Comic Book Resources

Amazing Spider-Man #539 with, if JMS holds to form, should be an entire issue of Aunt May slowly dying.

How about the new trade from Dark Horse that collects the comic adaptations of Fritz Lieber's Fafhrd and Gray Mouser? Written by Howard Chaykin, pencilled by Mike Mignola. $19.95 for ~200 pages of stellar work.

This is a big week for me, with four comics, but of the four, the one I feel strongest about recommending is The Brave and the Bold #2 (the others are The Spirit, 52 and Justice Society). The first issue set an interesting precedent: a done-in-one story that's a piece of a longer arc, a cascading series of teamups, superhero camaraderie and personality clashing, and George Perez art. Plus, this one's set on a gambling planet. Hard to go wrong.

"Hard to go wrong."

You'd think.

Go with the Spirit.

"Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis" #50.

Its a jump-on point with new author Tad Williams coming on board, its the start of a new storyline, and there seems to be a lot of cool stuff coming up in the series. With the Orin stuff set to be revealed in the upcoming "WWIII" one-shots, I expect this title to get a lot of attention very soon. Its also got a different vibe most any other mainstream DC comic thanks to its sword & sorcery aesthetic, has been a very enjoyable read for me.

I would suggest ARMY @ LOVE #1! Rick Veitch writing and penciling a mash-up of war and romance comics. I'm looking forward to it.

X-men: First Class is tons of fun. I'm glad it got picked up as ongoing.

Also, Army of Darkness vs. Darkman. Sure, it's not perfect, but Kurt Busiek scribes it, and it involves Bruce Campbell's likeness. Nuff said, True Believer.

I have a few recommendations:

Runaways Saga - It's a recap of BKV's entire run on the book, which is already one of the most underappreciate books put out by the major companies. Despite its appearances as a teeny-bopper book, its had more character development in just a few years than any superhero book has had in the past few decades. Plus, being a recap it could be a good jumping on point. The art is by Ramos, which is rough for some, but Cebulski is writing, so its going to be accessible and the dialogue should be interesting.

Justice Society # 4 - This is probably my favorite book on the stands right now. It's Johns' love-letter to superheroes, with some of the most interesting new characters, strong legacies, and a good mystery. It's not going to be a good jumping on point, but there are reviews everywhere of the first three.

The Spirit # 4 - Darwyn Cooke is making each issue a done-in-one, so it'll be very excessible. His style is spot-on with Will Eisner's so, if you appreciate the original, you should like the reboot. It's funny and charming, but at the same time it has had plenty of action and intrigue. If you haven't read anything of the Spirit before, its a good start. Think Dick Tracy meets Batman (the fun Batman that is).

Second on egh's Army @ Love #1 recommendation. Rick Veitch writing a satire concerning war and romance in the 21st century promises to be interesting, even if it turns out to be a dud.

Spirit #4 all the way. I was reluctant to buy this at first, but I picked up the first three issues, and now I'm hooked. Each issue has been self contained, so there's no bad place to start, and each issue has been beautiful.
Alternate suggestion, Testament #16. Otherwise known as the Vertigo book no one talks about. Well drawn, heady issues, a thought provoking read.

(still can't believe you passed up the GLORIOUS Wormwood Gentleman Corpse #6 for Franklin Richards last week.)

Not as many choices this week as last. So I can only share the two that I will be checking out:

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #50
Army @ Love #1

JR

Army @ Love looks like it's going to crash and burn, but at least it'll be interesting, new, and perhaps even entertaining(!)

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it, especially in light of your recent column on metatextual comics.

The Empowered TPB from Dark Horse by Adam Warren. Hopefully it should be as good as his Livewires mini from Marvel was.

I'm guessing Blokhedz probably won't be on the shelves in Arizona (though I'd love to be wrong about that), and I can't recommend it as much as suggest it since I haven't read it yet, so I'm going with Marvel Adventures: Avengers #11 instead.

Don't be fooled by the "All-Ages" categorization. I just read the first volume and it's everything the blogiverse claims they want from superhero comics and then some.

egh: "I would suggest ARMY @ LOVE #1! Rick Veitch writing and penciling a mash-up of war and romance comics. I’m looking forward to it."

Whether or not this is your pick, Greg, this certainly becomes my most anticipated title of the week! First of heard of it, but this got me excited--I hope my LCS has a copy.

Shame on you for not buying The Spirit on your own.

Frick, Empowered is out tomorrow? Kind of want that. All I was planning on was Cable/Deadpool (guest starring Agent X!...why do I hear crickets chirping?) and Wisdom, which is really good.

You could get Escape of the Living Dead Annual #1 and confirm I don't need to buy it, I have a sick curiousity about that one.

I'll throw my vote in for the Spirit #4. Every issue's been a done in one and they've all been excellent.

If you want some old-school super-hero thrills (as the Spirit is more of a detective/noir story), go with The Brave & the Bold #2. Perez's art is excellent and the story is just pure straight forward superheroics.

