What I’m Getting Wednesday June 17

So I have three mini-rants to open up this week. First off I have had enough with all of the Barack Obama stuff. This guy is our new President and not the second coming or first coming or whatever, he is not a messiah, maybe he is the anti-Christ. Actually he is our President. I disagree with him on many issues, but we have 3 ½ years to judge stuff and do not need to anoint him quite yet. Plus when you see Rob Liefeld trying to talk about using him, you have to know we have gone to far, let’s move on people. Next up is CBR having the “Cup of Joe” mini site as part of their site. Wow, can they bend over a little more for him. I’d rather see an occasional interview with Joe Quesada as opposed to just allowing Marvel to publicize whatever they want on a “news” website. I think this diminishes CBR. Finally we are getting a Red Tornado mini-series from DC along with the new Magog mini-series. Are they high? Magog and Red Tornado – blechh. DC has an entire Universe of wonderful and underutilized characters and we get Magog and Red Tornado. I’d rather see almost anything else.

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

Batman Streets of Gotham #1 – Paul Dini’s first new title in the Batman Universe. I’m looking forward to it as I’m guessing it will be a new Gotham Central type of book and I enjoyed that series immensely. The hype “Written by Paul Dini and Marc Andreyko; Art by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs and Georges Jeanty and Karl Story; Cover by Dustin Nguyen. An all-new Batman series by the DETECTIVE COMICS creative team of Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen! As a new Batman rises on the streets of Gotham City, the heroes, villains and citizens take notice. How will the police feel about this new Batman, and can he control the crime in Gotham the way the old Batman did? This new series also features a regular ongoing co-feature starring Manhunter written by Marc Andreyko and illustrated by Georges Jeanty (Buffy Season 8)! Kate Spencer lost a friend during the chaos of BATTLE FOR THE COWL, and now she wants payback. As usual, she'll use any means necessary to get it”

Batman The Black Casebook TP – These are some of the old stories that Grant Morrison used for inspiration in his Batman RIP storyline. I’m curious to see those inspirational stories. I also hope DC does a solid collection of Morrison’s Batman and includes this type of material in it. I would love the same idea to be done with a two volume Absolute All Star Superman set. This volume contains “Written by Bill Finger, Edmond Hamilton and others; Art by Sheldon Moldoff, Dick Sprang and others; Cover by Alex Ross. Discover the stories that inspired recent events in the Batman universe with this new collection! Featuring stories from BATMAN #65, 86, 112, 113, 134, 156 and 162, DETECTIVE COMICS #215, 235, 247 and 267, and WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #89. With an intro by Grant Morrison.”

Captain America #600 – Marvel has generated a lot of heat on this book and I will not be getting this book until Wednesday. So whatever spoilers are coming out Monday, I will know them before I read this book. The solicitation text “It’s the historic Captain America issue you’ve been waiting for as Eisner-winning writer Ed Brubaker teams up with a group of red hot artists like Butch Guice, Steve Epting, and many more to bring you the extra-sized Captain America #600! It’s the anniversary of the day Captain America died, as the Marvel Universe reflects—and the next jaw dropping chapter in the Captain America mythos begins! Plus, writers Mark Waid and Roger Stern join Brubaker to bring you over 60 pages of all new stories, plus select reprints featuring the work of Stan Lee and a Captain America cover gallery! And just who is the girl without a world? What’s her connection to Captain America? With covers by superstars Alex Ross and Steve Epting, no Captain America fan can miss this issue!”

Punisher #6 – The second arc begins on Remender’s Punisher. As Jason Aaron did with Ghost Rider, Remender has re-created a Punisher that works inside the Marvel Universe. The word “Russ Manning Award winner Tan Eng Huat (GHOST RIDER, SILVER SURFER) joins critically acclaimed writer Rick Remender (Fear Agent) in chronicling Frank Castle's war against Osborn's Cabal as the corrosive affects of their "Dark Reign" further degenerates the Marvel Universe. The Hood's crime organization has infected the entire world, and nowhere is it more prevalent than the street of New York where, hidden within the decaying husks of abandoned buildings, the Hood has built his secret empire out of everyone's sight... including Norman Osborn's. The Punisher is the one man standing between the new kingpin of crime and total domination, but in order to save his city from the decay and corruption, Frank Castle will first have to survive the rage of-- THE DEADLY DOZEN!”

