New Comic Books For January 6, 2010

BPRD KING OF FEAR #1
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #17
GIGANTIC #5
MASS EFFECT REDEMPTION #1
STAR WARS CLONE WARS #12 HERO CONFEDERACY PT 3

AUTHORITY #18
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #40
BLACKEST NIGHT WONDER WOMAN #2
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #45
CHILL HC
CINDERELLA FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE #3
DOOM PATROL #6
GREAT TEN #3
GREEK STREET #7
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #21
JONAH HEX #51
JSA ALL STARS #2
LOONEY TUNES #182
MAD ABOUT SUPER HEROES TP VOL 02
MIGHTY #12
RED ROBIN #8
RED TORNADO #5
SPIRIT TP VOL 05
SUICIDE SQUAD #67
SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #11
SWEET TOOTH #5
TITANS OLD FRIENDS TP
UNWRITTEN TP VOL 01
WARLORD #10
WEIRD WESTERN TALES #71
WILDSTORM AFTER THE FALL TP

DARKNESS #82
DEAD AT 17 SOURCE BOOK
FORGETLESS #2
FRESHMEN SUMMER READING PACK
GOD COMPLEX #2
HAUNT #4
IMAGE UNITED #2
KING CITY #4
NIGHT OF THE BEDBUGS HC $12.99
ORC STAIN #1
PROOF #25
SAVAGE DRAGON #156
SKY PIRATES OF NEO TERRA #4
SOUL KISS HC VOL 01
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 11 FEAR THE HUNTERS
YOUNGBLOOD TP VOL 02 VOTED OFF THE ISLAND

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS JACKPOT #1
CABLE #22
DAFFODIL #1
DAREDEVIL TP BORN AGAIN
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #897
ESSENTIAL AVENGERS TP VOL 07
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN PREM HC VOL 03 MOST WANTED BK 02
LIST HC
MARVEL BOY URANIAN #1
MARVEL DIVAS TP
NATION X X-FACTOR
NEW MUTANTS #9
PUNISHER MAX GET CASTLE #1
SIEGE #1
SIEGE EMBEDDED #1
SIEGE PRELUDE TP
SPIDER-MAN MAGAZINE #9
SPIDER-MAN NOIR EYES WITHOUT A FACE #2
TIMELY ANNUALS 70TH ANNIV COLLECTION HC
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #6
X-MEN MUTANT MASSACRE HC
X-MEN NOIR MARK OF CAIN #2
X-MEN VS AVENGERS PREM HC
X-MEN VS FANTASTIC FOUR PREM HC

Rokk’s Picks:

All right, new comics!!  Last week was just so very wrong.  A Wednesday without new comic books simply defies the laws of nature.  Yeah, I know we got Blackest Night #6.  But, that issue had been spoiled all over the internet and did not satisfy my urge for a nice large stack of fresh new comic books.

This is a rather unimpressive selection of titles headed our way from DC.  I am just not that excited to read much of what DC is offering tomorrow.

I have mixed feelings about JSA All Stars #2.  Matt Sturges needs to step up and show me something on this title. Willingham managed to do just enough to keep me from dropping Justice Society of America with the last issue of that title. Sturges must now do the same with JSA All Stars #2.

The debut issue to JSA All Stars was extremely unimpressive. Sturges gave the reader a rather dull issue. The character work and dialogue in JSA All Stars #1 were average at best. The debut issue also lacked any compelling plotlines. Hopefully, Sturges will deliver a greatly improved product with this second issue.

Now, I have to admit that I am intrigued by the co-feature that debuts in JSA All-Stars #2. The creative team for the co-feature consists of Jen Van Meter handling the words and Travis Moore and Dan Green delivering the artwork. I have never read anything by Van Meter so I have no idea if I am going to enjoy her style of writing or not.

However, the co-feature stars Hourman and Liberty Belle.  I love those two characters.  They are probably two of my favorite members of the JSA.  I am glad that this duo are getting some time in the spotlight.  I look forward to seeing what Van Meter has in store for this married couple.

The only title from DC this week that I am particularly looking forward to reading is Great Ten #3. This issue of Great Ten centers on Thundermind. I have been impressed with Bedard’s handling of the Great Ten. More often than not, the rule dealing with characters created by Grant Morrison is that no other writer knows what to do with them. That has not been the case with Bedard and the Great Ten.

I dig the format that Bedard is employing by having each issue told from the point of view of a different member of the Great Ten. This has allowed Bedard to perform some excellent character work, properly familiarize the reader with each character and still progress the main storyline along in a pleasing fashion.

I am not all that excited to read Siege #1. The preview of this issue was incredibly unimpressive. Recycling a gimmick from a big event that is only four years old is not exactly how I would kick off a new big event. That type of beginning hardly gives Siege a creative or a fresh feel to it.

Also, I have been less than impressed with Bendis’ work on any title that stars more than two main characters. Bendis cannot handle a large roster of characters. Bendis also struggles mightily when plotting and pacing a large event. Secret Invasion was a poorly constructed big event that greatly suffered in terms of shoddy plotting and pacing.

Hopefully, Bendis has learned from his mistakes and delivers a superior product with Siege. However, I am not expecting much with Siege. I think that retaining low expectations from the outset gives me more opportunity to enjoy Siege. With my low expectations, even if Bendis only delivers an average read then I will be pleased.

Ultimate Spider-Man #6 should be another fun read. I have been enjoying the re-launch of this title. Bendis has done a good job quickly moving past Ultimatum and getting Ultimate Spider-Man back up to speed. I am particularly enjoying how much time Bendis has been spending amassing Peter Parker’s supporting cast. The magic of Ultimate Spider-Man has been largely due to the wonderful supporting cast that Bendis has created on this title. I dig the fact that Aunt May’s house is basically becoming the de-facto headquarters for the Ultimate Universe version of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends.

However, the Marvel comic book that I am most looking forward to reading is Marvel Boy: The Uranian #1. This issue is brought to us by Jeff Parker. There are numerous reasons why this is the Marvel comic that I am most looking forward to reading this month.

First, I love Marvel Boy’s character. Marvel Boy is a great Atlas Comics character created by Stan Lee and Russ Heath and first appearing in Marvel Boy #1 in 1950. My usual weakness for Golden Age characters is combined with the fact that I have enjoyed Marvel Boy over in Agents of Atlas. I am excited to see Parker work his magic to flesh out Marvel Boy’s origin within the context of the modern 616 Universe.

I continue to be impressed with Marvel’s concerted effort to pay more attention to their Golden Age and their wonderful Timely and Atlas Comics characters. This move by Marvel to try and re-integrate numerous Timely and Atlas Comics characters into the continuity of the modern 616 Universe is a wise idea that will only serve to make Marvel’s continuity that much more texture.

I am also looking forward to Marvel Boy #1 because of the great creative team Marvel has on this title. Jeff Parker did a wonderful job on Agents of Atlas. I have been more and more impressed with Parker’s work as of late. I expect a well crafted story from Parker.