We’ve come to the end of 2011 and it’s time for our final Top Twenty of the year! It’s not a Top Twenty of 2011 per se, but the books here (especially in the second list) should give you an idea for the best titles coming out this year. It’s also worth noting that Rusty did not write a single Best Book column this month; don’t be mad, we were having a sale! So we don’t have that information to go on, but we do have your votes in the polls and the Cosmic Comix Conversation!
In case this is your first time, the Top Twenty is an ongoing monthly look at two ordered lists comprising A) The top twenty single issues of the month and B) the top twenty current series in comics. How did we come up with the lists? Well, the Cosmic Comix Top Twenty Committee took several things into consideration: Best Book nominees, poll winners and poll votes, sales numbers and general buzz levels surrounding each book. Yes, your input is not only appreciated but also counts toward the rankings. So let us hear it!
Top Twenty Comics of December 2011 The Best Single Issues
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #632 – We loved it, the Cosmic Comix Conversation panelists loved it. Christmas comes to one of our absolute favorite Marvel books. Best part? A hellhound puppy with no home and a mean streak the width of a football field. Truly best part? That it all fits perfectly into the post-Fear Itself world of Loki and Asgard!
CHEW #22 – This one came out at the very beginning of the month so its excellence may have faded a bit from your mind, but take our word for it: it was awesome. Yet again. The second part of “Major League Chew” and not too late to get on board. Kidnappings! Brawls! Hilarity! Chew rules.
WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #3 – This was one of those “awesome from start to finish” issues. Wolverine’s school is under attack! By a massive island thing! No worries, get it over onto the good guys’ team. Major props to Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo.
AMERICAN VAMPIRE #22 – Part one of a story that takes you into the nifty fifties! Hot rods! Leather jackets! Beatniks! And, of course, vampire parents of a teenage daughter who happens to be dating a rebel vampire slayer with a cause. Tough luck, mom and dad!
SECRET AVENGERS #20 – Came out the same week as American Vampire and was just as good. All of the Warren Ellis Secret Avengers have been good so far but in this one Warren took it to the next level, alongside artist Alex Maleev.
BATMAN INCORPORATED LEVIATHAN STRIKES #1 – What, you thought Batman #4 was gonna be in this spot? We’re that predictable now? Well, you got the Batman part right! The return to Batman, Inc. was as enjoyable as it was large. It was essentially four issues in one and well worth the $6.99 price of admission. Plus it destroyed the poll!
KICK-ASS 2 #6 (OF 7) – Just as enjoyable as any of the books in the #1 through #6 positions and with 300% more cussing and violence. We wanted the return of Hit-Girl and boy did we get it! My only question is: why did they have to target comic book stores? That makes a man nervous!
WALKING DEAD #92 – A major revelation in the world of Walking Dead! There are in fact other survivors in other communities! This issue may have gotten shafted on the poll, but we’re kicking it into the top 10. We can do that!
STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE #3 (OF 6) – We’ve been talking up this series quite a bit recently and this issue is the reason why. It really took the series to the next level by giving it a kind of Kick-Ass type vibe. The only difference is, in this title it’s the main character who does the ass kicking. And he does it well.
BATMAN #4 – Probably the weakest Scott Snyder Batman issue to date and it still finds its way into the top 10. Love the history in each issue and in this one we get a little of young Bruce’s history.
SWAMP THING #4 – When he nominated this one, Rusty called it “an almost perfect issue.” High praise indeed! And totally deserved. Loved the flow of it.
ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #5 – I actually came to this series late, basically jumping on with issue #3. But I am soooo happy I picked it up. Everyone here always talks about the huge scale of it, but it’s so true! These are world-shattering events!
COBRA ONGOING #8 – Totally just a transition issue, from the previous events into the next big crossover story about the new Cobra Commander. But it was awesome. Of course.
RAY #1 (OF 4) – Don’t know who The Ray is? Don’t worry about it! This issue was a great introduction to the character and a thoroughly enjoyable read. This mini-series looks to be a pretty fun ride.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #4 – Aquaman may have gotten a slightly weak issue in his own title this month, but in this THIS title he was awesome. The team now seems to be together and it’s time to take on Darkseid!
