What I’m Getting Wednesday September 16

I find it amusing that as a long time comic reader that my vocabulary is pretty decent, especially since comic books were frowned upon when I was growing up. The thing that has recently amused me the most is how many words fall so easy to into how I will phrase things. Apocalypse is a word that is I’m sure I use more then the average person as well as vengeance, menace, zombie, mutants and other such words. It is not a separate vocabulary we develop as comic readers, but it certainly has a tendency to at least skew our communications.

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

Batgirl #2 – I enjoyed the first issue if this book and understand that it was a lot of foundation building, but now I want to see where we go from there. Steph says this issue contains “Written by Bryan Q. Miller Art by Lee Garbett & Trevor Scott Cover by Phil Noto As the new Batgirl continues her nightly mission, the mystery of her secret identity intensifies. Now she has become the target of both Gotham City's heroes (who don't take kindly to a new person wearing the cape and the cowl) and its villains (who want to see the entire Bat-family six feet under)!”

Batman and Robin #4 - Absolutely have fallen in love with this book. I just hope DC sees how reinvigorated that entire Bat line has become and leaves well enough alone for awhile. Inside this issue “Written by Grant Morrison Art by Philip Tan & Jonathan Glapion Cover by Frank Quitely Variant cover by Philip Tan Meet the Red Hood and his sidekick Scarlet, Gotham City's vicious new 'protectors,' in the start of a new arc! This dangerous duo is out to destroy the very reputation and legacy of the Batman by replacing it altogether. Writer Grant Morrison (FINAL CRISIS) teams with hot new artist Philip Tan (GREEN LANTERN) to bring you what's sure to be the new Batman and Robin's biggest challenge yet!”

Blackest Night #3 (of 8) - I still have reservations as we have to see how it ends before rendering a final judgment, but so far what a great event. This is the “book” this week. The hype “Written by Geoff Johns; Art and cover by Ivan Reis and Oclair Albert; Cover by Ivan Reis. As the dead attack in full force, Green Lantern is faced with an impossible decision and the scattered remains of the Justice League suffer a terrible loss. Who can stop the Black Lanterns? Why are they rising? And how can the Spectre help?”

Brave and Bold #27 – J. Michael Stracynski starts up as writer and I come back to a series I had abandoned. This book has to have a good creative team for me to want to follow it. DC solicitation text “The wait is over as J. Michael Straczynski arrives on THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD! First up, the best-selling scribe pairs Batman and…Dial H For Hero? Robby Reed and his grandfather thought their brief visit to Gotham City would go smoothly until one of Gotham's petty thieves made the score of the century in the form of Robby's H-Dial! Batman's on the case, but The Joker's crime wave has the city in a panic, and the power of the H-Dial has had a very unexpected effect on the hood who stole it. The choices he makes could change his life – and Robby's – forever! Features the stunning art of Jesus Saiz (OMAC PROJECT)!”

Captain America Reborn #3 (of 5) – I’m not sure if I’m anticipating this book or fearing this book. So far this has been a miss. Marvel tells us this book has “Dr. Doom and the Red Skull together again! And what is the fate of the original Captain America, Steve Rogers -- and how can he help save himself from the accidental trap he's found himself in? All this and more -- as the Avengers and the FF battle insane odds to save Marvel's Fallen Son! By the astonishing team of Brubaker, Hitch, and Guice!”

Dark Reign The List Daredevil – Can Diggle handle taking over Daredevil? The start of the new writer’s run begins away from the actual series. Santa says this issue is about “After the shocking events of DAREDEVIL 500, Norman Osborn’s eyes turn to Hell’s Kitchen – and he doesn’t like what he sees. Now Osborn dispatches the only assassin he can rely on to kill Daredevil – Bullseye – but all is not as it seems. It’s a fight that’s been brewing for years…featuring the DAREDEVIL debut of writer Andy Diggle, and the superstar talents of artist Billy Tan! Plus, a preview of Daredevil #501, Andy Diggle's first issue of DD, and character designs!”

JSA vs Kobra #4 (of 6) – An excellent creative team is making this series a great one. Weaving in Checkmate, Kobra and the JSA into a well done book. Trautmann and Kramer are hitting a home run on this series. The word “Written by Eric Trautmann Art by Don Kramer & Michael Babinski Cover by Gene Ha The trail of Kobra leads the Justice Society of America to Fawcett City! Jason Burr may think that it's safe to venture into former Shazam territory, but he's about to learn that the JSA protects each other's turf no matter what. And now that Burr has gotten them mad, there's no holding the Justice Society back!”