Starman Omnibus HC Voume 3 – I have not reread the first two yet, but I have flipped through the books and they are a well done collections and this series deserves this type of treatment. This volume contains “Written by James Robinson; Art by Tony Harris, Gene Ha, Dusty Abell, Phil Jimenez, J.H. Williams III and others; Cover by Tony Harris. In this third volume Opal City is terrorized by Dr. Pip, an eccentric bomber. Plus, Starman teams up with Batman to save the life of Solomon Grundy. Collecting STARMAN #30-38, STARMAN ANNUAL #2, STARMAN SECRET FILES #1 and THE SHADE #1-4.”

Thor - The Trial of Thor - The Thor one shots have been enjoyable and more akin the old “Tales of Asgard” series. The actual series is better, but these have been fun. What’s inside “Did Thor snap? After an epic battle against the Frost Giants, the Thunder God is accused of murdering innocent Asgardians. It sounds impossible except that Balder the Brave is an eyewitness to the carnage. Did the mayhem and stress of war finally push even the greatest of heroes over the edge?”

The rest of the list:

Action Comics Annual #12 – Written by Greg Rucka; Art by Pere Pérez; Cover by Renato Guedes. Discover the origin of Nightwing and Flamebird! The new dynamic duo is busy rooting out General Zod's sleeper agents in the present, but how did they find out about the sleepers in the first place? What exactly is their history with Zod? How did they meet? What is their connection to the original Nightwing and Flamebird? Find out these answers and more in this all-new annual!

Body Bags TP Volume 1 – Father’s Day - Story & art JASON PEARSON, cover MICHAEL GOLDEN. The sold-out origin story is back, with an all new printing and never-before-seen extras! The action begins when a rival ‘body bagger’ goes after Mack (a.k.a. Clown Face) the best ‘bagger’ in the business. Fuel is quickly added to the fire with the sudden arrival of Panda, Mack’s estranged daughter. How will the baddest man in Terminus, GA handle a teenage girl determined to follow in her daddy’s footsteps? Can this ‘Daddy/Daughter’ team stop fighting each other long enough to survive the trouble headed their way? Find out for yourself in this all-new collection!

Dark Reign Fantastic Four #4 (of 5) – A high-tech smash-up future/science adventure as Ben, Sue and Johnny boldly go where no time-traveler has gone before. With their alternate history comrades tagging along, they battle in a future where evil has triumphed and good guys are hard to find. And while Reed searches for the final answers that will get him home, Val and Franklin take on the head of H.A.M.M.E.R. himself, NORMAN OSBORN!

GI Joe Cobra #4 (of 4) – My friend talked me into getting this and now it is done in four issues, darn! - “The shattering conclusion! Chuckles has sacrificed everything to get into a position where he can bring Cobra down from within. Now that he’s finally there, will he succeed in destroying Cobra… or himself?”

Hellblazer #256 – Written by Peter Milligan; Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini; Cover by Simon Bisley. Featuring the debut of new HELLBLAZER cover artist Simon Bisley! "Biz" joins the crew, bringing his fan-favorite and dynamic painting style to Vertigo's longest-running title. John Constantine never knew what he had until it was taken away from him, and maybe he still doesn't know. But that won't stop him from selling his soul to get it back. Part 1 of "Resurrection" begins here.

Incognito #4 – THE MOST TWISTED SUPER-VILLAIN TALE OF ALL TIME TAKES A SHARP RIGHT TURN... AS THE HEROES FINALLY ARRIVE! Zack's masked mayhem hasn't gone unnoticed by the authorities or the bad guys he's been in hiding from. Now, Zoey Zeppelin, granddaughter of the legendary Professor Zeppelin is here to find out just which side he's on -- even if she has to kill him to be sure.

Invincible #63 – INVINCIBLE WAR: AFTERMATH! CONQUEST IS HERE! The fate of the entire planet rests on Invincible's shoulders... and those shoulders are about to break.

Invincible Iron Man #14 - It’s the perfect jumping-on point, as the second half of WORLD'S MOST WANTED begins here! Don’t miss out on this critically acclaimed blockbuster! Tony's failing health makes the Iron Man too complicated to pilot. Hill hunts the world's most un-huntable man. Pepper defies Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R. itself. And all of Iron Man’s rogues' gallery is after him and the billion-dollar bounty on his head…starting with the murderous Madame Masque! But believe it or not, there’ll soon come a time when everyone looks back on these as the good old days. - It says perfect jumping on point and it is Part 7.

