DC COMICS
ADVENTURE COMICS #2
BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #2
BOOSTER GOLD #24
DOOM PATROL #2
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #40
RED ROBIN #4
SHIELD #1
SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #7
UNWRITTEN #5
WEDNESDAY COMICS #10
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #604
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #134
KICK ASS #7
MARVELS PROJECT #2
ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #2
WAR OF KINGS WHO WILL RULE ONE-SHOT
We have a healthy total of 16 titles headed to the Bunker today. This week is DC heavy. There are certainly some gems in this selection of comic books for today. I am itching to read some new comics. I hate it when the shipping of new comics is delayed.
Which DC comic book am I most looking forward to reading?
I am excited to read Blackest Night: Batman #2. The debut issue of this was excellent. Tomasi has such a wonderful feel for Dick’s character and it was nice to see Tomasi writing Dick once again. It should be interesting seeing Dick and Tim have to lock horns with their dead parents. I expect plenty of drama and quality action with this issue.
Booster Gold #24 should be another fun read. Jurgens continues to build momentum on this title. I cannot wait to finally learn the identity of the Black Beetle. This title also gets bonus points because of the enjoyable Blue Beetle back-up stories that we have been getting.
I am curious about The Shield #1. This debut title spins out of JMS’ Red Circle mini-series. Eric Trautmann has been tapped as the writer for this title. I am not familiar at all with Trautmann’s writing. I am interested to see what kind of writing skills he brings to the table. Inferno is the star of the back-up story in this issue. The Inferno co-feature will be written by Brandon Jerwa. This is yet another writer that I know nothing about. Hopefully, The Shield #1 will deliver a quality read.
I am certainly excited to read The Unwritten #5. This is one of the very few Vertigo titles that has found a place on my permanent pull list. I love what Carey has done on this title. The Unwritten is such a creative and unique read.
Of course, I am looking forward to read Wednesday Comics #10. This has been quite an enjoyable mini-series due to the oversized format and some incredible artwork.
However, the DC comic book that I am most looking forward to reading is Green Lantern Corps #40. This issue should be crammed full of bloody action as our heroes will have to battle the horde of Black Lanterns on Oa. It will be Green Lanterns versus zombie Green Lanterns now wielding black power rings. Should be exciting.
Which DC comic book am I least looking forward to reading?
I am not all that excited to read Adventure Comics #2. The debut issue of this title was extremely muted and did little to hook me into coming back from more. Add to that the fact that Johns will be leaving this title after just six issues and I begin to doubt the longevity of this title already. We do know that Paul Levitz has been tapped to take over the writing duties on Adventure Comics once Johns leaves.
Levitz is widely regarded as being arguably the best Legion writer ever along with Jim Shooter. Long time Legion fans should be ecstatic over this news. I know that it initially put a smile on my face.
However, nostalgia must give away a realistic critical examination of this decision. The fact is that Levitz has not written comics in a long time. His last effort in writing comics was his story arc on JSA after Johns left that title. I found it to be terribly ordinary. Also, will Levitz at age 53 be the proper writer to take this team of teen characters into a new era? We shall see soon enough. I am also curious to see if with Johns’ departure if Superboy also gets muscled out of Adventure Comics in favor of this being a full-time Legion title.
I am not all that excited for Doom Patrol #2. This title is still on my probation list and has until issue #4 too hook me and earn a spot on my permanent pull list. I like the characters in Doom Patrol and I have enjoyed previous versions of this team. However, Giffen simply did not do enough to make the debut issue of Doom Patrol anything more than a generic super hero team title. I ended up enjoying the Metal Men back-up story much more than the Doom Patrol main feature story.
I have my doubts about Red Robin #4. This title definitely has potential. However, Yost really needs to get this title much more focused than it has been over the first three issues. The flow of the story on this title has been choppy with the constant jumping back and forth between the different timelines. Yost also needs to finally give Tim a clear plan and direction in which to serve as the foundation for his search for Bruce. It would also be nice to learn a bit more about why Tim so firmly believes that Bruce is alive rather than just some random unsubstantiated hope that Bruce is still alive.
However, the DC comic book that I am least looking forward to reading is Superman: World of New Krypton #7. This has been such a plodding and lumbering story that has progressed in a disappointingly predictable fashion.
Which Marvel comic book am I most looking forward to reading?
Amazing Spider-Man #604 should be a solid read. This issue features a creative team that I enjoy in Fred Van Lente and Barry Kitson. The Black Cat is back with this issue. It should be fun to see what kind of chaos Black Cat’s return causes in Peter’s life.
Incredible Hercules #134 is sure to be another blast to read. I absolutely adore this title. Pak and Van Lente have made Incredible Herc one of the best titles that Marvel is currently publishing. This title has so much heart and character. The stories are well crafted and offer a good combination of character work, action, adventure and humor.
Well, look at this! A new issue of Kick-Ass #7. Awesome. I have enjoyed this title from the very start. This title has been such an interesting twist on the super hero genre. I expect plenty more bloody action and humorous dialogue in this issue. I am sure that Millar will have a couple of surprises in store for the reader with this issue.
I fully expect Ultimate Comics: Avengers #2 to be another adrenaline pumping read. Millar completely hooked me with a strong debut issue on this title. Millar was able to quickly remove the stain that Loeb left on this title in the wake of his stories on Ultimates 3 and Ultimatum. I love the Ultimate version of the Red Skull. I cannot wait to learn more about this character and to find out if he truly is Captain America’s son or not.
However, the Marvel comic book that I am most looking forward to reading is Marvels Project #2. I absolutely adored the debut issue of this title. Brubaker did a fantastic job setting the stage for what should be an interesting story. Brubaker is crafting a nicely textured story that is going to help give the 616 universe’s history even more depth.
Which Marvel comic book am I least looking forward to reading? None. This is a nice selection of comic books from the House of the Mouse this week.