Incidentally, this week's Detective Comics is the second part of a two-parter, so FYI.

Started buying the spirit because of Darwyn Cooke and I am really enjoying it so far. I was not a big Spirit fan, nor had I read much of the Eisner stories. So I am the classic new reader that everyone always talks about.

Does that add any weight to my reccomendation?

So go buy Spirit #4.

I have to say that I want ot check out hte Rick Veitch work since my curiosity has been peaked (sp?)by the discussion.

I've gotta agree on The Spirit. I think the only thing this comic suffers from is not being able to live up to expectations, but really, who could be expected to follow Will Eisner. Darwyn Cooke is an amazing creator and there's really nothing about The Spirit not to like. It's the comic I'd use to introduce a new reader to comics.

You should be buying the Spirit already. #3 was absolutely fantastic, easily the best issue yet. I have high hopes for #4. It's Darwyn Cooke doing a joyous adventure series.

Beyond that, Army@Love, because it's new and interesting, and could be good.

That Army @ Love preview in the back of...uh, Fables, maybe...was wretched.

I mean REALLY bad.

As for post 1, apparently the clowly dying bit is going to last all the way until June, based on the solicits that went up today.

I would throw my vote behind Runaways Saga.

Spirit #4, because the Spirit is a good comic book.

Sonic the Hedgehog #173. Then scan panels from it and Hellblazer and try to combine them to form a coherent narrative.

I vote for Aquaman #50. While JSA is still great stuff, and The Spirit is a nice homage piece, Aquaman is at a jumping off place with a new author whose fantasy work has a lot of fans (Tad Williams). Plus, his The Next mini-series was criminally underpromoted last year and was really a blast. Far out concepts, interesting, wacky characters and a conflict that truly felt epic. So, yeah.

I'm excited about The Spirit and Army@Love, but I want to give some love to a series nobody has mentioned: Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane. It's a great teen drama/comedy series with well-defined characters and enjoyable dialogue. I recommend it!

Buy the Spirit.

Birds of Prey #104. Spy Smasher has her hands on Oracle's team, and they're heading for a showdown with the Secret Six. Come on, Gail Simone's a rock star, and we have the potential for the mother of all catfights between Big Barda and Knockout.

Damn, I didn't hear about Empowered. I'll have to look to get it cheap at the next con I hit. Word of advice...you can never go wrong with Adam Warren. But in this case, why shell out $15 when you might only want one comic?

Save your money and buy two next week.

Another vote for 'The Spirit' #4. I had high expectations for Cooke on this one after 'New Frontier', and he hasn't disappointed. The previous issue was the best so far, and each issue has been nicely self contained.

Honourable mention for 'Wisdom' #4 - the last issue was really funny and inventive, and yet again they're self contained single issue stories.

The Spirit has been aesthetically delicious so far, and a hell of a lot of fun.

Wow, looks like everyone wants you to get The Spirit. Hard to argue, since it really is great... But how about Hero By Night? It's a new superhero-style mini from Image. Looks like it's going to be pretty great, actually.

Quick official synopsis -
The story revolves around Jack King, who finds the lair of a vanished superhero in his apartment building and decides to auction off some of the memorabilia. But, Jack's efforts to cash in attract the attention of the hero's arch-enemy -- a villain even the Hero By Night couldn’t destroy.

And the 11 page preview - http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/003867738.cfm

Consider this another vote for The Spirit. It's my favorite new series in a long time. I don't even remember what the solicited story is, but I'm pretty damn sure it'll be the best book of the week.

Oh, and lauren: It's "piqued."

The Spirit is the "safe" pick, but I'd recommend Army@Love too. Veitch is THE underrated postmodern comicbook genius. Joe Casey? Please. Read some Veitch. He's punk rock to Casey's easy listening.

What? The Spirit. Easy. It's accessible, fun, and filled with that glorious Darwyn Cooke magic. You can't go wrong.

I second the recommendation of the FAFHRD AND THE GRAY MOUSER TP. I own the original Epic prestige limited series and it is a magnificent comics adaptation of some magnificent short stories. A fantasy book for people who don't like fantasy books! And how could you go wrong with Howard Chaykin and Mike Mignola?

Failing that, the book I'm antecipating the most this week is Adam Warren's Empowered, check it if you don't get Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. If it's half as good as the other Adam Warren books I have, it'll be very cool indeed!

Best,
Hunter (Pedro Bouça)

The majority says "The Spirit"

but if you're not interested in that then give
ULTIMATE POWER # 4 a try.

Dare to be different.

FAFHRD AND THE GRAY MOUSER

If anything it's got great Mike Mignola art (and it's his favorite Pre Hellboy book).

This isn't meant to be hostile, but honest:

I'd really like to hear a more in-depth argument for the Spirit, which I've been unimpressed by. Everyone who digs it seems able only to tell me repeatedly that it's fun and Cooke is magically great. They can't explain why or how, though. Take me through the details, the technique, explain the artistic success of Cooke's Spirit!