SEVERED #5 (OF 7) – I remember when I read this thinking that they love to make you think one thing is about to happen and then do something totally different. It happened several times in this issue and it was good every time. Heck, they even had me rooting for the bad guy! Not cool. I feel like a creep.
FABLES #112 – You can always count on Fables for a solid Christmas issue and they didn’t disappoint this year. Just a very cool spin on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Plus, reindeer cracking wise about Santa trying to get himself a little action has to count for something!
X-MEN LEGACY #260 – Giving this one the final spot. It was Mike Carey’s final issue and a fine end to a fine, fine run. If you missed his very cool Age of X story, it just got collected in trade!
DMZ #72 – I know, I know. that wasn’t the final spot just then. THIS is the final spot. But I figured since we’re talking about final issues, we better have two final spots and mention DMZ #72. A great ending to a great Vertigo series about a possible future American civil war. Read the trades!
Top Twenty Titles of December 2011 The Best Current Series
CHEW – Every time Chew misses a month I penalize it in the rankings. But then when it comes out I find myself thinking: how was this NOT the #1 title last month?! (TPBs)
WALKING DEAD – The Year-End Sale from a few weeks ago put a hurting on our Walking Dead supply and the most recent issue featured a major new revelation. Could be the most important comics title in history when all is said and done. The Walking Dead walks on! (TPBs)
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY – Whoa, daddy! I know we’ve said Journey into Mystery is good, but the third best title in comics?! No way, sirs. To that I can only say this: WAY. It is really that good.
GI JOE: COBRA – Have you heard of that movie that’s about to come out called Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy? Supposed to be one of the best spy stories ever told, a John Le Carre classic. And I can guarantee you that GI Joe: Cobra is better. Take that, Tinseltown! (TPBs)
SCALPED – Remember what I said up there about getting penalized for missing a month? Now it’s Scalped’s turn. Bitter medicine, but not to worry. I’m sure the next issue will put it right back up top. (TPBs)
BATMAN – A little bit of a dip in the single issue rankings, but this is still one of the best ongoing Batman stories we’ve read. The history of Gotham City, the secret powers, the intrigue! Love it all!
SECRET AVENGERS – Why can’t Warren Ellis just go ahead and write Secret Avengers for the duration? Huh? HUH?!
AMERICAN VAMPIRE – We’d been looking forward to this newest story arc for a while and it did not disappoint. Just a quality comic book series!
ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES – Breaks into the top 10! If you haven’t picked it up already, do so immediately. You won’t regret it.
PUNISHERMAX – He didn’t make the list above, but he could have very easily if I had been in the right mood. Heck, in the right mood I might have made him #1. I’d have to be in a very dark place, though. You wouldn’t want to be around me on those days. Such a brutally good series.
KICK-ASS – It even says something like this on the back cover, but no series makes me go "Oh no she DIDN’T!!" more often than Kick-Ass.
JUSTICE LEAGUE – All-out action! A fine flagship title for the New 52 and a great ride so far. Now, time to get that story rolling…
BUFFY / ANGEL & FAITH – Great once again! Angel & Faith in particular had a strong month. I was even chastised by Rusty when I said Buffy wasn’t really my thing. "Good comics aren’t your thing?!" he said. BURN.
X-MEN LEGACY – Sorry to see Mike Carey go!
RACHEL RISING – Missed this month! But I have no doubt that when I pick up issue #4 I’ll know exactly where the story left off. I love that.
WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN – Issues #1 and 3 have been fantastic. If this series finds a rhythm it will be a major contender.
SEVERED – Flirts with greatness, but also meanders a bit sometimes. This month’s issue brought it back to the fore. Here’s hoping it finishes strong!
SWAMP THING – Just the third of the New 52 to find its way onto this list. And that seems about right. It and Superboy are probably the two best titles behind Batman and Justice League.