Jack of Fables #35 – Written by Matthew Sturges and Bill Willingham; Art by Russ Braun and Jose Marzan Jr.; Cover by Brian Bolland "The Great Fables Crossover" part 8 of 9! What do the cast of JACK OF FABLES and bad comedians have in common? They both go to the Catskills to die! In this, the thrillingest and most penultimate issue of the "Great Fables Crossover,"battles are won, lives are lost, and a whole lot of really weird stuff happens. But then again, what were you expecting?

Mighty Avengers #26 - The Avengers/Fantastic Four slobberknocker continues! This one's got it all true believers: from MR. FANTASTIC and HANK PYM'S battle of the brains to HERCULES and THE THING'S battle o' the brawn! When it's over, expect BIG changes for Earth's Mightiest Heroes-- including the team's all-new headquarters and a very disturbing DARK REIGN alliance.

Mr. Stuffins #2 (of 3) – “My teddy bear’s a secret agent!” In this issue, the action continues as Mr. Stuffins fights for his family with all the power a plush toy can. Chaos, fun, and mayhem ensue, from the creator of EUREKA Andrew Cosby and EUREKA writer Johanna Stokes with art from hot newcomer Axel Medellin! Series Features “A” covers By MOUSE GUARD’s David Petersen.

Outsiders #19 – Written by Peter J. Tomasi: Art and Cover by Lee Garbett and Trevor Scott. "The Deep" part 5 of 6! With half of the Outsiders captured and the remaining members on the run, things have reached a boiling point for Alfred's new squad! And to make matters worse, Deathstroke the Terminator discovers he may have found a way to increase his amazing powers. Meanwhile, the search for the mysterious meteorite – and its strange connection to the Insiders – continues!

Power Girl #2 – Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray; Art by Amanda Conner; Covers by Adam Hughes and Amanda Conner. As the Ultra-Humanite holds Manhattan and Power Girl hostage, he tells the parts of his origin that have never before been revealed. And what Power Girl learns chills her to the bone…

Red Mass For Mars #3 (of 4) – “EQUALITY” As the son of Mars
, Phobos, leads the returning heroes in a battle over the Earth, we find out the reason why Mars refuses to save the world and the history of why he abandoned the Earth.

Supergirl #42 – Written by Sterling Gates; Art by Jamal Igle and Jon Sibal; Cover by Joshua Middleton. Supergirl has answered the question "Who is Superwoman?" but there's more to the mystery! In this dramatic epilogue issue, Supergirl must deliver devastating news to one of Superman's closest allies! And something strange is going on with Lana Lang – can anyone help her before it's too late? Back on New Krypton, Alura is none too happy with her daughter – leading to some drastic consequences for our Girl of Steel!

Superman/Batman #61 – Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson: Art and Cover by Francis Manapul. It's the action-packed finale of "Mash-Up"! Superman and Batman team with the Justice Titans to take down the worst villains in Gothamopolis! But who is the hidden mastermind behind this topsy-turvy world?

Tales from Wonderland Cheshire Cat One Shot – Decades ago a regular house cat was sent into the unnatural realm called Wonderland. Not long after did that feline grow to become another entity altogether as it formed a consciousness and self-awareness that only Wonderland could provide and found a power that turned an innocent kitten into a killing machine. Now the feline they call the Cheshire Cat is trapped back in this world and is beginning to develop something that never seemed possible: a conscience. After being taken in by a caring sorority girl, the once evil being is finally getting a taste of what being loved and cared for truly feels like. Can this cat change his stripes or will the evil inside of him ultimately be unleashed?

War of Kings Ascension #3 (of 4) – The true purpose of Darkhawk...finally revealed! But is this sinister secret more than Chris Powell--or the entire galaxy--can take? Can he rise to greatness, or will this crushing weight pull Darkhawk down into the abyss?

Young Allies Comics 70TH Anniversary Special – Before they were Invaders, Bucky Barnes and Toro the Flaming Kid joined forces with four teen-age friends to battle the Third Reich as the Young Allies! Their fictionalized adventures thrilled readers on the Home Front throughout World War II, but their real story has never been told -- until now! Discover the truth behind comics' original kid gang! Action! Intrigue! Adventure! All in a timely tale by Roger Stern (Amazing Spider-Man) and Paolo Rivera (Mythos). And in a bonus back-up, take another trip to the Golden Age with a classic reprint from the Timely Era!

Last week had no best books and this week could be the same. Not that we are not getting some entertaining material and solid books, just nothing cracking my absolute best category. Comics were in a slump and I think they are pulling out of it. This week also sees a lot of non-buys from me as about four titles I cut are coming out Wednesday.