Comic Book Resources

Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #6. It's been a pleasant surprise just how good this book is--since the first issue it's been consistently strong despite not having a regular creative team. Plus, how can you resist the introduction of Teen Lantern*, newest hero of the future, aka Jordana Gardner?

Besides, it's a little cheaper than a regular comic book.

* they may not actually call her that in the story. But I'm not making it up.

As always... Avengers Classic.

I'm curious about that Sluggy Freelance collection. It's been a couple years since I read the web version so I was thinking about starting over anyway.

You're already getting most of what I'm buying. (Or already read, in terms of the Dr. Thirteen mini.) There's the new Cal MacDonald mini, but it's been running long enough that you'd already know whether that's your kind of thing. And I can only muster up enough enthusiasm for Shadowpact these days to keep buying it for myself, not to persuade others.

Why are you maybe giving up on Madman?

Ireedemable Ant-Man #12.

Honestly,

this looks like a good time to get on board with New X-Men.

Yost/Kyle are some of the most successful "TV to comics" writers ever. Hell, they make stories about X-23 good. THAT is downright amazing.

This is part 1 of a 2 part "down issues" story, so there'll probably be a lot of character work. And it's got that great cover.

Apocalypse Nerd--Peter Bagge having fun with nuclear war. I bought the first issue out of a 50 cent bin in a flea market and only just now realized it was a contemporary series; I thought it had come out years ago. Seeing it first on the list was a great surprise. Share in my joy!

I'm curious about why you're on the fence with "Umbrella Academy." It's gonna have gorgeous artwork, no matter what, and the cover is certainly intriguing, so I'd say that's my first pick. Beyond that, everything on my (much shorter) list is already on yours (like "Gutsville" and "Dr. Thirteen" ... and I'm the one on the fence about "Beyond Barrow") — with one exception: I will be picking up the "Black Canary-Green Arrow Wedding Spectacular" or whatever the hell it's called.

'Cause number one, I love both characters. Number two, Amanda Conner on art. Number three, the "Wedding Planner" was fun and lighthearted and self-contained didn't tie into any "Countdown" bullshit. I wonder if the same will be true here? It's possible! (With the obvious and expected exception of leading into the new GA-BC ongoing, which is perfectly understandable.)

So there you go, Greg: Do you dare pick up the Wedding issue?! If not, at least leaf through the Planner instead and remind yourself that, once or twice a year, the big two publishers can put out a mainstream-universe book that isn't about crossovers and death.

I'm going to second New X-Men here. It's by far the most underrated of the current X-Men series and also one of the most consistently entertaining reads for me each month. Plus Skottie Young has really been knocking it out of the park on art duties these past few months. I'm going to be sad to see him go in a few months when Humberto Ramos takes over on art for Messiah Complex.

I'm looking forward to Umbrella Academy myself. As previously mentioned, great art no matter what. The writer has already stated that he's inspired by the Grant Morrison Doom Patrol, but when I read the FCBD mini-issue, it felt like he still had his own voice and wasn't just trying to be as weird as possible. It was sort of like a kiddie "somebody learns a lesson" story with strange super powers.

This may be strange to recommend, but here it goes: Green Arrow Year One. Since it's the conclusion, guaranteed to be action, which Diggle and Jock are very good at. And not a whole lot happened in the previous issues to make it confusing.

I don't need to help you buy your comics this week.

Why might you ask?

'cuz you're already buying everything on my list.

So there!

This week I'm getting Birds of Prey, Checkmate, Countdown, Countdown to Mystery, Flash, JLA/Hitman, Programme, Dynamo 5, Madman Atomic Comics, and Terror Inc

You're not getting Terror Inc? Why? Get Countdown to Mystery. I want to hear you're thoughts on Steve Gerber.

Yes, Countdown to Mystery has Countdown in the title and is therefore evil by default, but it's also got Steve Gerber writing Dr. Fate!

Umbrella Academy is the only must for me, but New X-Men -- the first part of a two issue "down time" arc -- looks pretty promising. Skottie Young let loose on the art, so it's got a much different feel.

"You’re not getting Terror Inc? Why?"

yeah, what's up with that?

Sheesh, now artists are showing up to berate me BEFORE I can even get to their books! I read and liked the first issue of Terror, Inc., but I'm trying to move to trades for DC and Marvel mini-series that I know will be collected. That's why! It's not a reflection on your art, sir, which was very good in the first issue.

I'm looking forward to the art in Umbrella Academy, but I've heard mixed reviews about the writing (I didn't get the free comic book day issue). If it's not someone trying to be Morrison but failing, it sounds like a cool book. We'll see.

I'm on the fence about Madman because the first three issues, while very nice to look at, have been pretty boring story-wise. Allred needs to move forward a little.

I'll say Umbrella Academy too. The preview in DH's FCBD comic convinced me to give it a shot, and I'd never even heard any My Chemical Romance Before. If nothing else, it's got Gabriel Ba art, so it will look pretty.

Army @ Love #7

Its one of Vertigo's underrated books. Great political satire and Veitch's best artwork in ages. Definitely worth the read.

I'd recommend Birds Of Prey #110. It's one of the best series DC's publishing, in my opinion, and this issue is a standalone issue written by Tony Bedard.

Also, the second issue of Johnny Hiro from AdHouse Books comes out this week. The first issue was a wonderful pastiche/homage to Asian pop culture, and the second issue looks to be more of the same. I highly recommend it too.

I’ll say Umbrella Academy too. The preview in DH’s FCBD comic convinced me to give it a shot, and I’d never even heard any My Chemical Romance Before.

I dare say that might go a long way towards convincing you to give it a shot.

I don't think I'll ever be able to take anything related to My Chemical Romance seriously after that awful D-Day music video they did. I didn't find the FCBD preview of Umbrella Academy that compelling either. Maybe it was just the Gabriel Ba art, but the whole thing just felt pretty derivative of Matt Fraction to me, except not as clever. Then again, who knows, it could be amazing.

Gerber and Countdown to Mystery, or Sluggy Freelance Megatome 2. Or maybe a nice dose of Shadowpact An underrated and enjoyable series using DCU characters wisely.

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to take anything related to My Chemical Romance seriously after that awful D-Day music video they did.

I always thought they sounded like whiny homo-erotic music for (kinda) straight white boys before, and disliked immediately, but that video clip did make it a certainty that I would stick my boot up their arses if I ever passed them on the street.

After reading the shipping list again, I don't think I'm going to go in to the shop tomorrow. I'm sort of interested in Countdown to Adventure and Marvel Comics Presents, but everything else is a big miss for me.

What's Sluggy Freelance?
Are either of those 30 Days of Night comics the one with Sienkiewicz art?

Gutsville took a while, didn't it? I remember Gutsville #1 and Cover Girl # 1 came out the same week. And Cover Girl just ended with # 5.

Shadowpact #17

It's a great series, so why isn't anybody here buying it?

Perhaps Countdown to Mystery WON'T suck. Then again, it's no longer the "Dr. Fate" ongoing we were promised months ago before the massive letdown that was "Helmet of Fate". And, of course, it's got the word "Countdown" in the title.
But I'd give it a shot.

Marvel Comics Presents? Get some variety, if nothing else I suppose.