INVINCIBLE – I have a tendency to diss Invincible, but I know it’s a good book. Many of the most respected opinions around the store talk it up on a regular basis. "It’s just good," they all seem to say. (TPBs)
FABLES – A big old Christmas issue and an excellent continuing story. To those who stopped reading Fables because they lost interest: pick it back up! It’s still good! (TPBs)
Others receiving votes for the Best Current Series:
The panel talks about Aquaman, Journey into Mystery, American Vampire, Secret Avengers and many, many more comic books all from the month of December! Happy New Year!
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The voter turnout for last week’s poll may have been a little lighter than usual, but that didn’t stop Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes #1 from running away with the victory! A landslide that just might have implications for Monday’s Top Twenty…
Moving on to this week, it was a big week for comics and I don’t want to hold up the show any more than I have to. Plenty to choose from, whether you like Marvel, DC, neither, both or a little of everything! So…
What was the best book of the week?
Secret Avengers #20 (8 Votes)
American Vampire #22 (6 Votes)
Aquaman #4 (3 Votes)
DMZ #72 (3 Votes)
Ultimate Comics Ultimates #5 (2 Votes)
Kick-Ass 2 #6 (of 7) (2 Votes)
Joe Hill’s The Cape #3 (of 4) (2 Votes)
I Vampire #4 (2 Votes)
Avengers: Children’s Crusade #8 (2 Votes)
Angel & Faith #5 (2 Votes)
Happy New Year! Out with the old (these picks) and in with the new (my pick in the comments)! (1 Votes)
It’s the end of the year! Everyone get as much reading done as possible before next year descends upon us! (Actually, it’ll be fine to read next year, too, but I like the dramatic way I write that right there.) Lots of great stuff this past week! Loved American Vampire and I, Vampire, but since I tend to write about those books quite a bit or have in the past I thought I would offer some other titles this time around! Enjoy!
SECRET AVENGERS #20
Marvel Comics
Written by Warren Ellis
Illustrated by Alex Maleev
This is without a doubt the best comic I read this week. I am still not sure if I quite understood the entire issue, but it does not matter. It was absolutely riveting. Steve Rogers, Sharon Carter and War Machine get killed. Before he dies James Rhodes slips Natasha an “escape hatch,” which proves to be a time-travel device of sorts. Basically it allows her to leap back through time at various points. She gets angry at herself for not listening to Hank McCoy’s boring time-travel lessons and meets with him to determine how best to deal with the situation.
Beast leaves her the impression that the time-line must be made secure, so the idea is that she must change time without making it seem like time has changed. Natasha embarks on a mission of recruiting a mad scientist to create the time travel device she is using, puts into motion counter measures that will show up in her enemy’s weapons in the future to save her team, and gets the device she is using implanted into the War Machine armor to eventually be passed on to her. By the end of the issue she has saved her team and made it look like nothing ever happened, even though she had been operating for over four months to save her team.
Comics on Wednesday, even on a holiday week. How sweet it is! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. Wish everyone a Happy New Year.
Nominees!
AMERICAN VAMPIRE #22 – Andy hooked you up with a highlight on Monday. I was looking forward to it myself and it did not disappoint. Great jumping on point. There was only one character in the issue who we had seen before. Takes place in Glendale, California, 1954. Travis Kidd (think James Dean) is a 19-year-old vampire huntin’ hot-rodder. It was cool. It was rock ‘n’roll. It was just great. And really is a must read. Read it up!
ANGEL & FAITH #5 – A one-shot featuring Harmony! Who I think is great. She’s hilarious. Always been a fan. And the depiction was perfect. Harmony is getting blackmailed and turns to Angel for help. And I will repeat: one of the best things about Season Nine of both Buffy and Angel is how easily accessible they are. Don’t think it matters if you’ve seen the TV shows or if you’ve read Season Eight. Think you will still enjoy. They’re just good comics.
DMZ #72 – The last issue. An epilogue issue. First page said 15 years later. Text was all excerpts from a book Matty wrote, laid over a tourist visiting different sites in the DMZ. Ended so well. The previous issue was great, it tied up the plots. This issue tied up the emotions. The creators wrote snippets in the back. Been a fantastic six-year journey and I appreciated the ride. Read the trades!
