Major Spoilers Staff Picks for March 14, 2012

You’ve seen the list of new comics that are arriving in stores this week, but what should you pick up? Take the jump as the Major Spoilers Staff picks the books they are most looking forward to this week.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #7
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Penciller: Patrick Gleason
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Batman finally discovers NoBody’s lair and must confront Robin and NoBody in an explosive, brutal battle that will shake them all to their very core!

SHANE: Ignorant to the DCU, I originally stopped picking this comic up after issue 2. As a newb, I found Damien’s character unbelievable and impossible to change or grow. (Not impossible if he were a sociopath, but still impossible to change.) After reading the Batman issue where Batman goes missing and I saw the worry on Robin’s face I realized that I was missing out on an interesting character development. The next day I picked up all the issues I had missed. With a conclusion now imminent I can only imagine that emotions will skyrocket and Damien’s emotional development will make a significant appearance in this issue.

BUCKAROO BANZAI #1
Writer: Earl Mac Rauch, Paul D. Storrie
Artist: David Daza
Publisher: Moonstone Books
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The man, the marvel, the human achievement, is back! From the cult movie starring Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, and Jeff Goldblum! The creators/film makers are telling new stories! Your favorite neurosurgeon/rock star/adventurer returns, along with his Hong Kong Cavaliers, in ‘Tears of a Clone,’ where a Death’s Head tank squad lurks in suburbia, talking bouncer-robots attack, expensive love wants to erupt, and Lectroids run with scissors, and then… shotguns! The world may never be the same! Covers by Paul Gulacy and Bill Wiist.

MATTHEW: With any luck, we’ll finally find out WHY that watermelon was there…

STEPHEN: … No… no you won’t… Though the stories are co-written by the man behind the Buckaroo Banzai movie, there is always a little something missing in this series. Regardless, I’m one of those die-hard BB fans, and a sucker for each and every series Moonstone Books puts out featuring the cast of characters, so I know this is going to be

DEMON KNIGHTS #7
Writter: Paul Cornell
Pencillers: Diogenes Neves, Robson Rocha
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: This is it! The walls have fallen, the battle is joined, and the only possible outcome is death…but the Demon Knights keep fighting! History has a grand destiny in store for this alliance of unlikely outcasts – should they survive this issue, that is! After all, beyond the mountains, on the road to Alba Sarum, greater evils than the Horde are lurking…

JIMMY: This has been month in and month out one of my top five books of the relaunch; Paul Cornell has been writing a great story and the art has been correspondingly good. I’m still curious if Vandal Savage has some more tricks up his sleeve, and am excited to see how the rest of the merry band of misfits fares.

ROB: I never thought Vandal Savage would be my favorite character in anything, but Demon Knights showed me the light. Now I’m looking forward to seeing just how his role plays out amongst the myriad of great characters being developed in this title, here’s hoping if he’s not good he’s at least still interesting.

STEPHEN: So many characters, with so many stories to tell. Is it the crazed Vandal Savage that turns your crank, or is it the love triangle between Madame Xanadu, Etrigan, and Jason Blood? Regardless, Demon Knights continues to be one of my favorite DC books, and I hope DC does the right thing by continuing this series until the larger audience recognizes its worth and picks it up.

DOCTOR WHO ONGOING VOL 2 #15
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Matthew Dow Smith
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Special arc by Eisner-nominated writer Joshua Hale Fialkov! At the onset of World War II, the Silurians’ scheme of world domination has come to light-and they want Amy as their queen! Can the Doctor stop the reptilian aliens and their unwitting Nazi allies? Of course he can. He’s the Doctor!

MATTHEW: Doctor Who. Casablanca. Two great tastes that mix remarkably well. Continuing the excellence of IDW’s comic adaptations of the latest Doctor adventures, last issue set up a fascinating tableau where Rory, Amy and Eleven may or may not be doing a ‘Rosencrantz & Guildenstern’ behind the scenes of Bogey’s legendary story of lost love in the world war. This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship…

FANTASTIC FOUR #604
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Steve Epting, Rick Magyar
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: • Forever Part 5: Four-Ever
• Extra Sized Issue!
• The Epic Conclusion Of Our Three Year Story.

ZACH: For the love of clashing, giant entities was last issue sweet. But we didn’t just get that, Hickman and crew were also nice enough to dish out a time travel, hopefully save-the day kind of reveal at the end. Reading this title along with FF has given me hours of entertainment and hopefully it will for you too. The price is jumping up to $3.99 this issue, which should mean you will be able grab it digitally also.

LEGION LOST #7
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Artist: Pete Woods
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: New writer Tom DeFalco (Spider-Girl, SUPERMAN BEYOND) comes on board to take LEGION LOST to new heights! The hulking member Tellus receives a distressing, telepathic cry for help from a woman being tortured. So why does the Legion refuse to come to the rescue?

ZACH: If you took the time to read our New 52 six-month breakdown you would see that I dropped this title, after the first issue to be exact, but since it’s crossover with Teen Titans has been announced, and fast approaching, I’m deciding to jump back in. I know next to nothing about the Legion, but I’m ready to try and start figuring them out. Tom DeFalco is taking over the writing duties this issue and said it will be a stand-alone, so it should be a good place to pick up the title.

