What I’m Getting Wednesday March 25

It seems to me that politics and comic books have a similar problem. In politics everyone hates Congress yet re-elects the same people over and over again (I’m not guilty of that). In comics we (me included) scream of event fatigue but I end up buying at least the main event. I have cut way back on any ancillary titles, but the main event I usually pick up.

Also against all logic and evidence to the contrary I also hope the next event will be some real change taking place, as in Congress I hope someone one day will stop spending us into bankruptcy.

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

Battlefields Dear Billy #3 (of 3) – This has been a terrific story and you know it cannot come to a good end. Ennis is the master of war stories. What’s inside “by Garth Ennis & Peter Snjeberg Carrie's quest for revenge finally takes her over the edge, though with the end of the war in sight it seems doubtful that anyone will notice our heroine's private struggle. Then news comes that shakes the world to its core- and Carrie and Billy are swept up in the tide of history, propelled towards a catastrophe that no one could ever have foreseen.”

Daredevil #117 – So this issue the Kingpin gets back to New York and we will have to see what life will be like for Daredevil. The word is out that Andy Diggle is coming in as the next writer and he should be another great fit for this character. The company line “RETURN OF THE KING continues! Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, comes back to Hell’s Kitchen to forge a pact with Daredevil! Their target? Lady Bullseye and the Hand! By the award-winning team of Brubaker and Lark!”

Flash Archives Volume 5 – DC’s Archive program has always meant high quality reproduction and I wish that they would have continued to keep this program running with more volumes every year. Flash, GL, LOSH and others really deserves this type of treatment with more volumes. This volume contains “Written by John Broome and Gardner Fox; Art by Carmine Infantino, Joe Giella and Murphy Anderson; Cover by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella. The Fastest Man Alive takes on some of his greatest foes in this new Archive, including Captain Cold, Abra-Kadabra, Mirror Master, Pied Piper, Heat Wave and The Reverse Flash! Collecting THE FLASH #133-#141 from 1962-1963.”

Madame Xanadu #9 – Two totally different books, but like Scalped whenever this is on my list for the next week It makes me a happy camper. Matt Wagner is telling a great story and Amy Reeder Hadley is proving to be a top flight talent in this industry. The hype “Written by Matt Wagner; Art and cover by Amy Reeder Hadley and Richard Friend. Madame Xanadu's centuries long origin draws toward its close when the immortal fortune-teller finds herself setting up shop in New York City. As the weird machinations of the Phantom Stranger near full tilt, get ready for revelation, revenge and the final price of unchecked love.”

Oracle #1 (of 3) – What can I say I have a crush on Babs and the subtitle for this book is the cure. If DC would make Dick Grayson Batman and have Barbara back as Batgirl I could enjoy that a lot. In some ways Babs as Oracle is a better character, but we have to see what actually happens. The word “ Written by Kevin VanHook; Art by Don Kramer and Jay Leisten; Cover by Guillem March. Part 1 of 3-part story that will change the life of Oracle forever! Barbara Gordon, after disbanding the Birds of Prey, returns to Gotham City as a recluse only to lose herself to her Oracle identity entirely. But when the evil Calculator seeks the remnants of the Anti-Life Equation to save the life of his daughter, Oracle will be caught in the crossfire, and Barbara Gordon will pay the ultimate price!”

Proof #18 – One of the best series on the stands and always full and energy and passion from its creators. You are really missing out if you are not buying this book. The solicitation copy “"JULIA," Part One SASQUATCH AND STEAMPUNK! Proof's a young man in 1860 London. Springhel Jack is murdering prostitutes and he may be hiding out in the circus sideshow where Proof is a featured attraction. But Proof's mind is on something else: the beautiful "Baboon Lady," Julia.”

Umbrella Academy Dallas #5 (of 6) – Umbrella Academy is DC’s Doom Patrol and Marvel’s original X-Men on LSD, I love the madness of this book, that still tells a story. The marketing copy “Propelled by nuclear armageddon, The Séance, Spaceboy, and The Kraken race through time to solve the mystery of Number Five's past, and find themselves thrown into the turmoil of war, assassination, and strange visitations into their own childhoods. This imaginative series nears the conclusion of its second story arc-Dallas, in which the history of the United States is radically rewritten, and not a thing is changed.”

Wonder Woman #30 – This is nothing short of a modern miracle that Gail has me constantly looking forward to Wonder Woman. My biggest gripe lately, it does not come out fast enough, always a good thing. Happening this issue “ Written by Gail Simone; Art by Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan; Cover by Aaron Lopresti. "Rise of the Olympian" Part 5! Created by Zeus himself, the Olympian is charged with spreading the message of peace and unity throughout the world – by any means necessary. Is a battered and bruised Wonder Woman up to the challenge of stopping his brutal ways? And does the world even want her to? All this plus a surprising revelation about the true origin of Genocide, the creature that beat Wonder Woman!”