I'm gonna throw in another vote for Army@Love #1.

DC Showcase Presents: Hawkman Volume One. Pound for pound, it's the best value on the market today, it's classic Silver Age stories you've probably never read before---500 pages of 'em--and it's got an alien cop who hits things with a giant mace.

While flying.

You're just lucky we don't go to the same comic store, or I'd fight you for the last copy.

This isn’t meant to be hostile, but honest:

I’d really like to hear a more in-depth argument for the Spirit, which I’ve been unimpressed by. Everyone who digs it seems able only to tell me repeatedly that it’s fun and Cooke is magically great. They can’t explain why or how, though. Take me through the details, the technique, explain the artistic success of Cooke’s Spirit!

I know what you mean. I've gotten the first three issues, and I like them, but I passed on recommending it in favour of Brave and Bold. I'm just not attached to the Spirit yet the way I am with the mainstream DC characters.

If I was going to recommend The Spirit, it'd be because he's a classic character, because Cooke has been able to skillfully update him (and his supporting cast) for the 21st century, because Cooke's art is cartoony but with a lot of depth and texture, because the stories don't make you wait another month (or longer) for the payoff, because it lives up to Eisner's slogan for the comic (Action--Mystery--Adventure), because Cooke's got a good sense of humour... All those things are true. It's obviously a good comic book. I just don't like it enough yet.

There's also a Savage Dragon trade coming out this week but that storyline "Resurrection" is a little unwieldy for new readers (wraps up a lot of long running plotlines) The Savage Dragon Archives that came out in December is a better introduction to the character.

I would also suggest Aquaman #50. I didn't pick it up with Kurt Busiek but with Tad Williams writing it, it should be interesting. I really enjoyed his Otherland series of books.
I'm picking up the Spirit and it's a good read, but the character leaves me a bit cold. He doesn't seem to have much of a personality.
And let me recommend Shadowpact as well. It took awhile to get going, but it seems to be on track at this point. I really enjoyed the issue a month or two back with a focus on Ragman. It was the kind of story Willingham does well.

I'm going to join those left-fielders who recommend that Greg take a look at Wisdom. It's like a wackier, Marvel Universe version of Hellblazer, and Paul Cornell has a distinctive authorial "voice."

I find it hard to believe that Greg hasn't already tried out The Spirit (though I haven't searched through earlier posts to check), and I assume he's just decided it isn't for him.

I'm adding another vote to the Spirit. It's funny, exciting, has great art and is just fun.

I won't echo the Spirit. It's a good book but it's one of those things I'd never rush to read.

I'm tempted to say Guggenheim's second Flash issue, because it really deserves a chance. He's a good writer and has a pretty good grip on defining what Bart will be like after the most disasterous restart in the last ten years.

But instead I'll second how astoundingly fun Wisdom has been sof ar. I don't like the character at all either, but it's working great. It's a lot ligher than what I was expecting, especially from a Max title. Sort of a grounded Smax feel to it.

I would also recommend the Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser TPB.

I bought the Epic/Marvel mini when it came out and it's a beauty! Mignola was very inspired and at his best! I have read Fritz Leiber's novel and can say that Howard Chaykin did a very nice job of selecting the best short stories and a very faithful adaptation (unlike most of Roy Thomas work on R.E. Howard stories!).

I have not tried the brand new Spirit series by Darwyn Cooke. But with all the recommendations here I might just give it a chance.

I am a huge fan of Cooke's art and storytelling, but it is difficult to me to imagine a good Spirit story by anyone but Will Eisner. There was an anthology series published by Kitchen Sink about ten years ago (1997-1998) that featured the best creators in the business having a go at the Spirit. Among them Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Neil Gaiman, Kurt Busiek, Paul Chadwick, Mike Allred, etc. All brilliant creators but none of them could make 'their' Spirit work for me.

I'll give it a look to se if Mr. Cooke can do what none of those "big guns" couldn't.

I'm gonna say get Marvel's Anhilation Book 1 Hardcover.

I have little interest in Marvel at the moment, beyond She-Hulk which you put me onto, and I now love, and zero intrest in their crossovers, but I saw this sucker at the shop the other day, and had an overwhelming urge tto buy it.

I need someone else to try it and tell me not to.

Oh, and drop Checkmate.

I got that trade and that book was terrible - it made little sense as a concept, and even in and of itself it was sub par.

I hear it's having a crossover with Outsiders, and from my reading they were the worst thing in Winnick's Green Arrow, and that's one of the worst books I've read in a while.
Why read a crappy book crossing over with the crappestt thing ever?

After reading this week's stuff, I still stick by my Army@Love recommendation. Though it doesn't get the BEST OF THE WEEK ranking. I also defend The Spririt.

If you're interested: http://genusboyfiremelon.blogspot.com

um, yeah, how about: http://geniusboyfiremelon.blogspot.com

That's what I meant!