It’s New Comic Book Day! Can I get a ‘WOOT! WOOT!’?
What should you pick up this week? The Major Spoilers Staff runs down the titles they are most looking forward to this week.
BATMAN AND ROBIN ANNUAL #2
Writer: Tomasi, Peter J.
Artist: Mahnke, Doug
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: A YEAR ONE ADVENTURE OF DICK GRAYSON AS ROBIN! Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson have shared a distinctive crimefighting role: Both have played Batman to a young Robin, so when they discover something important that Damian left behind it leads them to relive one of their first adventures in Gotham City as Batman and Robin!
JASON: Ever since the New 52 imposed upon itself a 5 year continuity, I’ve always been curious to how 5 Robins happened in that time period. This book looks to shed some light on that mystery by giving us a young Dick Grayson tale, and under the hands of writer Peter J. Tomasi, it should be a great story.
CLONE #14
Writer: David Schulner, Aaron Ginsburg, Wade McIntyre
Artist: Juan Jose Ryp
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: “When America’s war against the clones reaches a fever pitch, can Luke lead his brothers to salvation?”
WAYNE: Clones are becoming the new vampires! I’ve been engrossed by this comic since it first hit the stores that I’m dying to read this next issue!
CYBERFORCE #8
Writer: Marc Silvestri
Artist: Marco Tunni
Publisher: Top Cow
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: STRYKER UNARMED
What humanity remains of Morgan Stryker? Is he more man… or is he more a machine of death?
RODRIGO: Marco Turini draws some sexy ladies. Also I’m sure there’s other stuff in this book.
EAST OF WEST #9
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: “HUNTER”
The Ranger and Death finally clash in the inevitable meeting of LAW and INEVITABILITY.
GEORGE: Every month, I love returning to the world of East Of West. The starkness of Nick Dragotta’s stark art and the strangeness of his designs couples so well with the world Hickman is constructing. This book is very deserving of your time.
EARTH 2 ANNUAL #1
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Robson Rocha, Scott Hanna
Cover by: Rags Morales
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: “The origin of Earth 2’s new Batman is revealed. But after he tells his tale, will any of the other heroes trust him again?”
WAYNE: Earth 2 remains one of my favorite New 52 books from DC. Mr. Taylor is doing some very interesting things, including revving up a new Batman. I’m anxious to see just what he has in mind for the character!
INVINICIBLE #108
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Ryan Ottley, John Rauch
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: “Angstrom Levy’s life hangs in the balance. Invincible to the rescue?”
STEPHEN: I’ve read this issue already, and all I can say is the closing pages had my jaw on the floor. This is a game changer Invincible fans. A GAME CHANGER!
WAYNE: I know there are big changes happening in issue #111, but I enjoy this book too much to wait until then! Betrayal, angst, blood and guts always make this a great read!
MIRACLEMAN #2
Writer: The Original Writer (*coughAlanMoorecough*)
Artist: Garry Leach
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: • KIMOTA! With one magic word, a long-forgotten legend lives again!
• Freelance reporter Michael Moran always knew he was meant for something more — now, a strange series of events leads him to reclaim his destiny!
• Relive the ground-breaking eighties adventures that captured lightning in a bottle — or experience them for the first time — in these digitally restored, fully relettered editions!
MATTHEW: Miracleman has a tough row to hoe, as writer Alan Moore is at the point in his career where most of what we hear about him is backlash about his outspoken nature and the opinion that his works were never all that great to begin with. For me, though, issue #1 hit a sweet spot, representing the classic tales for a new audience, while providing enough ancillary material to justify the existing fans buying the thing (and, for the most part, justifying the price point.) #2 is where things really start getting interesting, as I recall, and I’m really hoping that sales are sufficient to support the book until the new material starts appearing…
SAGA #18 (MR)
Writer: Vaughan, Brian K.
Artist: Staples, Fiona
Publisher: Image
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Our heroes’ stay on Quietus reaches its inevitable conclusion.
JASON: If you said you weren’t interested in checking out this book even Lying Cat would call you a liar. One of the best books on the stands each and every month.