The rest of the list:

Batman Battle for the Cowl Commissioner Gordon - Written by Royal McGraw; Art by Tom Mandrake; Cover by Ladrönn. Gotham City is in a state of emergency. Crime runs rampant, commerce is at a standstill, and gang warfare is on the rise. Through its darkest hours, one man has stood firm against the criminal element in Gotham – Police Commissioner James Gordon. Now, in the aftermath of "Batman: R.I.P.," Gordon and the GCPD will have to reclaim Gotham and take down Mister Freeze without the assistance of Batman. But with evil on the rise, will this be the beginning of the end of law enforcement in Gotham City? The battle has just begun in this all-new one-shot.

Batman Gotham After Midnight #11 (of 12) - Written by Steve Niles; Art and cover by Kelley Jones. The penultimate issue of the mysterious miniseries begins with the return of Batman's most fearsome foes! The maniacal Midnight has freed the Dark Knight's most dangerous rogues for an ultimate showdown and the fate of Gotham City! Scarecrow, Man-Bat, Killer Croc and Catwoman all join Midnight in a monster mash against the Batman. Beware!

Captain America #48 - The New Captain America faces the crimes of his past as the Winter Soldier as the Sub-Mariner and the Black Widow struggle to stop a new foe from unleashing a deadly attack on the world! By the best-selling Eisner, Harvey and Eagle award-winning writer Ed Brubaker and artist Butch Guice.

Conan The Cimmerican #9 - Nahtok, a powerful wizard with the desert tribes of Shem under his command, now looks to expand his motley empire northward into the politically unstable Koth -- where Koth's leaders are more likely to kill each other on the battlefield than join together to face a common foe. The only thing standing in Nahtok's way is the small border kingdom of Khoraja and their battered military forces, now led by the inexperienced Princess Yasmela. Amalric's mercenaries -- with Conan still riding among their numbers -- are charged with reinforcing Yasmela's depleted army, as the conquering Nahtok draws near and Yasmela is haunted by both evil threats and holy visions. Tim Truman, Tomás Giorello, and José Villarrubia continue their adaptation of Robert E. Howard's "Black Colossus," a chilling Robert E. Howard tale that finds Conan at a strange crossroads in his mercenary career and on the path to the largest-scale battle of his life, as a clash between Nahtok and Amalric's men appears inevitable!

Crossed #4 (of 9) - by Garth Ennis & Jacen Burrows Garth Ennis has pulled out all the stops to write the most twisted book of his career, Crossed. Already a nightmare, things take a turn for the horrifying worst as Cindy's party encounters their deepest fear, a group of Crossed that are hunting them. Tired, hungry, and low on all supplies, now they face a clever bunch of the most evil S.O.Bs you can imagine. Nothing is going right, but this is no fairy tale - there are no magic cures on the horizon. When civilization crumbles in one terrifying moment; when people are gleefully breaking into unthinkable acts of violence all around you; when everyone you love has died screaming in agony: What do you do? There is no help. There is no hope. There is no escape. There are only the Crossed! This stomach-churning vision is brought to vivid (and more than a little disturbing) life by his partner in crime Jacen Burrows.

Dark Reign Elektra #1 (of 5) - She’s the deadliest woman in the world…and she’s never been in worse shape. Broken, beaten, and tortured by alien scientists, Elektra stumbles to freedom in the aftermath of the Skrull invasion. Now she struggles and fights to stay barely alive, and to clear her name for atrocities committed by an impostor. A LOT of people want Elektra killed…and in her state, that shouldn’t be too difficult…By Zeb Wells (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) and Clay Mann (DAREDEVIL)!

Guardians of the Galaxy #12 - If Captain Marvel is no more, how is he here? With War of Kings about to explode across the galaxy, two of the Guardians face death itself! Drax and Quasar journey beyond the veil of life in a desperate quest to find Moondragon. But what is waiting for them on the other side, and will it ever let them return? It’s a double shot of cosmic horror – that plants the seeds for where GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is heading next!

Hero Squared Love & Death #2 (of 3) - by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis & Nate Watson It's the return of Captain Valor, his parallel-world alter-ego, Milo, and at least one homicidal ex-girlfriend! Giffen and DeMatteis' geeeenius super-hero series Hero Squared is back for a three-issue finale that will leave you gobsmacked!

Immortal Iron Fist #24 - There have been sixty-six men and women to carry the mantle of the Immortal Iron Fist – sixty-six men and women who have proudly and eagerly stood fast before the unstoppable forces of evil, and valiantly fought them back. Except one. This is the story of Park Li – a pacifist, who sought to pursue wisdom rather than war. But fate would defy him – as K’un-Lun is overwhelmed by a deadly plague, Park Li is the only student ready to become the city’s Immortal Weapon. And war is coming…bloody, brutal war…

Jack of Fables #32 - Written by Matthew Sturges and Bill Willingham; Art by Tony Akins and Jose Marzan Jr. ; Cover by Brian Bolland. Part 5 of "Jack's Big Book of War." This is the issue where all of the secrets are revealed! It's like a Sophocles play, but with explosions! In fact, we reveal so many secrets in this issue that we've had to hire two new interns at the Fables "Secrets Lab" to dream up new ones. All this in preparation for the "Great Fables Crossover Event" beginning right on this issue's heels!