Vengeance of Moon Knight #1 – Jerome Opena is a big reason I’m getting this book and I’m curious to see how this all works out bringing almost the entire MU into core continuity. Marvel says ““SHOCK AND AWE,” PART 1 Moon Knight is back in the Big Apple and looking to pick a fight with the man who chased him out of town in the first place: Norman Osborn. Freed of his demons and armed with an arsenal of incredible new weapons, Moon Knight is finally the hero he always aspired to be – taking out criminals with massive flair and throwing down the gauntlet to his old nemesis. Is Osborn ready for Round Two?”

Walking Dead #65 – Kirkman deserves a lot of credit for creating and staying with this book and Invincible. With his star rising he could have easily abandoned this material and focused on working for Marvel or DC, but has put renewed effort into each book, making these series some of the best on the stands. The miniscule hype “THE HUNT CONTINUES! His time is up.”

The rest of the list:

Action Comics #881 - Written by Greg Rucka; co-feature written by James Robinson & Rucka Art by Julian Lopez; co-feature art by CAFU Cover by Pere Pérez 'The Hunt for Reactron' starts here! Spilling out of the stunning finale of 'Codename: Patriot,' Supergirl and Flamebird find themselves at each other's throats! What's happened to these two childhood friends to put them at such odds, and can Nightwing calm them down before the situation escalates? And just what are they going to do about all of the guys who are surrounding them? You know, the guys in the tanks? Continued in SUPERGIRL #45! Plus! James Robinson and Greg Rucka's Captain Atom co-feature continues! What is happening to Captain Atom, and more important, what's happening to his mind? Team Breach is on hand to lend some answers, but Atom probably isn't going to like them. Featuring the gorgeous art of CAFU!

Agents of Atlas #11- Written by JEFF PARKER Penciled by DAN PANOSIAN & PAUL RIVOCHE Covers by DAVE JOHNSON There's no enemy quite like a former lover, is there? The gloves are all the way off as Jade Claw and her forces begin assaulting Atlas on every front! The Agents throw everything they've got at the Great Wall, but to no avail. Gorilla-Man is convinced only ONE member of the team can possibly stop the rain of pain.

Atomic Robo The Shadow from Beyond Time #5 (of 5) - An experiment gone wrong opens Tesladyne HQ to a surprise attack by the Shadow From Beyond Time. The future and history of the universe hang in the balance as Atomic Robo teams up with, uh, Atomic Robo in a last ditch effort to protect reality itself!

Batman Streets of Gotham #4 - Written by Paul Dini; co-feature written by Marc Andreyko; Art by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs; co-feature art by Jeremy Haun; Cover by Dustin Nguyen. With Batman's recent "Bruce Wayne" problems barely contained, Gotham City's new Dark Knight must now deal with the most lethal arm of Black Mask's growing empire – Victor Zsasz! And in the Manhunter co-feature, now that Kate has Jane Doe under arrest, what does Jane have to say about why she killed the former DA? Will she flip on her actual leader, the Black Mask – or will she continue to point the finger at Two-Face?

Dark Avengers #9 - Poor Marvel Boy... he had no idea how sinister a gang the Dark Avengers actually is. And now he is running for his life. And poor Ares, he has no idea where his son goes while he is off being an Avenger. And now he is going to find out. And when he does... there will be hell to play. Guest-starring Nick Fury and the Secret Warriors. Oh, you heard that right. Ares versus Nick Fury! You know when Stan used to say 'nuff said? This is the kind of thing he was 'nuff saiding about!

Fables #88 - Written by Bill Willingham Art by Mark Buckingham & Steve Leialoha Cover by Joao Ruas 'Witches' part 2 of 5! As Bufkin and Baba Yaga battle it out, Beauty and the Beast make a startling discovery that will greatly affect their future and the entire fate of Fabletown. Only Frau Totenkinder knows the truth about the horror that is to come...and she's not exactly telling.

Invincible Iron Man #18 - Tony hides out where it all began as Madame Masque's moment of triumph rings out across all the corners of Norman Osborn's empire. Black Widow and Maria Hill are trapped in the belly of the beast. Pepper's suit is in the possession of H.A.M.M.E.R. And when Stark's one last sloppy mistake gives up his location, it's Osborn himself that suits up and gets in the game. It all ends next issue, kids.

Might Avengers #29 - Written by DAN SLOTT Penciled by KHOI PHAM Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC 'SECRETS & LIES' It's all out action at the Avengers new headqarters as RONIN and VISION face off against the SCARLET WITCH! Readers already know the Scarlet Witch is secretly LOKI, but could this be the issue where STATURE and the other MIGHTY AVENGERS find out? Also, on the outskirts of Tibet, QUICKSILVER and a longtime Avengers villain uncover THE UNSPOKEN'S plan to dominate all life on Earth. What is the secret origin of The Slave Engine? And what horribly, freakish thing has it done to the U.S. AGENT?

