New York City and Dakota City have to offer, but now he finds himself face-to-face with a woman who holds his future in her hands and has the power to destroy it: the school psychologist! In one conversation that covers his new life in NYC and the life he left behind, we’ll get new insights into what makes Virgil Hawkins tick. And maybe Virgil hasn’t been as careful at hiding his secret identity as he thought.

MATTHEW: You’d think I’d get used to saying goodbye to Virgil Ovid Hawkins. The Milestone Universe ended, then Static Shock: Back On The Block, then his animated series, then the re-jiggered ‘Dakota in the DCU,’ and now this book. It’s a shame that the creators weren’t on the same page, but at the very least, DC seems committed to Static as a character.

SUPERBIA #2
Writer: Grace Randolph
Artist: Russell Dauterman
Publisher: BOOM! STudios
Cover Price: $3.99

SOLICITATION: Desperate Housewives meets The Avengers. Justice League of America meets American Beauty. Small town life, with super problems. In a small town news travels fast… In SUPERBIA news travels faster than a speeding bullet!

JIMMY: I admit to being a sucker for super hero soap opera comics like Noble Causes; it’s a not-so-guilty pleasure of mine. Since Noble Causes isn’t being published currently, I was very eager to pick up Supurbia #1, but wasn’t quite sure what I thought of it. There were the beginnings of what could be some really fascinating plot lines, but I am uncertain as to how their implementation will pan out. That being said, I am anticipating issue 2 of Supurbia a lot, and hopefully won’t be disappointed.

SWAMP THING #8
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Yanick Paquette and Marco Rudy
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

SOLICITATION: Behold the terrifying true potential of the Swamp Thing – a form so fearsome we couldn’t put it on the cover! The Green sought a warrior king, and now they have one…but will they regret unleashing a being this powerful? And can all that strength save Abigail Arcane from her destiny in the Rot’s clutches?

GEORGE: The pace of this book slowed down a bit since the first few issues, but then things really went down in Issue #7 as Alec Holland finally accepted the mantle of the Swamp Thing. Scott Snyder’s story is epic in scope, and matched in quality by the art of Marco Rudy and Yanick Panquette. It’s getting real in the pages of Swamp Thing, yo.

WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #8
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Chris Bachalo and Tim Towsend
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $3.99

SOLICITATION:
• Sabretooth Vs. Beast In The Most Vicious Fight Set To Paper!

• Angel Goes On A Mission To Repair A Broken Wolverine.

SHANE: I may not have read comics when I was younger but the stories made their way into other medias that did affect me. This comic has a reminiscent feel while creating new stories. Speaking of my elementary days, I am as giddy as a school girl waiting for a comic to reveal a new story arc.

There you go Spoilerites! Sixteen books to spend your money on this week!