I VAMPIRE #4 – Nominated over SUPERMAN #4, GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #4, and VOODOO #4. But let’s talk Voodoo and the DC All Access page! First off, the Voodoo intro says, "Sent here on a mission to gather information on Earth’s heroes." And that’s what she did this issue. Broke into a government facility to download information on Superman and other heroes. Second, the All Access page says, "Check out next month’s Stormwatch, in which a devastating explosion will echo in upcoming issues of both Grifter and Superman as a major new (yet somehow familiar) threat will be introduced." So what does that mean. My guess? The Daemonites are gonna invade. And that’s your DC summer crossover!
KICK-ASS 2 #6 (OF 7) – Hit girl! Hit girl! Hit girl! Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Love how she talks to Kick-Ass. Love how she talks in general. Wish I could give you some quotes but she has a very filthy mouth.
MIGHTY THOR #9 – I really thought I would hate this Thor arc. Thor did die. Some clown named Tanarus did take his place. Plus, no Olivier Coipel. So… BOOOOO! But I do like it. Mainly because it’s not about Tanarus. We know that’s Ulik the Troll pretending to be Thor. Told us that last issue. Told us this issue that it’s all a plot by the Norn Queen to usurp the Asgardian throne. Plus, Thor is still around, Little Loki is involved and the All-Mother shot a wicked two pronged magic arrow right into a frost giant’s eyes and blew his head off!
SECRET AVENGERS #20 – Hah! Warren. My man! He put a little effort into this one! A massively involved, fast paced, action packed, time travel story! Steve Rogers, Sharon Carter and War Machine died at the beginning. The Black Widow goes on an 18-week, two-day, nine hour and three minute time travel odyssey to save the Secret Avengers! Great use of captions. Zero minus thirty years. Zero minus four years. Had me flipping pages back and forth. It was awesome. Even threw in some ’60s comic strip pages. Gotta love Kongo. Thanks for the effort, Warren!
ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #5 – The last two issues have sealed the deal on the Ultimates. Mucho props to Jonathan Hickman. He really seems to have control of this massive story he’s presenting us. The entire world is in chaos and it’s so easy to follow. And he’s doing it without any real recaps. Just people having conversations about events. Nick Fury talks to the President’s Chief of Staff about what’s going on in the world. Hawkeye briefs the Pentagon about what happened in his mini-series. Tony Stark watches the stock market collapse. Still love the huge scale aspect. The United States is now the third largest superpower on earth. But the devil’s in the details and Mr. Hickman is nailing it right now.
UNCANNY X-MEN #3 – Loved it all. Mr. Sinister. Hope. Emma. Even Danger. It was all good. Might have ended a little abruptly. But issue #4 comes out next week so more on the way!
X-MEN LEGACY #260 – Thus ends Mike Carey’s five-year run on X-Men Legacy. Enjoyed it a lot. And the Age of X was great. Rogue is my favorite character. But she was one messed up chick before Mr. Carey got his hands on her. Thank you for making her a relevant, believable, intelligent character again. Great job!
No best book column again this week. What?! Go drink some egg nog! It’s the holidays! Gotta be between Secret Avengers and American Vampire this week. We’ll let the poll sort it out tomorrow.
Welcome once again to another of our fine trips down Best Covers Lane. It’s a pilgrimage so entertaining that we keep going back for more every week! But occasionally, as our duties often overlap with website functionality, the tour includes updates concerning our internet home, www.cosmiccomix.com. So it shall be today!
I recently made a change that I’m hoping will dramatically increase the speed of the website. I can’t tell you exactly what I did… not because it’s a secret or anything, but because my main technique for working on the website involves a lot of rapid button mashing and I can never tell which sequence of keystrokes was the good one. It’s a computing style I learned by playing Track & Field on the Nintendo Entertainment System for hours on end.
But in all seriousness, I did make some changes. Please let me know if you notice (or don’t notice) a difference.
