Comic Book Resources

As you’re picking up more comics than I am this week, I got nothing for you on the floppy front. If your LCBS happens to get it in, though, I’d say take a peek at Unit Primes, whose preview piqued my interest.

At the risk of being so mainstream I’m run down by a ferry, how about Spider-Man/Fantastic Four issue 1? Mike Wieringo art, and the proper FF (so I’m hoping it sits outside all of the tedious Civil War continuity – if I’m wrong about that, put the book back on the shelf).

The Marvel previews for the Spidey/FF thing proudly proclaimed “Not a Civil War Tie in!” so I say go for it.

I would go with “Legion of Monsters: Man-Thing #1,” which features a tale of everyone’s second favorite muck-encrusted swamp monster as well as a story featuring the -real- Marvel Zombie, Simon Garth. I enjoyed the first installment of this series and am looking forward to the remaining issues as well.

If your LCS is getting it, there’s a new issue of the Fantagraphics anthology MOME to consider. Conan & The Midnight God has been great, but jumping on now seems silly. I’ll go with JLA Classified, as people have been waiting for this Kid Amazo story from Milligan forever.

The only thing coming in for me this week is [i]52[/i] so I can’t help you.

JLA Classified, Mome, or Optic Nerve.

I was goign to suggest Loners, because I want it to do well and hey, who doesn’t like Darkhawk.

And then I was going to suggest Stormwatch, because even though I don’t buy it(tradewaiting and budget watching), Cristos Gage is one fo the best two superhero writers to come along in the last few years.

BUT the OTHER best new Superhero writer has a title out there.

And it’s called Spider-Man/Fantastic Four, and here’s the interview from the mothership: http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9571

And if you’re STILL not convinced, I’ll give you my word right now that it’s probably going to be the single most FUN!!! thing Marvel produces all year. If you don’t enjoy it, I will be AMAZED and SHOCKED.

See, we can prejudge things on the internet fine.

this week I’m getting
52
After the Cape
BPRD
Tales of the Unexpected (That Dr 13 story is great!)
Dynamo 5
Nightly News
Uncanny X-Men (I’m just as stupid as you Greg)

I’m getting Fables and ASSuperman in trades (though ironically not buying the ASS trade this week).

I’m not sure what to recommend as it seems you have it all covered. I’ll vote for Tales of the Unexpected just for the Dr 13 story.

The Loners.

And while your at it, pick up another copy of last week’s Ant-Man.

Is that JLA Classified the Kid Amazo one? If so, I’m getting it. I thought it was the end of the Dan Slott story.

You’re already getting All-Star Superman and Dynamo 5. I’m afraid I can’t help you.

Ooo, is this issue of JLA Classified the Peter Milligan one? Finally? I’d love to know if it’s Good Milligan writing it. And I know you love some Good Milligan, Greg.

Other than that, the only stuff I’m buying that you aren’t would be Spidey/FF (Parker *and* Ringo! You can’t lose! So there’s another suggestion) and T-Bolts.

Wow, Emo Boy’s up to #11?

Other noteworthy stuff appears to be: Optic Nerve and Pirates vs. Ninjas.

I can’t *wait* to hear your thoughts on Rush City. Hahah.

(but c’mon, Liberality for All would be hilarious.)

I’ll cast my vote for Loners #1, but only on the condition that you acknowledge that you were unaware of the fact that women do not pee out of their vaginas. It seems like a grown man with two children would be aware of something like that, instead of perpetuating stereotypes of comic book readers.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/04/06/the-annoying-puritanical-attitude-of-mainstream-america-never-ceases-to-bug-me/
(for context)

New Avengers has been pretty fun these past two issues. And it has an Avengers face off. And ninjas. And Doctor Strange being awesome.

Our lists match up pretty well this week, but I’ll throw out my vote for Loners #1. They were fun in the Runaways arc, and as has been said, who are you to resist the call of Darkhawk?

This one seems easy this week.

Loners #1.

What, no love for newuniversal #5? It’s as good as the eighties version was cheesy.

BTW,

You really ought to keep doing this. There is a great deal of anti-snark power in these every week.

I change my mind. Liberality for All. Sean Hannity is a cyborg. Nuff said.