SERENITY LEAVES ON THE WIND #1 (of 6)
Writer: Whedon, Zack
Artist: Jeanty, Georges
Publisher: Dark Horse
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: Malcolm Reynolds’s crew shook the ‘verse to its core when they laid bare the crimes against humanity undertaken by their sinister government-the Alliance. Always outlaws, Mal, a very pregnant Zoe, new pilot River Tam, and the other surviving crew members are in greater danger than ever. Meanwhile, everyone is asking the same question . . .
JASON: Anything that picks up the stories of the baddest crew of space cowboys on this side of the ‘verse is definitely worth checking out. Plus its written by a Whedon brother? Buy it already!
MATTHEW: So, here’s the thing. I’m not a Browncoat, nor am I entirely immune to the excesses thereof, but I’ve never been one to judge a property by whether or not the fans go overboard in trying to sell me on something. Serenity stories are few and far between, and have been pretty good as a whole, so I’m looking forward to seeing what could happen after the momentous events of the movie, plus I enjoy Jeanty’s art (even as I wonder how many brothers Joss Whedon has to shepherd his various properties.)
STEPHEN: I hear this Joss Whedon guy is one of those rising stars, so I think I’ll check out this comic book, based on the cancelled series from FOX, that is written by his brother, Zack. Seriously, I’m familiar enough with the world of Firefly to know the general themes, characters and so on, but to be honest, I’m more interested in a western set in space than anything else.
SUPER DINOSAUR #21
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Jason Howard
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: The search for the cure for Derek’s mother takes him and Super Dinosaur to some interesting… and DANGEROUS places. Will they find it in time?
RODRIGO: Super Dinosaur is that book that everyone is surprised to learn I’m not that into. Still I like to check in from time to time.
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #26
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Humberto Ramos & Various
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: GOBLIN NATION PRELUDE
• The stage is set for the biggest SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN story of them all!
• And it starts here with a goblin fight like no other: The Green Goblin vs. The Original Hobgoblin!
• Plus: That thing that happened at the end of #25… That thing that raised all of those questions… You don’t have to wait any longer. You’ll get your answers THIS ISSUE! Honest.
GEORGE: Man, I’m actually really sad to know we’re in the home stretch for Otto Octavius as Peter Parker. I’ve been loving what Slott has done with the character, bringing a true breath of fresh air to the too-tired superhero world. Well, we knew it had to end sometime. At least we’ll always have a good goblin throwdown to remember.
TEEN TITANS #27
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artist: Tyler Kirkham
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: The Teen Titans must stop the evil Bart Allen of the future or our timeline is doomed!
RODRIGO: Every time I read this description I read “…must stop the evil Bear Alien of the future…” Which I think would be a solid storyline.
UBER #9
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Canaan White
Publisher: Avatar Press
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: KIERON GILLEN and CAANAN WHITE welcome the New Year with more enhanced horrors in the Pacific Theater. Uber changed the way World War II ended and now an extended period of suffering has escalated the losses for both sides. Japanese deployment of super soldiers has given rise to new nautical terrors. And no one could see the conflict taking this turn as the Allies attempt to cope with the devastating new weapons of war. Enter the new World War II with the arms race now focused upon developing super human warriors and the utter annihilation of entire armies
GEORGE: When I reviewed the first issue of Uber, I wondered whether this series could reach its full potential. Doing a sober treatment of the horrors of World War Two, but with superheroes, is a difficult thing indeed. But Kieron Gillen is a thoughtful guy, and he is nailing it. And Canaan White’s shocking art drives home the horrors of war, even through a supernatural lens. I love where these guys are taking Uber, and it’s almost worth getting just for Gillen’s back material essays alone.
WWE ONGOING #2
Writer: Mick Foley
Artist: Alitha Martinez
Publisher: Titan Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “Yes!” Imagine a city much like any other crumbling, crime-ridden, corrupt modern city, except key people are shockingly similar to WWE super-stars. That city is Titan City. And Titan City is on the brink of chaos while warring factions try to track down the missing $10,000,000.00 that was allegedly stolen by John Cena! CM Punk prepares the people against the corrupt McMahon machine. John Cena finds himself manhandled by the enforcer Mark Henry. And Randy Orton confronts someone who could change the landscape of the city forever with just one word: Yes! Daniel Bryan is ready to take over!
MATTHEW: #1 was a weird mélange of crime thriller, comics and wrasslin’ foolishness. I want to see where this goes…