LOCKE & KEY CARD GAME
Price: $29.99
SOLICITATION: Based on the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series from acclaimed suspense author Joe Hill and Eisner-nominated artist Gabriel Rodriguez.
Collect wondrous keys to open up new and exciting gameplay options.
Create powerful combinations by mixing and matching cards to unlock new winning strategies.
Band together or fend for yourself to face the unpredictable mental, physical, and otherworldly challenges waiting for you in Keyhouse.

ROB: Ya know, I’m spending most of my extra money on games lately, most of them card games even, I may see what this has to offer if I find myself a copy. Locke & Key is good, why couldn’t there be a good game based on it?

LOCKE & KEY CLOCKWORKS #5
Writer: Joe Hill
Artist: Gabriel Rodriguez
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “Clockworks,” Chapter 5: Lucas “Dodge” Caravaggio returns from the Drowning Cave, infected by a parasite of the soul; the good and loving friend has been left behind, and replaced by something free of all human feeling. Searching for a way to control him, the Keepers of the Keys make a dreadful choice… and set off a chain of events that will end in an unimaginable slaughter.

STEPHEN: As the series nears its conclusion, the story becomes even more epic as we get to see how Dodge became the evil sonofabitch we’ve hated since his introduction. When all is said and done, this series will go down as one of the best finite series ever produced, and if you don’t get the single issues now, you won’t be able to say, “I read this in the original issue” when you are old and feeble.

MIS-ADVENTURES OF ADAM WEST #2
Writer: Reed Lackey
Artist: Russell Dauterman
Publisher: Bluewater Productions
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Nearly driving off a cliff after finding himself once again young and vibrant, Adam West discovered he had somehow been transported inside the screenplay for an espionage thriller. After the true nature of this surreal scenario is revealed, Mr. West must find a way to dispense justice – or he will become trapped in this fictional universe forever!

JIMMY: What in the world? TWO Bluewater comics on my staff picks this week? Next thing you know Rodrigo’s going to be setting up a regular pull-list of DC titles! Unfortunately my LCS didn’t order enough of the last issue, but if they have this one in I’m probably going to have to pick it up based on Matthew’s last MSP review of it.

POLITICAL POWER #24: RON PAUL
Writer: Marc Shapiro
Artist: Grey Thornberry
Publisher: Bluewater Productions
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Ron Paul is well read. He speaks in complete sentences. And his views are often so far right that they make sense. Did I mention that he’s a Republican with libertarian tendencies? Find out what makes this Presidential hopeful tick when Bluwater’s Political Power: Ron Paul, written by New York Times bestselling author Marc Shapiro, has readers on both sides of the aisle agreeing to disagree.

JIMMY: I haven’t been particularly excited about Bluewater’s Political Power series (though Rodrigo’s review on what I think was the Mitt Romney one almost made me want to read it for the B-Movie factor), but I really like Ron Paul and if my LCS gets this in, I’ll probably pick it up and give it a shot.

RAY #4
Writer: Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti
Artist: Jamal Igle
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: The final conflict between The Ray and the evil maestro who has been behind all his woes comes to a conclusion. Lucien will need to take his powers to an all-new level to defeat the evil Director and his reality warping abilities.

MATTHEW: As a fan of Ray Terrill from his beginnings back in the 90s (where his adventures were drawn by future Marvel EIC Joe Quesada), I was cautious of this new iteration of an old hero. Of course, Ray was a new take on a Quality comics Golden Age hero, so I gave it a shot. To my amazement and delight, Jamal Igle’s art alone was worth the price of admission, and the new Ray has won me over. I urge everyone who has separation anxiety about the New 52 to take a leap of faith and give the new guys like The Ray a chance to (you should excuse the expression) shine. Even though this mini is over, I hope to see much more of the character (perhaps in Stormwatch or JLI?)

SCARLET SPIDER #3
Writer: Chris Yost
Artist: Ryan Stegman, Michael Babinski, Wade Von Grawbadger
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: • Spider-Man’s Dark Clone Continues His Quest For Redemption.
• Kaine Discovers Not Everyone’s Happy To Have A Hero In His New Home Town – And Houston’s Super Criminal Scene Makes Itself Known!
• Get On Board With The Hero Of Houston As Chris Yost And Ryan Stegman Continue The Runaway Hit Of 2012!

ROB: This has been a pretty good read so far. Kaine makes for a decent anti-hero and it’s interesting to watch him keep lying to himself about leaving the country. I just hope we get to see a bit more of him in costume using the tech that Parker made before too much longer, especially the tech part.

SHANE: I knew nothing about Scarlet Spider when my friend suggested that it may be a good #1 for me to pick up, and I’m glad I did. It is quickly rising to the top of my charts with a new city and fresh protagonist while still delivering that “Super/Anti Hero” feel. This comic has a lot of potential and still has time to make or break, but the way things are going I have a good feeling about Scarlet Spider.

PETER PANZERFAUST #2
Writer: Kurtis J. Wiebe
Artist: Tyler Jenkins
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: “THE GREAT ESCAPE,” Part Two
With Calais in the early stages of occupation, Peter and the boys discover a squad of captured British soldiers. Seeing an opportunity to get a ticket to London by saving them, they engage in a dangerous game of espionage that ends with a deadly showdown.

ZACH: Image Comics has another hit on their hands with Peter Panzerfaust. The main action is set in WWII and revolves around a pack of kids who have been stranded by the German’s bombing their city. It was a strong first issue with great character building and an overall enjoyable read, with many people agreeing with this issue already scheduled for reprint. So if you are lucky and can get to your local comic book store quick enough make sure to grab this issue.