I was going to write something very long about how I knew very well how women pee, but I didn’t want to get into a whole lot of technical stuff. Suffice it to say that if there is absolutely no opening between Knockout’s belly button and her anus, she’s not peeing, no matter what anyone says. So yes, I know that women don’t pee out of their vaginas. I didn’t include graphic anatomical charts with the post, because I didn’t think it was necessary.

I have no plans to stop, Matt. It’s fun to read everyone’s suggestions!

My vote goes for Nova #1. The well-recieved but oft-ignored Annihilation miniseries really set the tone for some interesting cosmic adventurers. Now that the rest of the Nova Corps are out of the way, Rider has a ton of power and a lot of potential as he does the best he can to police the cosmos. Abnett and Lanning should make for an interesting team, though I don’t remember either of them taking anything on with the potential for being this grandiose. Sean Chen is on art, so everything should be over-the-top without being ridiculous stylized. Plus, Adi Granov’s covers are absolutely gorgeous.

My recommendations:

SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE VOL 5 DR DEATH TP – As an overall series, this is up there with Starman, Preacher, and even Gaiman’s Sandman. Brutal and dark crime stories, but the series is really a love story of Wesley and Dian.

NEW AVENGERS #29 – I’ve throughly enjoyed this new take on the classic team, probably more than I’ve enjoyed the “classic” team in years.

MOME VOL 7 GN – Fantagraphics… ’nuff said. Great stuff has come out in this anthology series.

OPTIC NERVE #11 – more great indy stuff. Adrian Tomine does dialogue well, and writes of the inner workings of people and relationships with eerie precision. No capes, no powers, just good story. I only wish that this came out more than once or twice a year.

-rich-

I say JLA CLassified for hopefully Milligan goodness or the FF/Spidey book for Jeff Parker goodness.

Or get both for double-goodness!

Milligan wrote this Kid Amazo thing a while ago, and it was originally supposed to be an OGN (at least 4 or 5 years ago) with art by Rob Haynes. So, I don’t know if that means it should be good, or the hold-up had something to do with the quality of the script. Either way, I’m buying it, but my RECOMMENDATION is the Spidey/FF comic.

What’s wrong with 52? Look at the cover…Will Magnus gets his James Bond on, with the Metal Men as bullets. Looks sweet to me.

I’d also suggest Gen 13, since we’re past the first arc.

@ Grant

You sir, are a great American.

Let’s not forget the unforgettable BLADE # 8 for your vampiric tastes, or for the Chaykin art;

and of course:

If you like contemporary horror, then there’s
CLIVE BARKER’s GREAT AND SECRET SHOW # 11 (of 12).
A terrific adaptation of the book.

But of course, go ahead, ignore me.

I have to recomend Optic Nerve as well…Tomine really captures the essence of how relationships work and what people’s insecurities really look like. My only caution is that it is the 3rd and final part of a 3 issue arc.

Stop the presses!

I just found out that Amelia Rules #17 is a double-sized anniversary issue, so if your LCBS doesn’t hate good comics, it should be on the shelf and I highly recommend it. Highly! The series has had some of the smartest all-ages writing in comics matched up with great artwork; do yourself a favor and grab this issue and pick up (or order) the three TPBs (or HCs).

Hasn’t Optic Nerve #11 been out for a few weeks? I thought Gregs rules were to reccomend new books.

Nova looks kind of fun. Might give that a shot.

@Adam

Only commies don’t read Liberality for All… and a whole bunch of other people.

Stupid commies with their good taste.

Wow, slow week. Aside from All Star Superman and Dynamo 5 I’ll be buying the All Star Supes hardcover and Tsar Wars 2 but that last one won’t be any use to you unless you’ve read the earlier Nikolai Dante stuff (which you should by the way).

Hard to choose between recommending Loners and Spidey/FF. Or Amelia Rules, if what Guy says is true. Any one of those books would be good.

Direct-market-exclusive shops only get Optic Nerve this week.

Stormwatch: PHD!

Or, yeah, Loners.

Mome is usually really good.

Optic Nerve is out, too, though.

I still say Mome.

I THINK Mome is the only thing I’m getting. (Might get fucking Optic Nerve, so I can be like those people on the X-men fan boards who bought all the Grant Morrison issues ’cause they liked bitching about how he wasn’t Claremont)

I dunno if I’d call it “usually really good,” but it’s been gettin’ better and better and better.

Grant said: “Hasn’t Optic Nerve #11 been out for a few weeks? I thought Gregs rules were to reccomend new books.”