Justice League of America #31 - Written by Dwayne McDuffie; Art by Shane Davis and Sandra Hope; Cover by Ed Benes. Death, destruction and betrayal! The fallout from FINAL CRISIS leaves the Justice League of America on the brink of dissolution. Black Canary faces her greatest test as she tries to hold her devastated team together. Will those who remain be enough to save the world?

Mighty Avengers #23 - "Earth's Mightiest Part 3 of 3" "The Last Knight on Earth" How can the Mighty Avengers save all of reality from one of their greatest foes... when they can't even stop fighting each other? To survive their first trial by fire, lines will be crossed, ideals will be compromised, and not every hero will make the cut. You better read this issue of DARK REIGN, guys. Why? Because this one's going to change the Marvel landscape! Literally!

Ms Marvel #37 - It's a throwdown in Hong Kong against the mysteriously powered Ghazi as Ms. Marvel finally discovers the origin of her mysterious enemy. However, Carol has been keeping a secret connected to the Dark Reign concerning Norman Osborn and it may just mean she won't survive the fight.

New Avengers #51 - WHO IS THE NEW SORCERER SUPREME? Doctor Strange has failed as the Master of the Mystic Arts and all the other mystic characters are the heir apparent. Strange comes to the New Avengers for help as the mystic battle royale begins. Plus, how can the Avengers trust Spider-Man if he won't take his mask off?

Nova #23 - War of Kings brings a new status quo...and a new penciler Andrea DiVito (Annihilation)! Who is the new Protector of the Universe? Stripped of his Nova powers and facing death, Rich Rider must stop the Worldmind’s plans before it’s too late. But he needs power to do it, which may come from a source that will change his very identity!

Superman #686 - Written by James Robinson; Art by Renato Guedes and Wilson Magalháes; Cover by Andrew Robinson. Following the startling events of "New Krypton" and the shocking occurrence in the Phantom Zone, Earth finds itself without its greatest protector! Luckily, Metropolis still has a few heroes, like Mon-El and the Guardian. But after years of knowing nothing but the solitude of the Phantom Zone, how will Mon-El acclimate himself to society? And the recently returned Guardian has his hands full with his new position in the Science Police. How can they fill Superman's shoes? They'd better figure it out fast, because dangerous mysteries abound which will carry all the way into 2010!

Thunderbolts #130 - PART 2 OF 4-Crossover with Deadpool! Everyone's favorite Merc with a Mouth has the Thunderbolts in his crosshairs - but don't expect this murderer's row of butt-kickers to lay down! The nastiest fight of '09 has begun, and you've got the front row seat for all the ultra violence that Andy Diggle (DARK REIGN: HAWKEYE) and Roberto De La Torre (IRON MAN: DIRECTOR OF S.H.I.E.L.D.) can dish up!

Top Ten Specials #1 - Written by Zander Cannon; Art by Da Xiong; Cover by Gene Ha.It's a courtroom drama as only Top 10 can do it! Girl Two has a murder case, and her client is more than willing to plead guilty. The problem is, she's got a feeling he didn't commit the crime. So who – or what – is he protecting? Featuring stunning art by Chinese superstar Da Xiong.

Trinity #43 - 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 and Ande Parks; Covers by Jesus Merino. As the Dark Trinity's all-out war reaches fever pitch, Krona rears his head with destructive consequences, and Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman face a world that's changing all around them. Can they find a way back from exile? And even if they can, does the world have any hope of survival? Guest-starring everybody!

Unknown Soldier #6 - Written by Joshua Dysart; Art by Alberto Ponticelli; Cover by Igor Kordey. Longing to be with his wife turns to hatred for his enemy as Moses comes down on the Lieutenant of children known as Ilakut like a hammer. And the crucible of violence that erupts burns away the old Moses forever.

Wildcats #9 - Written by Christos Gage; Art by Neil Googe and Ivan Reis and Livesay; Cover by Neil Googe. After struggling to survive in Los Angeles, the appeal of Majestic's Hawaiian utopia proves too powerful a pull for some members of the team. But what's really going on in the tropical paradise – and will the truth tear the team apart?

X-Infernus #4 (of 4) - The climactic conclusion to the winter X-Men event that everyone is talking about! The X-Men team that leaves to save Illyana from Limbo is not the same as the one that left. It’s X-Man vs. X-Man with all of their souls on the line.

This looks like a solid week of books, but I have to say that while comics have been decent for the most part lately, there has been an underlying malaise to me in comics. It is nothing that I can actually pinpoint, but I do know one symptom for me is that I’m looking forward to more stuff that is planned than I am in the actual stuff coming out. Coming out is Blackest Night, Flash Rebirth, Irredeemable, Mr. Stuffins, Superman Orgins, Unthinkable. Stuff of Legends, Wednesday Comics, Black Knight Masterworks and even more books. The reason not much from Marvel is on the list is because what they are doing has been solid and I can enjoy what they have as oppose to looking forward to what is coming.