WITCH DOCTOR
THE RESUSCITATION
Cover by Lukas Ketner
As I mentioned in our most recent Tweet, we’re here at Cosmic Comix bright and early this morning. It’s a holiday week and that just means we have to come in early on Wednesdays to sort out the new comics. All I can say is, neither Rusty nor I (nor David, who also happens to be here) is a morning person. I think it would take whatever is happening to the guy in this Witch Doctor cover to actually wake us from our sleep-deprived stupors.
Anyway, I gave Witch Doctor a belated shout on Monday (the trade came out last week) and I gotta mention it again because this cover is totally sick. In a good way. I know we’ve all heard the urban legend about getting knocked out at a party or something and then waking up in a bathtub full of ice short one kidney. This takes that to a whoooole different level. Now you’re waking up in the bathtub without any skin! Not sure you can come back from that, but Witch Doctor looks willing to give it a try.
Recently, writer Mike Carey finished up his epic run on X-Men: Legacy. It was solid all the way through, and Carey was outstanding for basically the entire series, but the Elseworlds story "Age of X" really took it to the next level. It was highly popular here at the store, for scale, quality and sheer creativity of story. Check it out!
X-MEN: AGE OF X TP
$24.99
In a world where the X-Men never existed, and mutantkind has been hunted to extinction, the few remaining mutants have banded together to make their last stand. They spend each day securing the walls of their stronghold, Fortress X, beating back the anti-mutant forces that would see them wiped out. But when a conspiracy is discovered within Fortress X itself, could it be that mutantkind’s last bastion will crumble from the inside out? When the dust settles, no one will be left unscathed. Collecting Age of X Alpha, X-Men Legacy #245-247, New Mutants (2009) #22-24, Age of X Universe#1-2 and the Age of X Historical Logs.
It is the end of the year and the last Wednesday of new comics for 2011! There are plenty of great titles this week, so let’s get right into it, shall we?
Two books I am extremely excited to read this week come from Marvel’s Ultimate line: Ultimate Comics Ultimates #5 and Ultimate Comics X-Men #5. The former deals with the new race of Tomorrow Children created by the evil Reed Richards (and sports an awesome Spider-Woman cover), and the latter deals with a traitor in the X-Men’s ranks and Kitty Pryde assuming her role as leader. Both books have been fantastic and I expect more of the same!
Even though there are more popular titles coming out this week, I’m giving major props to I, Vampire #4. This book has been one of my favorite things about the new DC Universe, and this issue brings the Vampire War to Gotham City with appearances by Batman and John Constantine. This will be EPIC! I will accept nothing less!
One of the biggest releases from Marvel this week is without a doubt Avengers: Children’s Crusade #8! Not only is this the series bringing the Scarlet Witch back to the Marvel U proper, but I remember the publisher saying that this series, along with Fear Itself and Schism, is vital to what comes next. With one issue to go, I bet this new one gives us all kinds of interesting twists!
Warren Ellis teams with Alex Maleev for Secret Avengers #20! Ellis’ one-shot Secret Avengers stories have been ridiculously fun and exactly what this book needed, and I am hoping this superstar match-up with Maleev gives us more of what I have really loved about it!
DC Comics and its New 52 have been on quite a roll recently. Not only have they been doing very well in our own illustrious Top Twenty feature, but a recent USA Today story — From ‘Flashpoint’ to ‘Fear Itself,’ the year in comics 2011 — was very kind to the initiative, calling it the "Best Decision" in comics! But more relevant to this week, the article also named Aquaman as the "Best Worst Superhero," saying, "Yes, Geoff Johns somehow made a guy who talks to fish seriously cool. Twice in one year. There has to be some presidential commendation for that." We couldn’t agree more! This series is great.
AQUAMAN #4
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado
There are parts of the ocean even Aquaman should not enter. Now Aquaman and Mera must descend into uncharted territory: the smoky black crevice at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, home of the cannibalistic creatures known only as the Trench. One last secret behind these loathsome creatures will be revealed as "The Trench" thunders toward its bloodcurdling conclusion!
Plus be on the lookout for several other #4 issues from The New 52, including Flash #4, I, Vampire #4, Superman #4, Batman: The Dark Knight #4, Savage Hawkman #4 and more!