Hmmm, I don’t know. It was on Diamond’s shipping list for this week… maybe a reprint? I never got my copy yet, though, so more likely it was just delayed.

-richard-

Well, like every week, I’d recommend 2000AD. Unfortunately, you’ll be parachuting in right in the middle of every story but that’s always going to be a problem. Anyway, five quality stories (OK, four and a crappy filler) all with a lot more interesting art than anything you’re likely to pick up anywhere else this week.

You know it makes sense.

Definitely MOME.
Its Fantagraphics…best publisher on the market right now.

FF Adventures Volume 5. Four, count ‘em four stories featuring the Fantastic Four that don’t have to deal with the whole mess that is Marvel continuity right now (that said, I’m enjoying Dwayne McDuffie’s run on FF. Still could be paced faster, but see every comic currently published. )

I would go with Loners and/or Nova.

Optic Nerve.

Abnett and Lanning should make for an interesting team, though I don’t remember either of them taking anything on with the potential for being this grandiose.

They wrote “Legion of Super-Heroes” for over fifty frigging issues! In their first story arc they enslaved three-quarters of the Legion to a sci-fi zombie demon cult, then threw half of it across the universe for kicks! Ra’s Al Ghul blew up the moon! Brainiac Five beat Computo by evolving him into a god! Darkseid attempted to destroy almost the entirety of history to refresh himself in a new young body! Geez, how much more grandiose do you want?

What’s wrong with Liberality For All?

A brilliant satire of right wing paranoia!

“What’s wrong with Liberality For All?
A brilliant satire of right wing paranoia!”

Best part is the creator is completely unaware of the fact that’s what it’s about.

I say Nova is my pick. The First Annihilation HC was good. And it’s a number #1.

I don’t know what Mome is. I might check that out.

The THORGAL CHILD O/T STARS VOL 1 GN recounts the childhood of viking Thorgal (a very famous european comics hero), which definitely is not what you would imagine.

This is the first of a series of Thorgal books that british publisher Cinebook intends to translate to english. Thorgal is an adventure series VERY rooted in norse mythos that any Thor fan should enjoy. Writer is Jean Van Hamme (XIII), art is by Rozinsky, the very best polish comics artist.

Here is the publisher page, where you can see the cover, solicitation text and a few sample pages:
http://www.cinebook.co.uk/catalogue~Cat~A-10B~Code~9781905460236.asp

This is a great series, I’ve read part of it in french.

Best,
Hunter (Pedro Bouça)

Hmmm… looking at what I am buying, I would recommend either Madman Atomic Comics #1 or Amelia Rules #17.

Madman rules, as does Mike Allred. I hear this issue is a recap of what has gone before, so make of that what you will. I’m a little surprised that no one has mentioned it yet.

Amelia Rules is one of my favorite comics ever. But it is definitely an all-ages book, and that type of story is not for everyone.

Follow-up:

I just noticed that Madman #1 is not on the Diamond list for this week. Sorry about that… it is on a list provided by my local shop, which is based on the Diamond list. Somehow this error must have slipped by them.

So Amelia Rules #17 is my pick.

I would also recommend Complete Peanuts HC Vol 7 1963-1964, but I’m not sure if a comic strip counts as a comic book for these purposes. These reprints are in the middle of some real classics of the (lengthy) run.

I’ll go with Spider-Man/Fantastic Four. Jeff Parker is awesome!

I can’t believe everybody is recommending Loners. I would agree with them, if it was written by Brian K. Vaughan or somebody good, but it’s written by C.B. Cebulski, who is (to put it kindly, or at least not too harshly) not exactly at the top tier of “good” writers.

I got Wolfskin #3 last week. Strange that Greg didn’t get it. Of course, I didn’t get Madman, and Greg did. Wolfskin was okay; very violent and gory, of course.

I wondered if anyone got Wolfskin, because it was on the list last week, but didn’t make it to Arizona. Lee, I got Madman last week. That’s why it’s not on my list for this week!

I’m really behind the Loners concept (Marvel has always been lacking the Nightwing-Generation level of characters, and this would provide it). And I’ve not read too much in the way of mainstream work by C.B.

And it’s a #1 with characters I like, so I figure that it’s worth a shot.

But I wouldn’t put it over a super fun Jeff Parker comic, nosiree.