New Comic Books For April 9, 2008

DC COMICS

BOOSTER GOLD #8
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #3
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #23
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #14
TITANS #1

MARVEL COMICS

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #556
FANTASTIC FOUR #556
NOVA #12
WOLVERINE #64

This week we are going to take a peek at the Top 10 unhealthiest states in America. This Top 10 list was compiled by CQ Press and they took into consideration twenty-one different factors including infant mortality, obesity and cancer rates.

The Top 10 unhealthiest states are as follows:

10. Delaware
9. Alabama
8. Oklahoma
7. South Carolina
6. Georgia
5. Florida
4. Nevada
3. New Mexico
2. Louisiana
1. Mississippi

Delaware is obviously the odd man out in this Top 10. This list of the unhealthiest states is dominated by the Southeastern states as they nab 6 of the spots in this Top 10 list. It is interesting that the Top 10 most dangerous states list on that we discussed a couple of weeks ago tracks very closely to the Top 10 unhealthiest states list.

All right, let’s check out the comic books for this week. We have surprisingly small week with just 9 titles headed to the Bunker. This week’s shipment of comic books is ever so slightly heavier with DC titles than Marvel titles.

Which DC comic book am I most looking forward to reading? Justice Society of America #14 should be a good read. After all, at some point, Johns has to stop setting up the story and actually deliver a substantive issue to put some meat on the bones of this story arc. The general premise for this story arc is intriguing. If only Johns would stop trying to stretch the story with the eventual trade paperback in mind.

However, the DC comic book that I am most looking forward to reading is Booster Gold #8. Katz and Johns complement each other well on this title. Johns provides his masterful ability to construct complex and intriguing plotlines while Katz provides for a faster paced read and dialogue that is a bit fresher and not as somber as what Johns normally delivers.

Which DC comic book am I least looking forward to reading? Of course, Countdown to Final Crisis #3 is an issue that I’m sure is going to be an average read. Maybe a massive brawl between Superman and Darkseid will at least provide for some mindless entertainment with this issue.

As tempting as it is to select Countdown to Final Crisis #3 as the DC comic book I am least looking forward to reading, I simply have to go with Titans #1. Now, I grew up a huge Teen Titans fan. It was probably my third favorite title behind only the Legion of Super Heroes and Iron Man. I was raised on the Wolfman/Perez Teen Titans and staunchly consider that version of the Titans to be the definitive version.

Of course, at first blush it would seem odd that I wouldn’t be peeing in my pants out of sheer happiness that the definitive version of the Teen Titans is returning. Well, normally I would be thrilled; however, there is one huge reason why my enthusiasm for the return of the best line-up of the Teen Titans has been seriously dampened. And that one reason is Judd Winick.

Now, I honestly try my best to be respectful of writers even when I criticize their work. I will never say that a writer has no talent or that he is a hack. It takes talent to be a writer for Marvel and DC regardless if I find their work entertaining or not. However, I have two exceptions to this rule. And that is when it comes to Judd Winick and Daniel Way. I honestly do believe that these two writers are total hacks. I honestly don’t think that Winick has a lick of talent in him.

And I cringe at the thought of the Wolfman/Perez Titans being absolutely butchered to death by Winick. You already know that Winick is going to turn the Wolfman/Perez Titans into a bunch of mopey slacker Generation X characters who are tragically hip. Winick is going to give us a story that is going to attempt to be as cool and trendy as possible and in return will simply come off as cheesy and in a couple of years will be a horribly dated and laughable story.

Which Marvel comic book am I most looking forward to reading? That would be Fantastic Four #556. Honestly, there really isn’t much competition for Fantastic Four #556 as this is a small and relatively weak selection of titles from the House of Ideas this week.

Millar and Hitch have done a fine job on the first two issues of their run on this title. Millar absolutely hooked me with the excellent ending to Fantastic Four #555. I cannot wait to see CAP in action.

Which Marvel comic book am I least looking forward to reading? Wolverine #64 figures to be another average read. This title has become so stale as Marvel has really ruined Wolverine’s character over the years. Honestly, Wolverine is one character that could seriously benefit from being revealed as a Skrull. I know that Marvel will never do this, but making Logan a Skrull is a perfect opportunity to erase so much of the mishandling of his character over the years and also serve to freshen up his character.

However, I had to go with Amazing Spider-Man #556. This title continues to be such a disappointing read. This is another character that would be vastly improved if it was revealed that he was a Skrull. That way we could junk this lousy Mephisto retcon.

As always, I’ll try my best to start posting reviews as soon as possible. I hope everyone enjoys their new comic books for this week.