Another week is upon us, and that means NEW COMICS! The Major Spoilers staff has run down their list of comics they are most interested in this week, and make their recommendations for you!
BATMAN #18
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Andy Kubert & Various
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Welcome guest-artist Andy Kubert! • In the wake of unspeakable tragedy, Batman is in danger of losing his humanity! • Fan-favorite character Harper Row returns-will she be able to pull Batman back from the brink?
CHRIS: After the awesomeness that was “Death of the Family”, I’m curious as to what Snyder has up his sleeve. It looks like he will be addressing Damien’s death, which I’m a little disappointed about. But, Snyder has yet to disappoint and this Harper Row character intrigues me. I just wish Grant Morrison could play in his own sandbox without it spilling over into the other Bat titles.
STEPHEN: OOOOOOOOO! Batman gonna be mad/sad following the death of Damien. In many other writers’ hands, the issues following the death of a main character turns into a spiral of depression and anxiety as the central character tries to find his way. I think Mr. Snyder will be able to take the aftermath in a different direction… I hope.
CRIME DOES NOT PAY ARCHIVES VOL. 4 HC
Writer: Dick Wood, Lev Gleason
Artist: Rudy Palais, Charles Biro, Bob Q. Siegel, Richard “Dick” Briefer, R.W. Hall, ARt Gates, Art Mann, Alan Mandel
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $49.99
SOLICITATION: Crime Does Not Pay—the true-crime comic that enjoyed massive circulation throughout the forties and fifties—was a hit with readers. Issues #34-#37 of this visceral, provocative series are now collected into one fine, head-walloping hardcover.
* new foreword by David Lapham (Stray Bullets, The Strain)!
* Set the pace for the violent pre-Code comics era.
* Look for new Crime Does Not Pay in Dark Horse Presents!
MATTHEW: Charles Biro was a genius, folks, plain and simple. Aside from creating some of the most iconic forgotten heroes of the Golden Age (his Daredevil inspired not only Marvel’s Daredevil, but Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt, Ozymandias and half a dozen others), he created the crime comic as it came to be known. These tales of these nefarious bad guys were insanely popular back in the day, with adults, kids and everything in between, and you owe it to yourself to check them out…
DEJAH THORIS AND THE GREEN MEN OF MARS #2 (of 4)
Writer: Mark Rahner
Artist: Lui Antonio
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Things go from bad to dark, hopeless and stomach-churningly gruesome for the Princess of Helium. She’s been kidnapped by rogue Thark, Voro, a black marketeer for green men with a certain forbidden taste. When she’s locked in a dungeon with other doomed red-skinned women, Dejah Thoris is in for a fate that really is worse than just death. Voro’s keeping the women alive and performing one amputation after another on them. Nothing but the freshest red meat for his customers.
RODRIGO: It happens with every franchise once a character gets popular enough, it’s only a matter of time until they join a rock band in space. If, for some reason I am misreading this and this is not a comic about a space Rock n’ Roll band then disregard this entry.
FEARLESS DEFENDERS #2
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: William Sliney
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: • Dani Moonstar joins the Defenders!
• Valkyrie and Misty prepare to take on the Doom Maidens.
• Plus: A closer look at our sadistic new villain!
MATTHEW: I was very impressed by the first issue of this book, so much so that I immediately locked it into my pull list. The team of Misty Knight and the Valkyrie was unexpected fun, and the art was just gorgeous to look at. I’m looking forward to seeing Dani Moonstar in this issue as well, with (hopefully) more surprises in the wings. If it’s a team, I hope they build slowly and carefully from the solid foundation that was #1, but either way, I”m in for a long haul.
GEARHEARTS STEAMPUNK GLAMOUR REVUE #6
Writer: Guy C. Brownlee, Patricia H. Ash
Artist: Rick Brown & Various
Publisher: Antarctic Press
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Bountiful bouquets and boxes of bon-bons, all that is sweet and lovely is yours in our first-ever Valentine’s edition of Gearhearts! This issue features the (in)famous steampunk chanteuse Veronique Chevalier on the cover and in an exclusive interview, as well as the lovely artwork of Brigid Ashwood! So rejoice! Love is in the air, and the sweethearts of steampunk abound!
RODRIGO: I read it for the articles.
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #18
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Fernando Pasarin and Scott Hanna
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: • “WRATH OF THE FIRST LANTERN” continues!
• After having ripped apart Guy Gardner, the First Lantern now directs his singular and horrific power at John Stewart, forcing the Corps to see the light and darkness of their lives in a frightening new way!
ROB: At first I continued with all the Lantern titles into Wrath with a sense of finality, wanting to finish out what had been done, but as I read the idea of the First Lantern has rather grown on me and presenting John with what could have been in the long list of horrors that has been his life seems like it could get interesting.
MANHATTAN PROJECTS #10
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Jordie Bellaire, Ryan Brown
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: “FINITE OPPENHEIMERS”
An in-depth look at the first decade of the ongoing war inside Oppenheimer’s brain. How far is too far behind enemy lines when the enemy is yourself?
MY GOD… IT’S FULL OF OPPENHEIMERS!
