What I’m Getting Wednesday

A really wide variety of comics this week, with a split of 14 from DC, 6 from Marvel and 13 from the independents. All in all I’m looking forward to this Wednesday as we have a few new titles and a couple of “event” books and a few books that just look damn interesting.

Black Adam: The Dark Age #3 (of 8) – This has been a great first two issues and this issue promises a battle royal between Hawkman and Black Adam. Should be an excellent issue and nice to see Carter back in action.

Batman Confidential #10 – Continuing the Joker storyline and this issue promises us the actual “birth of the Joker”. Some of the things that happen in this book are in direct conflict with accepted continuity, so I treat this book as an Elseworld type story. Still it is well done and an interesting told version of the Joker origin.

Booster Gold #3 – This is the surprise series of the year for me, as it was so much more then I expected it to be. This issue we have Booster Gold going back to the old west and visiting with Jonah Hex. I hope that this book is never just all light hearted or all drama, but that they mix it up.

Countdown #29 – Getting closer to the halfway point, so I can only hope this series gets more exciting. I’m overly critical of the book as I have enjoyed the spotlight on these characters, but the book is in need of end points and stuff actually happening in every issue.

Green Arrow / Black Canary #1 – This book I’m looking forward to as Black Canary and Connor team up to see what happened to Ollie. The shock ending in the wedding needed to have a quick follow-up and here it is. Also nice to see Cliff Chiang on a regular series.

Green Lantern #24 – The Sinestro War continues and the Sinestro Corps are attacking Earth, the no killing parameter has been removed from the rings and all hell is breaking loose. What is even better is that when the war ends with the next issue, Johns has really changed the status quo of the GL Corps. It really feels like anything can happen in Green Lantern.

JLA Classified #44 – The Martian Manhunter arc continues. While this has been an enjoyable story and I really like the Martian Manhunter, this book has not added any real insights into the character. Still a good story and good art is enough.

Superman #668 – The “Camelot Falls” story line will be finished in the annual, but still we get to the “Third Kryptonian” story line. Of course with Supergirl, Power Girl, General Zod, Chris Kent and others floating around the third seems a little forced, but we will go with Superman and Supergirl being the two Kryptonians and get into the sprit of wondering who is the third.

Simon Dark #1 – Okay here is a new series that I really can not wait to see how this works. Simon Dark by Steve Niles and Scott Hampton is a new protector of Gotham City and appears to be a Frankenstein like creation. How will they make this fit, I don’t know but it could be really good.

Suicide Squad: Raise the Flag #2 (of 8) – The first issue was a winner and no reason why issue #2 will not be as good. Ostander stepped back into this book and made it seamless as he has started us with the past. I’m curious to see if we get into the present or not. Javier Pina as artist was a great choice for this book and I really enjoyed his portrayal of these characters. I’m almost ready to buy the trade.

Wonder Woman #13 – “Sigh” another fill-in issue waiting for Gail Simone to take over this book. I have no clue what it is about.

Stormwatch PHD #12 – Sadly the final issue of this very good series. I will miss this book. The official hype “The Walking Ghost has regrouped his forces to strike against PHD — not at the team members, but at those closest to them! Their vengeance will be terrible to behold, but a larger question looms: Can the Post-Human Division survive this devastating blow?”

Absolute Sandman Volume #2 – A book that is a Christmas gift that my daughter Gwen knows she is getting. I’m sorely tempted to get these Absolutes for myself and pass on the 10 hardcover volumes of this series to my other daughter Jamie.

Exterminators #22 – The Mayan hissers (the biggest and baddest cockroaches in the world) are in full attack mode and the men and woman of “Bug Bee Gone” are trying to fight them off.

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #24 – “One More Day” part 2. I’m so concerned about this story line. If the rumored reset button is hit and things are magically changed to get rid of Mary Jane as Peter’s wife, I may have to just stop getting this book altogether. Still let’s see what the story is actually about first.

Heroes for Hire #14 – The final part of the cross over with the World War Hulk. What has worked with this book is Zeb Wells focusing on developing the characters within the book. The happenstance that there is a cross-over has not slowed that down. A really good little series.