Modok Reign Delay - Down on his luck, MODOK moves back into his parent's house in Erie, Pennsylvania and discovers that his family, old classmates and apathetic locals can thwart his plans for world conquest better than any super hero. Featuring obligatory guest appearances by Norman Osborn and some Canadian mutant super hero you've probably never heard of.

The Outsiders #22 - Written by Peter J. Tomasi Art by Fernando Pasarin Cover by Tom Mandrake 'The Hunting' continues as Metamorpho, Black Lightning and Geoforce scour the globe to track down Clayface. But when tensions rise, Lighting and Geoforce will find themselves at odds over the control of the team. Plus, the Creeper and Man-Bat head down to the bayou to catch themselves a Killer Croc!

Punisher #9 - Written by RICK REMENDER Penciled by TAN ENG HUAT Cover by MIKE MCKONE 'DEAD END,' PART 4 It's one of those days... Gunning for the Punisher, the monstrous and impenetrable tank of the Hijacker lays waste to New York...Frank Castle uncovers the terrible history of his brand-new assistant, Henry (an origin guaranteed to astonish)...and someone just dug up the caskets of Castle's family (that's got to end badly).

Rebels #8 - Written by Tony Bedard Art by Andy Clarke Cover by Kalman Andrasofszky Word of Starro's invading horde and Vril Dox's rebellion reaches the masses, and sides are drawn. Plus, the mighty Khund fleet enters the battle against Starro! Too bad for them. Plus: The all-new, all-dangerous Omega Men.

Showcase Presents The Warlord TP Volume 01 – Air Force pilot Travis Morgan crashes in the primitive world of Skartaris, where he must learn to live by the sword--and a comics legend begins. Morgan becomes a leader of Skartaris in this paperback collecting 1ST ISSUE SPECIAL #8 and WARLORD #1-28.

The Sword #19 - Dara’s epic quest to avenge her family continues, and her last target is Malia, the air goddess who murdered Dara’s father. Dara has already fought Malia’s brothers – the water god, Zakros, and the earth god, Knossos – but Malia’s power over air isn’t the only thing that makes her more formidable than her siblings.

Thor Annual #1-The mighty Thor has been exiled from Asgard. Without his allies at his side, the wounded and isolated God of Thunder discovers that time does not heal all wounds…especially when it’s the Egyptian pantheon bearing the grudge!! Seth! Grog! The enemies from Thor’s past have returned…and they are howling for revenge, ready to exploit Thor’s misery and finish him off once and for all. Don’t miss this action-packed, Midgard-shattering annual! All this and a reprint of Journey Into Mystery #83 remastered with modern coloring!

Wednesday Comics #11 (OF 12) - WEDNESDAY COMICS, DC's new, 12-issue weekly series, reaches its incredible conclusion in September. Here are just some of the highlights of this third and final month: In BATMAN, WEDNESDAY COMICS' weekly cover feature, Bruce Wayne digs further into a steamy murder mystery. It's a classic noir tale by the Eisner Award-winning 100 BULLETS team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso. METAMORPHO dives into a fever-dream of an adventure, written by New York Times best-selling writer Neil Gaiman with art by Eisner Award-winner Michael Allred (Madman).

Will Eisner’s Spirit Archives - In 1997, almost six decades after the character's first appearance in 1940, legendary artist and writer Will Eisner gave permission for a new series of stories to be commissioned featuring his signature creation, resurrected detective Denny Colt, also known as the Spirit, written and drawn by the most famous names in the comics industry. The call went out, and the response was nothing short of remarkable, with contributions from such creators as Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (in one of their rare collaborations since Watchmen), Neil Gaiman (The Sandman), Paul Chadwick (Concrete), and Eddie Campbell (From Hell), amongst others.In these pages you'll find new tales of Central City's protector versus familiar villains such as the Octopus and Sand Saref; witness his undying love for Ellen Dolan, daughter of Commissioner Dolan, the only man to know his secret identity; and glimpse what might be the Spirit's fate in an uncertain future. This collection features stories from the following best-selling, multi-award-winning creators from around the world: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Neil Gaiman, Eddie Campbell, Mike Allred, John Ostrander, Tom Mandrake, Paul Chadwick, Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, Joe R. Lansdale, John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra, and many others.

X-Factor #48- Cortex stands revealed! Or does he? The plan of the president’s science team threatens Madrox and Layla! Or does it? Shatterstar gets a milkshake! Or does he? It’s all going according to the plan of Doctor Doom! Or is it? – I’m going to cancel this book again or will I?

I order a fair number of hard covers and then when they show up on my list for next week I’m sometimes have buyer’s remorse. The Spirit Archive is the new adventures of the Spirit that were published elsewhere. While the creators names are good, I do not remember ever reading this material, so taking a flier on a $50 hardcover is a little worrisome. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised.