What I’m Getting Wednesday

I have to rant on about the bailouts again. The reason is that I’m very concerned that the government is trying to artificially prop up so many things, that instead of making it all better, then are going to make it worse. The dollar will eventually collapse and if I had any serious money I would be betting it on gold or at least moving my money into a more stable currency (of which there maybe none). From where I sit this is such a simple problem, the US as a people and a country have spent too much money. We have to either stop spending and pay our bills or go bankrupt, but printing more money and telling ourselves everything is okay will not make it work.

The books that I’m looking forward to the most this week are:

Fables #79 - It took a few issues since the war ended, but Bill Willingham has set the stage well for making the world of the Fables dangerous again. The hype “Written by Bill Willingham; Art by Mark Buckingham, Andrew Pepoy and Peter Gross; Cover by James Jean. Freddy and Mouse may have erred by opening the big stone box containing not the treasure they'd hoped to find, but one of the great old powers that the Empire had locked away ages ago. With the Empire now gone, many of the great old powers are free again. So, the question needs to be asked: Did Fabletown lose the war by winning it?"

Fear Agent #25 I against I (Part 4 of 6) – This story line is interesting as it has so much going on with it, but it has been marred by shorter sections of the main story and a publishing schedule that has felt very slow. The company line “Outlaw Heath Huston has made a solemn pledge to the small camp that harbors him--he'll abstain from violence and inebriation for the rest of his life. However, when the forces conspiring to find and kill Huston descend on the small town, Heath must break his promise in order to save those he made it to. Rick Remender and Tony Moore bring you the roughest, bloodiest, most action-packed issue yet! Also in this issue--a special Tales of the Fear Agent story by legendary creators Hilary Barta (Tomorrow Stories) and Mark Nelson (Aliens)!”

Marvel Masterworks Avengers Volume #109 – This era of the title contained some beautiful work by John Buscema who is possibly one of the most underrated artists from the silver / bronze age. The man could flat out draw and was a top tier artist. I believe he has been somewhat overlooked because of Kirby and Ditko and then Neal Adams. This volume contains “Written by Roy Thomas, Penciled by Sal Buscema, John Buscema & Frank Giacoia. Avengers assemble! The MARVEL MASTERWORKS are bringing you yet another collection from the heyday of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. You know it's trouble when Kang the Conqueror drops in from the 41st century, but this time he pits our heroes against Hyperion, Nighthawk, Dr. Spectrum and the Whizzer -- the Squadron Sinister -- in a cosmic chess match! And as if one menace wasn't enough, then from across time the Avengers must also face the combined combat skill of the Captain America, Sub-Mariner and Human Torch of 1941! Next, it's a focus on the King of Wakanda, the Black Panther, as he infiltrates the supremacist Sons of the Serpent. But when he's captured, will the Serpents use T'Challa to incite a war that will tear the nation apart? Then it's the return of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, but with them in two comes a barbarian as only Big John Buscema can draw them, Akron the Magnificent! And before you close these pages you'll find out how to rent an Avenger when they become heroes for hire, see the return of the Man-Ape and the Lethal Legion, and enjoy guest-stars galore with the Black Knight, Nick Fury, Captain Marvel and Black Widow! Collecting AVENGERS #69-79.”

Walking Dead #56 – I’m really glad that the new rag tag group of survivors is going to Washington DC and we are at least hinting we might learn that there is a cure for this plague. It would be funny if Kirkman actually had a plan to end the series with a cure for the Walking Dead, as that would be a brilliant way to end this series in my mind. The word “story Robert Kirkman art & cover Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn. FIVE YEARS OF THE WALKING DEAD! From its humble beginnings five years ago The Walking Dead has grown into an undisputable cult hit. In this special anniversary issue the characters we've grown to love look back on how this world has affected them, what they've gained and what they've lost... and a look ahead at where they go from here.”

I could have almost skipped this section as nothing really was jumping out as a book I have to get to the comic store by Wednesday for. That’s not to say there are not some solid books coming out; just nothing that has that extra something.

The rest of the list:

Batgirl #6 (of 6) - Written by Adam Beechen; Art by J. Calafiore and Jack Purcell; Cover by Andy Clarke. Batgirl's road to redemption at last brings her face-to-face with master assassin David Cain! It's daughter versus father in all-out final combat. Will Batgirl find her ultimate vengeance and kill again? Or will she be killed? All the questions will be answered – and the ending will shock you.

Batman and the Outsiders #14 - Written by Frank Tieri; Art by Ryan Benjamin and Saleem Crawford; Cover by J. Calafiore and Jack Purcell. In the wake of "Batman R.I.P.," the Outsiders have come to a crossroads. The team splinters apart, confused and unsure without their leader. Shunned by her former teammates, Batgirl turns to one of the only people she can trust – Nightwing. But the two soon realize they have very different views on keeping the legacy of Batman alive.

Birds of Prey #125 - Written by Tony Bedard; Art by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens; Cover by Frank Quitely. After their intense encounter with The Joker last issue, Oracle and Black Canary take a much needed breather. Of course, vacations don't always go as planned and this one's plagued by one threat after another!

Brit #11 - story Bruce Brown art Nate Bellegarde & Andy Kuhn. With the rest of the heroes down for the count, the fate of Other Earth rests on the shoulders of one man! It's Brit vs. The Emperor: Winner takes all, loser, y'know...dies. This one is not to be missed, folks!

Conan The Cimmerian #6 - Richard Corben illustrates another gripping Connacht flashback, as we witness how Conan's grandfather returned to Cimmeria, found a bride, and tamed his wanderlust in order to become an integral part of his tribe. In Conan's present, Conan has overcome impossible odds and trials to return to the Cimmerian village he grew up in--only to find that much has changed in the years he's been away. With Brecan and his men closing in on the fugitive Caollan, will Conan's reunion with his former Cimmerian lover get cut short?With moody interiors by both Richard Corben and Tomás Giorello, Conan the Cimmerian continues Dark Horse Comics' exciting exploration of Robert E. Howard's beloved barbarian hero.

Dark Reign New Nation – The Invasion is over, and the shape of the world has changed, with new and returning players now center stage. Get the lowdown on the SECRET WARRIORS, the AGENTS OF ATLAS, WAR MACHINE, RONIN & OCKINGBIRD, and the SKRULL KILL KREW, and learn how they fit into this brave new world in all-new stories setting up their upcoming titles.

Fall of Cthulhu Godwar #4 (of 4) - Cthulhu has finally heard the call - and, despite the best efforts of Cy and Lucifer, the evil Mr. Arkham's plans have culminated in the war between the cults of Cthulhu and Nodens as an ancient city begins its slow ascent from the frigid depths of the ocean!

Fallen Angel #32 - Peter David (w) J.K. Woodward (a & c) This is it-it's all been building to this. The Fallen Angel, Jude and Black Mariah have returned to Bete Noir, wielding the one weapon that may be able to bring Moloch down. The final confrontation of the 'Red Horse Riding' storyline as the war for the world reaches its climax, and the balance of power in Bete Noire is forever changed.

Ghost Rider #30 - "The Last Stand of the Spirits of Vengeance" kicks into high gear! With Zadkiel and his army on the verge of conquering heaven itself, a force is gathering to oppose them, a group unlike any we've ever seen. But will their ranks include Johnny Blaze or has he given up the fight once and for all? Find out for yourself in this exciting new ###-kicking installment of the red hot GHOST RIDER!

Greatest American Hero #1 (of 3) - by Katt, Folino, O'Reilly & Hilinski After 25 years, The Greatest American Hero returns with all new original stories and adventures! Stephen J. Cannell's beloved cult classic makes it debut to the comic book world courtesy of The Greatest American Hero star William Katt, along with acclaimed writers Christopher Folino (Sparks), Sean O'Reilly (Kade), and Derek McCaw (Tony Loco).

Hellblazer # 250 - Written by Brian Azzarello, Jamie Delano, Dave Gibbons, China Miéville and Peter Milligan; Art by Eddie Campbell, Rafael Grampá, David Lloyd, Giuseppe Camuncoli and others; Cover by Lee Bermejo. Happy Christmas and happy 250th issue! An all-star creative cast leaves five new holiday tales under the tree in this oversized holiday special. See what the season has in store for the always-naughty, never-nice John Constantine. It's the most wonderful time of the year! Right?

Invincible Iron Man #8 – In the aftermath of SECRET INVASION, Iron Man is no longer the hero he used to be, and Tony Stark's entire life is torn apart. We can’t say much now, but…how bad does it get? Here's a hint: Read WORLD'S MOST WANTED Part One! By the blockbuster INVINCIBLE IRON MAN creative team of Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca, lauded by fans and critics alike!

Manhunter #37 – Written by Marc Andreyko; Art by Michael Gaydos; Cover by Brad Walker and Livesay. "Matters of Choice" begins! Kate Spencer never shies away from controversy, either as an attorney or as Manhunter. But when super-powered fanatics start murdering doctors in the name of God, "controversy" doesn't begin to cover it. This shocking new storyline hits Manhunter closer to home than she expects!

Mighty Avengers #20 - SECRET INVASION Aftermath! Shipping the week after Secret Invasion #8...the end of an era for the Mighty Avengers! Death and defeat at the hands of the Skrulls is just too much for even the Mighty Avengers. Watch the darkest day for the Avengers unfold before you and a shocking ending NO ONE will see coming. Guest-starring THOR!

Moon Knight #25 - CONCLUSION TO “THE DEATH OF MARC SPECTOR” Norman Osborn ain’t fooling around no more. He’s brought out his big gun. It’s Moon Knight versus Bullseye -- and only one will survive. For real.

Robin #181 - Written by Fabian Nicieza ; Art and Cover by Freddie E. Williams II. Red Robin is revealed, and Anarky is unleashed in Gotham City! A daring jailhouse rescue rips the GCPD apart, forcing the Spoiler to live up to her name! Plus, Oracle and Jason Bard team up again! And while all this is going on, where is Robin? Maybe he's M.I.A.... or is it R.I.P.?

