I’m actually not a huge fan of the original Watchmen series. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it. It’s certainly very good. And I totally respect it for what it meant, and still means, to the comic book world. It is the best-selling graphic novel of all time! Although it does happen to be a trade paperback… but… I’m not a huge fan. There are plenty of huge fans out there. There are plenty of people who don’t want it messed with. Well, DC Comics started messin’ with Watchmen this week with the release of BEFORE WATCHMEN MINUTEMEN #1 and it doesn’t bother me at all. My only comment was, and still is: if you’re going to go back to the Watchmen, you better have a plan, you better have an idea, and it better be good.

Gonna be seven mini-series in all. DC had a big ad in all the books this week outlining the lineup. Thirty-five weeks in a row of Watchmen action coming your way. And if they are all as good as MINUTEMEN #1, I’m gonna be one happy camper! Thought it was great. Thought they started the “event” off correctly. The Minutemen are the superhero team and we got snapshots of all the characters. Just an excellent “re-introduction” into the world of Watchmen. And I thought Darwyn Cooke was the perfect choice for the book. It was set in 1939. Darwyn Cooke has already shown us in DC’s The New Frontier that he is totally capable of telling a period piece and it was done very, very well. 

Have to see how the rest plays out. Obviously we have only seen one issue of one title right now. Got a long way to go. But BEFORE WATCHMEN MINUTEMEN #1 was excellent, a very easy nomination for Best Book of the Week, and in fact I will even give it my vote for the Best Book of the Week. Fingers crossed for the rest!

Here’s 10 more nominees!

ACTION COMICS #10 – Clark Kent is dead! Kraven the Hunter is almost dead! And Grant Morrison was throwing things at us left and right! Even worked in some Justice League action. It was all good. Did think it was funny that the back-up story, which was a salute/eulogy to the deceased Mr. Kent, said these events take place after the events in Action Comics #11. Then shouldn’t it have been the back-up story in Action Comics #11? Call me crazy but that just makes sense to me.

AVENGERS VS X-MEN #5 (OF 12) – Iron Man got into the biggest, dumbest Transformer suit ever and shot the Phoenix with his disruptors! Won’t give away what happened after that but I was surprised by what happened next. Certainly didn’t expect that. My favorite part of the issue was actually two small panels. One was of the mystical city of K’un Lun with a warrior saying, "And so. It begins again." The other was of the Scarlet Witch, set elsewhere, where she just says, "No… No… " Totally enjoying my fighting but the series is gonna come down to the end game and the Iron Fist scenario and the Scarlet Witch scenario are what I am most interested in. Something of long term consequence will undoubtedly happen and I’m keeping my eye on those two. I also thought UNCANNY X-MEN #13 was good. It tied in nicely this week, they ended the same, even though it had an entirely different plot line. 

EARTH 2 #2 – Followed up a strong first issue… with a strong second issue. Thought the Flash intro was excellent although it did mimic Hal Jordan’s origin, back when he got his ring from a dying Abin Sur. File it in the "if it ain’t broke don’t fix it" category. Loved the “world army.” That’s an interesting twist. Loved that after they cancelled Mr. Terrific’s book in the New 52, they sent him to Earth 2, where he got “cancelled” again! And while Alan Scott is most certainly gay, not that there’s anything wrong with that, he might also be dead, and there is something most definitely wrong with that! Also thought WORLDS FINEST #2 was good. If you liked the first issue, see no reason why you wouldn’t like the second issue.

FAIREST #4 – Was excellent again. Loved the twist of how the Snow Queen was only helping the Emperor because she’d been drugged. Would be very interesting to see her join the Fables team. Continue to enjoy both the Ali Baba and Rose Red back stories. The Imp is still great. And the ending was fantastic. That’s a battle I want to see!

FURY MAX #3 – Is getting a lot of positive reviews in the store. Everyone is talking about it. More fighting and less talking puts it on my list this week.

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #639 – Is back on my nominees list. Sorry. Really didn’t enjoy the Exiled crossover. New arc starts this issue. Regular artist Richard Elson is back on board. And I’m back on board.

SWEET TOOTH #34 – Was titled the Ballad of Johnny and Abbot. Was all back story on the guy with the red glasses (Abbot) and the guy who set Jeppard and Sweet Tooth free (Johnny) many, many issues ago. Two peripheral characters who we knew virtually nothing about, we now know everything we need to know about. One is about to become important. One is dead.

THIEF OF THIEVES #5 – This panel was insane! Tied into the first couple of issues, really had nothing to do with the rest of this issue. But that panel is insane! Last issue we saw the FBI lady talking to the son, trying to get him to turn on his thief dad, and make a deal to stay out of prison. This issue the FBI lady talks to the dad who is willing to make a deal to keep his son out of prison. And he’s got seven patsies all lined up! The issue was laid out great. A head patsy goes recruiting for the greatest robbery ever. And the six patsies she recruited each got a one page quick intro. Yes, they introduced seven new characters in one issue, and made them all different, believable and remember able. Too bad they’re all going to jail! 

WINTER SOLDIER #6 – Did not want a story about the missing sleeper agent. Got a very good story about the missing sleeper agent. Covered a large chunk of time as the missing sleeper agent awoke 12 years ago. Filled in his history and even tied it into Bucky being on trial, being in prison, Fear Itself, Bucky dying, and Cap’s eulogy. Very well done. And now I am interested in the missing sleeper agent. 

X-O MANOWAR #2 – Followed up a strong first issue… with a strong second issue. Still don’t see where it’s going long term, but very happy Aric put the armor on this issue. Have to see where the story goes after he kills all his captors. Also thought HARBINGER #1 got off to a pretty good start. Far more going on than in X-O. Lots of plots/characters got introduced but it flowed nicely and I’m all for Harbinger too. Valiant is back, baby!

See ya!

Rusty