As we mentioned in the Shipping This Week post, this week looks to be a nice one for the X-Men family, especially if you’re following the Regenesis saga! For starters, we’re set to get Uncanny X-Men #3, Kieron Gillen and Carlos Pacheco’s series that follows Cyclops and his crew over in Utopia, their main threat being one Mr. Sinister. As Rusty said when he nominated issue #2, "The return of Mr. Sinister has been great. He’s totally toying with Cyclops and his team at this point. And I do believe he’s as powerful as he’s being portrayed. Gonna be interesting to see how they eventually defeat him."
UNCANNY X-MEN #3
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Carlos Pacheco
Mr. Sinister’s tampering with the Golden Celestial has summoned the immortal Space Gods to earth, to render judgment upon all mankind. If the X-Men we’re looking for a chance to prove that they are earth’s mightiest heroes… HERE. IT. IS!
But that’s not all! We’re also looking forward to X-Men Legacy #260, also a Regenesis tie-in and the final issue in Mike Carey’s outstanding run!
X-MEN LEGACY #260
Written by Mike Carey
Art by Khoi Pham
Veteran X-scribe Mike Carey wraps up his five-year run on X-Men Legacy with a story that marks the end of an era! In the aftermath of Schism, the X-Men are divided. Magneto has chosen to stay with Cyclops on Utopia. Gambit has chosen to follow Wolverine to Westchester. And now Rogue must decide who she is going to follow…
Carey has been writing X-Men Legacy for six years, his run beginning when it was simply called X-Men. But with Rogue taking lead role on the team, the series morphed into something totally different, culminating arguably in Carey’s outstanding Age of X saga. But with this issue Carey brings it back to Earth… and decisions must be made. (If they haven’t already been made in other titles, ha.)
Marvel Comics Uncanny X-Men #3, X-Men Legacy #260 and other X-Men releases all come out on Wednesday!
We’ve definitely been looking forward to the next arc of Scott Snyder’s American Vampire, and it begins on Wednesday! There was an article in USA Today about it. I’ll let it do the talking:
The next hip story arc of American Vampire is gonna burn rubber, Daddy-O.
Writer Scott Snyder and artist Rafael Albuquerque are visiting the 1950s and its era of flat-tops, greasers and souped-up hot rods beginning in American Vampire issue 22, in comic shops Wednesday. It’s also introducing a new character to the Vertigo Comics series named Travis Kidd, a psych-ward-escapee, rockabilly-punk, teenage vampire killer.
"It’s about young characters stepping in for some of the older characters and some new faces and fresh blood," Snyder says. "It’s really rock ‘n’ roll, man."
Says the writer of rock ‘n’ roll Batman!! Can’t wait.
AMERICAN VAMPIRE #22
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by Jordi Bernet
Get ready – it’s hot rods, poodle skirts and rock ‘n’ roll as American Vampire goes screaming into the 1950s! Who is Travis Kidd? What do the mysterious Vassals want with him? And what does it all have to do with Skinner Sweet? Find out in "Death Race" part 1!
DC Comics/Vertigo’s American Vampire #22 comes out on Wednesday!
When we last left the ultra-violent world of Kick-Ass, Hit-Girl was just about to make her triumphant return. Well, she had already made her return, but she hadn’t really made her return. We want to see some slicing and dicing!! Yes, this is Mark Millar and John Romita do to us: they make us want a 10-year-old girl to pick up her swords and hurt people in the worst of ways. And hopefully, that’s exactly what we’re gonna get in issue #6…
KICK-ASS 2 #6 (OF 7)
Written by Mark Millar
Art by John Romita
The Mother****er and his team of Toxic Mega-***** are running rampant through New York City. With his life in shatters and his allies dead or locked away in prison, it falls to Kick-Ass to strike back against the supervillain uprising, with a little help from everyone’s favorite pint-size death-dealer: Hit-Girl. The fight to save NYC from the Mother****er’s masterplan beings here!
Marvel Comics’ Kick-Ass 2 #6 comes out on Wednesday!