Samurai Legend #4 (of 4) - The stunning conclusion of the epic European best-seller! The empire's future hangs in the balance. In a Japan crushed by poverty and misery, one man -- Akuma -- attempts to seize the throne. His fortress under siege, the emperor -- leader of a lesser army -- faces a bitter and wild conflict. But his enemies are much closer than he would imagine. And when the sun sets on the last terrible battle, the outcome is more uncertain than ever.

Stormwatch PHD #17 - Written by Ian Edginton and Christos Gage; Art by Leandro Fernández and Francisco Paronzini and Wes Craig; Cover by Leandro Fernández. While on a rescue mission in Sydney, Team Omega brings back survivors infected with a deadly virus. And when this "Warhol Fever" manifests, all hell breaks loose on SkyWatch III. The NUMBER OF THE BEAST-related backup tale concludes from Christos Gage and artist Wes Craig!

Sugergirl #36 - Written by Sterling Gates; Art by Jamal Igle and Keith Champagne; Cover by Joshua Middleton. "New Krypton" part 8! In the aftermath of ACTION COMICS #872, the city of Kandor is rocked to its core and Supergirl angrily unleashes her full power! The Kryptonian population is pushed to its limits and the mystery of one of Kandor's vigilantes gets deeper and deeper! Meanwhile, just what is Cat Grant smiling about? And what's her latest article have to say about the Girl of Steel?

Tangent Superman’s Reign #10 (of 12) - Written by Dan Jurgens and Ron Marz; Art by Wes Craig, Dan Davis, Andie Tong and Mark McKenna; Cover by Brad Walker. The fate of the Tangent Earth stands in the crosshairs! It will take the combined efforts of two worlds to save billions of lives! It's Superman vs. Superman – and when the dust clears only one of them will be left standing!

Terra #4 (of 4) - Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray; Art and Cover by Amanda Conner. Worlds collide as only our heroine, the ground-breaking Terra, can stop the carnage! Still struggling to discover the secrets of her past, Terra also has to square off against the earth-shattering might of Geo-Force and a visit from Power Girl. What is the secret of Strata? Who is the Astronaut God? And how does all this impact Terra's life? From the writing team of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti (JONAH HEX, UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS) and artist Amanda Conner (SUPERGIRL, POWER GIRL)!

Thunderbolts #127 - It's Bullseye & Venom unleashed – and the T-Bolts will never be the same! All-out war erupts in Thunderbolts Mountain, as Songbird fights for her life against the team’s most psychotic and bloodthirsty members -- and this time, they're taking no prisoners! Old scores are settled and long-standing enmities explode into violence as Norman Osborn clears the deck to make way for his all-new, all-different Thunderbolts! And it ain't over 'til the Songbird sings in part two of “Burning Down the House” by Andy Diggle (Losers) and Roberto De La Torre (Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.)!

Trinity #29 - Written by Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza; Art by Mark Bagley and Art Thibert, Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens, Tom Derenick and Wayne Faucher and Mike Norton; Covers by Jim Lee and Scott Williams and Carlos Pacheco and Jesus Merino. The Dark Trinity, having revealed a traitor in their midst, attempts to take the newly ordered world by storm with a new recruit by their side! Meanwhile, find out exactly where the original Trinity – Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman – are and what's become of them and the strange new world they inhabit!

Uncanny X-Men #505 - Colossus continues his quest to ease the pain of losing Kitty Pryde-- and it brings him face-to-face with some evil from the Old Country, run amok on the streets of San Francisco. Elsewhere, the shockwaves caused by Simon Trask's press conference continue to ripple, making anti-mutant hysteria hit a fever pitch. And as Angel and Beast continue to assemble the Fringe Science Team in the far north of Canada, Storm demands an audience with Emma Frost, queen to queen...

Wormwood Gentleman Corpse Down Pub - Ben Templesmith (w & a & c) The Gentleman Corpse himself introduces two little-known tales from the past, as well as an all-new story in this special one-shot featuring 28 pages of beer-stained art and story from Eisner Award- and Horror Guild-nom'd writer/artist/gadfly Ben Templesmith (Welcome to Hoxford).

X-Factor #38 - Siryn goes into labor three weeks early. Could this be the second mutant born since M-Day? Either way, the U.S. government isn’t going to sit idle while it happens. Can Rictor and the mother-to-be fend them off? They’ll have to, since X-Factor and Longshot are busy fighting an army of Darwins!!

X-Men Legacy #219 - Professor Xavier finds himself face-to-face with his half-brother—The Unstoppable Juggernaut! But is Juggernaut friend or foe?



It is funny as I have successfully cut my list, but now I’m trying a few books here and there that normally I would have skipped. This week I decided to see what is going on with Iron Man now that he is become a criminal and also decide to look in on Nick Fury with the Dark Reign New Nation book. Marvel had scored well with “House of M” and Civil War, but the whole Dark Reign looks rather lame. My Marvel books could be reduced very soon.