New Avengers #35 – I may have to drop this book as no matter how many different ideas and story lines Brian Bendis starts that are important to the overall Marvel Universe, that does not save this book from just being badly done. A Venom virus is loose and turning everyone into Venom like creatures.

Nova #7 – One of my favorite Marvel series. The official hype “The next phase in the NOVA series is set up in this conquest chapter! What has Gamora–now a special Select agent of the Phalanx–done to Rich Rider? Has the Worldmind fallen into the hands of the tyrannical tech race? And which ANNIHILATION character returns to alter Nova's role in ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST?”

Fantastic Four #550 – The Fantastic Six are off on another adventure. I have not particular enjoyed the Black Panther and Storm being added to the group, but since Dwayne McDuffie has been writing this book it has been a better comic.

X-Factor #24 – The conclusion to the “Isolationist” story line. Peter David has crafted one of his best runs on a comic. Starting with the Madrox mini-series and leading into this book, he has made X-Factor more interesting then any other current continuity X-Book.


Graveslinger #1 (of 4) – I love the premise of this book “Arizona, 1873. Frank Timmons, former soldier and lawman as well as undertaker at Arizona's Gila Flats Territorial Prison, accidentally releases 117 dead killers from Hell. Frank roams the West, tracking them down and trying desperately to avoid his own damnation. Dying in the effort isn't an option.” Curious to see if it is any good.

Sorrow #2 (of 4) – Rick Remender (Fear Agent) & Seth Peck as writers and Francis (Left of Mission) Francavilla delivered a great start to this little four part story. A Twilight Zone type story set in a small town in the middle of nowhere.

Hiding in Time #3 (of 4) – I have enjoyed this series, but time travel type stories can usually be a lot of fun and this idea of a witness protection program hiding people in the past has been fun so far.

Deadlander #1 (of 4)- This looks to be a great series by Kevin Ferrara as writer and artist. A supernatural western tale that sound great and the artwork looks terrific. Could be a surprise hit if it is as good as it looks to be.

BPRD Killing Ground #3 (of 5) – These mini-series are coming out too fast and I still haven’t caught up with the older ones. Still when I read one of these mini-series I have really enjoyed them. Mike Mignola has built up a nice little pulp fiction / supernatural type universe for his stories.

Black Summer #3 (of 7) – Continuing Warren Ellis’ take on super heroes in his own Universe. Really enjoying seeing where this series goes. How does a super hero follow his morals if it means taking out the head of the country and then how do heroes survive the storm that follows.

Atomic Robo #1 (of 6) – Red 5’s first offering is finally coming out. I have had the chance to read this book and encourage people to try it out. Also all six issues are completed already, so no when is the next issue coming out problems.

Drafted #2 – Glad to see issue #2 so soon as I want more of this story. The first issue was a pleasant surprise as we did not get the expected opening and I want to see how we get to the War against invading aliens as much as I want to see the war itself.

Garth Ennis Chronicles of Wormwood Trade – I enjoyed the series so much I decided it deserved a more permanent place in my collect as a trade.


EC Archives Vault of Horror #1 Hard Cover – Continuing the high quality reprint of the EC comics. I really need to find time and read a few of these and maybe when I take a Christmas vacation I can take two of these with me. Every time I pull one out and read a short story I’m impressed by the quality of these hard covers.

Grimm Fairy Tales #17 – Sort of a guilty pleasure. If I remember correctly we were actually getting into the story of the woman who was handing out the book to various people so they could learn from the fairly tales.

Grimm Fairy Tales Annual #1 – I had no clue an annual was coming out, but look forward to seeing what stories they have in an annual. The “good girl” covers and sometimes interior art actually take away from some occasionally clever twist on classic fairy tales.

Brian Jacques Redwall Graphic Novel – I never heard of this before but the story is by Brain Jacques and the art is Bret Blevins (who I am familiar with) and the premise “The classic fantasy adventure that launched the Redwall phenomenon is now available as a graphic novel! Illustrated by artist Bret Blevins, Redwall: The Graphic Novel brings to life all the battles, all the heroes, and all the villains in a fun new format perfect for those just entering Jacques' mesmerizing Redwall world or the countless existing fans of the series!” So I thought I would try it out.

That wraps up another week. I like the balance that this week has with the wide variety of material.