Skybound is the Image Comics imprint that basically falls under the watchful eye of Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman. Recently, we saw the first original series to come out of that imprint, Witch Doctor! It’s a sick world — literally. The universe is a living thing, and the monsters of legend are its parasites. Earth’s immune system — humanity — has been at war with supernature for all of history. But to fight a disease, you don?t need soldiers. You need doctors. Doctors like Vincent Morrow…
Meet Vincent Morrow, a doctor looking for a vaccine… for the apocalypse! In this stand-alone first issue, a family needs Dr. Morrow’s help with their son’s illness: Demonic possession. But when Morrow attempts an experimental cure, he discovers the boy’s disease isn’t all spinning heads and pea soup – it’s like nothing you’ve seen before! Horror gets a brain transplant in Witch Doctor, the book Warren Ellis calls "mental."
I hope everyone had a Happy Holiday! The news was a bit light this week, but there were some definite cool bits that I can share nonetheless!
Bleeding Cool has gotten its hand on character sketches by JG Jones and Andy and Joe Kubert for the Comedian and Nite Owl. Are these from the proposed Watchmen 2 prequel books? Could be. It definitely supports the rumors Bleeding Cool has been chasing and the creative teams match up. Looks like DC is at least contemplating it.
Marvel is starting a line of novels adapting big Marvel stories. The first is a novel adapting Civil War, originally created by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, and will be written by Stuart Moore. I wonder if this means Secret Invasion, Dark Reign, Siege, and Fear Itself will be far behind? I guess if this novelization does well we might see them!
Looks like a solid week for the House of Ideas! In particular, the X-family. I thought they had a pretty big week last week, but this week we’re set to get Uncanny X-Men #3, X-Men Legacy #260, Astonishing X-Men #45, Deadpool #48 and even Ultimate Comics X-Men #5! Plus, three issues of Cap with both Captain America #5and6 and Captain America and Bucky #625. Also, Kick-Ass 2 #6 (of 7), Mighty Thor #9, Secret Avengers #20, FF #13 and more! A solid post-Christmas haul.
As for DC, the heavy hitters in the New 52 are most certainly Aquaman #4 (one of the house favorites here), Flash #4, I Vampire #4 (also a house fave), Superman #4, Teen Titans #4, Batman The Dark Knight #4 and Green Lantern New Guardians #4. Plus, on the Vertigo front we’ve got American Vampire #22, the series finale issue DMZ #72, Spaceman #3 (of 9) and Unwritten #32.5.
From other publishers, Haunt #20 (Image); Angel and Faith #5 and The Guild Zaboo #1 (Dark Horse); Joe Hill’s The Cape #3 (of 4) (IDW); Game of Thrones #4 (Dynamite); and finally Previews!
A Diamond Select Release! Art Asylum Designs & Sculpts! In an alternate reality where mutants are hunted and killed, the remaining survivors have walled themselves into Fortress X, and the X-Men we all know lead very different lives.
This set includes the Age of X versions of Gambit, Magneto, Rogue (a.k.a. "Legacy") and Cyclops (a.k.a. "Basilisk"). Each Minimate stands 2.5" tall with 14 points of articulation and a variety of removable and interchangeable parts and accessories and is packed on a blister card.
We’ve seen the Marvel picks for February, we’ve seen the DC picks for February. So what does that leave? Why, Everything Else of course! Image, Dark Horse, IDW and all the other non-Big Two publishers! Some good stuff coming out, too, starting with a new one from Robert Kirkman’s Skybound imprint at Image Comics…
THIEF OF THIEVES #1
IMAGE COMICS
Written by Robert Kirkman, Nick Spencer
Art by Shawn Martinbrough
Conrad Paulson lives a secret double life as master thief Redmond. There is nothing he can’t steal, nothing he can’t have… except for the life he left behind. Now, with a grown son he hardly knows, and an ex-wife he never stopped loving, Conrad must try to piece together what’s left of his life, before the FBI finally catch up to him… but it appears they are the least of his worries.
For this series, Kirkman is tapping into his television experience. As you know Walking Dead has been a huge hit and I guess Kirkman enjoys the writing style so much that he’s bringing it to comics.