GEORGE: Manhattan Projects wrapped up its first major narrative arc last issue, and it looks like issue #10 is doing a coda of sorts with Hickman’s strange, multi-personalitied interpretation of J. Robert Oppenheimer. The first issue focusing on Oppenheimer was a revelation, but he’s faded into the background as the rest of the colorful cast has been introduced. It will be interesting to revisit the psychotic physicist once more.
MYLO XYLOTO #2
Writer: Coldplay, Mark Osborne
Artist: Alejandro Fuentes, Dylan Haggerty
Publisher: Bongo Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The citizens of Silencia have long been suppressed under the iron grip of Major Minus, but now that the loyal soldier Mylo Xyloto has caught a glimpse of a brighter universe, the world starts to change right before his very eyes.
RODRIGO: I missed the first issue of Coldplay’s album-turned-comic, but I might track it down. I only hope that this opus is as cohesive and coherent as that of the bands that paved the way, KISS, and Coheed and Cambria.
STAR WARS #3
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: Carlos D’Anda
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Princess Leia formed a secret squadron of stealth X-wings to help expose a spy within the Rebel ranks. But taking command puts her at odds with Luke Skywalker at a time they need solidarity more than ever-especially when the spy has alerted the Empire to Han Solo’s latest venture!
GEORGE: I am loving what Wood and D’Anda are doing with this title. It’s just clean, classic Star Wars action with a twist of espionage. This is the best Star Wars ongoing I’ve read in some time, and it is well worth your attention.
T
HE END TIMES OF BRAM AND BEN #3
Writer: James Asmus,
Jim Festante
Artist: Rem Broo
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Bram grows his cult following by throwing Burning Bram – a 66.6 hour festival of Rock, Revelry, & Revelations! But when Ben chooses to side with Heaven, all Hell breaks loose! Plus: the reveal of the true Antichrist, someone gets roofied, and a shock ending you’d least expect!
CHRIS: Sinners rejoice!! The new issue of The End Times of Bram and Ben is here! If only all comics could be as original and wonderful as this. The world would be such a better place. Of course if the Rapture happens, we’re all screwed, but at least this will entertain us until then. I simply cannot wait to read what the talented James Asmus, Jim Festante and Rem Broo have in store next, but somebody gets roofied so it has that going for it, which is nice.
THUNDERBOLTS #6
Writer: Daniel Way
Artist: Steve Dillon
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: The team reaches the bloody end of their first mission! The final deadly team member is revealed!
CHRIS: Thunderbolts has been entertaining me quite a lot these last few issues. The team’s first mission didn’t go well so it’ll be interesting to see what Daniel Way has in store for the characters. Steve Dillon’s art continues to be great and, of course, it’s $2.99.
UNCANNY X-MEN #3
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Chris Bachalo
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Everything has changed for Magneto in the last few weeks. Can he prove he is still the Master of Magnetism? Cyclops and the rest of his crew take the revolution on the road gathering up more new mutants.
CHRIS: With this title and All New X-Men, Bendis has gotten me back into the X-Universe. It all feels simplified and accessible to new readers. This book is a perfect compliment to All New X-Men, giving us a look at the other side of the coin by focusing on Cyclops and his “revolution”. So far, it has been a fun read and Chris Bachalo’s art is insane with energy making this one of the go to X-Men books.
WOLVERINE #1
Writer: Paul Cornell
Artist: Alan Davis
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: IT’S HUNTING SEASON!
The best there is at what he does gets an all-new on-going! Pay attention very closely: there’s a mystery here that even Wolverine hasn’t sniffed out yet. When Wolverine finds himself the bargaining chip in a hostage situation, he must make a decision to save a little boy that will follow him forever…literally! How can a berserker fight what he can’t see? And how far will he go to assert his humanity in the face of the Unknown? Find out when superstars Paul Cornell (CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI:13, Doctor Who, Action Comics) and Alan Davis (AVENGERS, CLANDESTINE, EXCALIBUR, UNCANNY X-MEN) take on the Wolverine!
GEORGE: Marvel’s still debuting Marvel NOW! titles? I haven’t read a Wolverine title in quite some time, but I dig Paul Cornell and Alan Davis. Admittedly, the book’s remit doesn’t seem the most compelling, but I trust in this creative team to deliver something worth reading.
WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #26
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Ramon Perez
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Jason Aaron and Eisner-Award winning best artist Ramon Pérez continue the arc that readers will remember for years to come.Dog Logan is back and Wolverine is in for a world of hurt.The students are on their own in the Savage Land with no supervision. Uh-oh.
ROB: I still don’t believe how much I enjoy a book called Wolverine and the X-Men. Wolverine’s overuse is what drove me away from X-books when I first started collecting comics and now he’s a major player in all the X-titles I pick up. And a large part of why the title works. Wolverine and the X-Men is a book that has exactly what it needs to make Wolverine a good lead and story hook for any book.
X-TREME X-MEN #12
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Kalman Adrasofszky
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: PROLOGUE TO X-TERMINATION With reality pulling apart and their Xavier driven mad, the team scrambles to find the tear between dimensions and repair it before it’s too late.But without their Xavier, they’re unprepared for the threat that awaits them.
ROB: Putting a great writer on one of my favorite concepts and then presenting some of the more interesting versions of characters I’ve ever seen has taken X-Treme X-Men from an oddity that I was just giving a shot to one of my favorite titles. Now, despite leading into a crossover with books I have had no interest in, I’m even more excited to see where things go from here.