"Having worked on the Walking Dead TV show," Kirkman said recently, "I’ve really fallen in love with the way that TV shows are written, where a bunch of people get together and they plot stuff and people split off into their own little splinter groups and write episodes. I think that’s a really neat way to tell stories and something that could be utilized in comics more often."
So it’ll be a whole crew of writers working on this series, with the first arc written by Nick Spencer (Morning Glories). No brainer, gotta have it.
Happy Holidays, you filthy heathens! This week I’m limiting the reviews to just three, but I included some great books! I hope everyone is either enjoying their holidays or about to!
ULTIMATES COMICS SPIDER-MAN #5
Marvel Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Sara Pichelli & David Messina
One of the things I loved about the Ulimate Universe (and still do) is that things change in ways they never would or could in the normal Marvel Universe. When there is a great creative team behind it we get something cool, like The Ultimates, and when there is not we get something like Ultimates 3… see what I mean?
I have been very vocal about my dislike of the current Ultimate Comics Spider-Man book. This title had been my favorite Spider-Man title consistently for a decade. It showcased my favorite version of Peter Parker, not his youth, but the characterization. When it was revealed they would be killing Peter and replacing him with a new Spider-Man I initially had mixed feelings. It represented the thing I loved most about the Ultimate Universe: change. Nevertheless, over the years many Ultimate books lost their edge and fun, but Ultimate Spider-Man did not, and I did not want that to change.
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JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #632 – We loved it, the Cosmic Comix Conversation panelists loved it. Christmas comes to one of our absolute favorite Marvel books. Best part? A hellhound puppy with no home and a mean streak the width of a football field. Truly best part? That it all fits perfectly into the post-Fear Itself world of Loki and Asgard!
CHEW – Every time Chew misses a month I penalize it in the rankings. But then when it comes out I find myself thinking: how was this NOT the #1 title last month?! (TPBs)
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It’s the end of the year! Everyone get as much reading done as possible before next year descends upon us! (Actually, it’ll be fine to read next year, too, but I like the dramatic way I write that right there.) Lots of great stuff this past week! Loved American Vampire and I, Vampire, but since I tend to write about those books quite a bit or have in the past I thought I would offer some other titles this time around! Enjoy!
Comics on Wednesday, even on a holiday week. How sweet it is! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. Wish everyone a Happy New Year.
It is the end of the year and the last Wednesday of new comics for 2011! There are plenty of great titles this week, so let’s get right into it, shall we?
DC Comics and its New 52 have been on quite a roll recently. Not only have they been doing very well in our own illustrious Top Twenty feature, but a recent USA Today story — 
As we mentioned in the 
But that’s not all! We’re also looking forward to X-Men Legacy #260, also a Regenesis tie-in and the final issue in Mike Carey’s outstanding run!
We’ve definitely been looking forward to the next arc of Scott Snyder’s 
When we last left the ultra-violent world of Kick-Ass, Hit-Girl was just about to make her triumphant return. Well, she had already made her return, but she hadn’t really made her return. We want to see some slicing and dicing!! Yes, this is Mark Millar and John Romita do to us: they make us want a 10-year-old girl to pick up her swords and hurt people in the worst of ways. And hopefully, that’s exactly what we’re gonna get in issue #6…
I hope everyone had a Happy Holiday! The news was a bit light this week, but there were some definite cool bits that I can share nonetheless!
Looks like a solid week for the House of Ideas! In particular, the X-family. I thought they had a pretty big week last week, but this week we’re set to get Uncanny X-Men #3, X-Men Legacy #260, Astonishing X-Men #45, Deadpool #48 and even Ultimate Comics X-Men #5! Plus, three issues of Cap with both Captain America #5 and 6 and Captain America and Bucky #625. Also, Kick-Ass 2 #6 (of 7), Mighty Thor #9, Secret Avengers #20, FF #13 and more! A solid post-Christmas haul.
MARVEL MINIMATES AGE OF X BOX SET
We’ve seen the 
Happy Holidays, you filthy heathens! This week I’m limiting the reviews to just three, but I included some great books! I hope everyone is either enjoying their holidays or about to!
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