What I’m Getting Wednesday September 30

Just a point of reference for regular readers of this blog, that Gwen’s schedule has become so onerous that she will be unable to contribute a weekly post for awhile. I hope that we will see her posts on occasion but real life has intruded this year and that means more posts from Lee and me. I like reading different perspectives and the female view is one that is often lacking in comic book discussions. On the flip side more Lee and I can be viewed as good thing. Right?

The couple of links this week take you to a preview of the book. I will try to add more links in the future.

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

Blackest Night Titans #2 (of 3) – The Blackest Night stuff has been great and last issue we saw where the new Hawk is also now dead. All of these Blackest Night books have been solid, entertaining reads. DC says “Written by J.T. Krul; Art and cover by Ed Benes and Rob Hunter. Titan-on-Titan violence! Black Lantern Hawk has his talons set for the female Hawk and Dove! Meanwhile, Red Star faces a frightful family reunion with Black Lanterns Pantha and Wildebeest, and Donna Troy faces her worst possible nightmare! Plus, Black Lantern Terra terrorizes Beast Boy!”

Fables Deluxe Edition Hard Cover Volume 1 – It is about damn time they put this out as a hard cover. I’m anxious to see exactly what the format looks like. This volume contains “Written by Bill Willingham; Art by Lan Medina, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha and Craig T. Hamilton; Cover by James Jean. For the first time ever, Bill Willingham's acclaimed, Eisner Award-winning series FABLES is presented in a deluxe hardcover edition collecting issues #1-10. When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile. Disguised among the normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters have created their own peaceful and secret society within an exclusive luxury apartment building called Fabletown. When Snow White's party-girl sister, Rose Red, is apparently murdered, it's up to Fabletown's sheriff, the reformed and pardoned Big Bad Wolf, to find the killer. Meanwhile, trouble of a different sort brews at the Fables' upstate farm where non-human inhabitants are preaching revolution – and threatening Fabletown's carefully nurtured secrecy."

Green Lantern #46 – It is nice to see that not only has this been an exciting story and an event that works, but it looks like the books are coming out on time. The hype “Written by Geoff Johns; Art and cover by Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy. BLACKEST NIGHT continues! For months, Mongul has wrested control of the Sinestro Corps. Now Sinestro wants a word with him. And Hal wants a word with Sinestro. But in the midst of BLACKEST NIGHT, they'll all become the hunted as the fallen Sinestro Corps members rise. What will happen? Here's a hint: Sinestro gets some serious payback.”

Punisher Annual #1 – I never thought I could be back onto a version of the Punisher inside the MU after reading Garth Ennis’ masterful run on Punisher in the Max line, Remender is proving me wrong. Inside this book “'REMOTE CONTROL' The Punisher faces his greatest challenge yet: Trapped in the throes of a hypnotic spell, Spider-Man's gone psycho and he wants to grind Frank Castle's bones to paste! And since Spidey's not really to blame for his actions, Castle faces a dilemma: Fight (the only way he knows how) or die. Can the Punisher survive a bloodthirsty Wall-Crawler long enough to disconnect him from the control of the Dirty Dozen's leaders, Letha and Lascivious? Super-star artist Jason Pearson joins regular series writer Rick Remender.”

Thor #603 – Rapidly coming to the close of JMS brilliant run on this book. I think this maybe his second to last issue, followed by a Thor special wrapping up his work on this title. Marvel says “The people of Asgard are fractured, as Loki's scheming plans start to bear poisonous fruit. In Latveria, Balder and his loyal followers have a home at the tender mercies of Victor Von Doom.Out in the wide open world, Thor and his followers in exile roam without a country. As Loki puts the final calculated moves in play... will the spirit of Asgard itself be destroyed?”

The rest of the list:

Absolute Promethea Hard Cover Volume 1 - Written by Alan Moore; Art by J.H. Williams III and Mick Gray; Cover by J.H. Williams III. Alan Moore's entrancing masterpiece is collected for the first time in oversized, Absolute format featuring the spectacular art of J.H. Williams III. The first of three ABSOLUTE PROMETHEA slipcased collections, this volume collects PROMETHEA #1-12! Discover the stories that introduced Sophie Bangs, an ordinary college student in a weirdly futuristic New York, whose life will be changed by her research into the mythical warrior woman known as Promethea!

Astro City Astra Special #1 (of 2) - Written by Kurt Busiek; Art by Brent Anderson; Covers by Alex Ross. It's a big turning point for Astra Furst, the third-generation Super Hero of Astro City! Last we saw her, she was a 10-year-old girl playing hopscotch. Today she's graduating from college. It's a time of friends and family, new opportunities, new dangers, and changing relationships. Featuring the First Family, the creatures of Monstro City, a new hero team and more in a graduation night nobody's ever going to forget!

Existence 2.0 #3 (of 3) - Sylvester is face to face with the people who killed him and kidnapped his daughter, but is caught in the middle of an identity crisis unlike no other! Now all guns are pointed at him, and the deadly secrets of his own murder are revealed in a twist-filled, action-packed conclusion that no one will see coming!

GI Joe Cobra Special #1- Spinning out of the red-hot thriller G.I. Joe: Cobra, this one-shot follows up on that series' surprise reveal and focuses on our big bad guy (or is it multiple bad guys?). By the same creative team as the original mini! Don't miss out, this is the perfect end cap to the series!

Gotham City Sirens #4 - Written by Paul Dini ; Art and cover by Guillem March. Bruce Wayne has always been considered the quintessential ladies' man. But he's never faced ladies quite like this before! Has Gotham City's playboy prince finally met his match?

Hellboy Library Edition Hard Cover Volume #3 - Hellboy Library Edition Volume 3 collects three pivotal stories of Hellboy's journey, as he leaves behind the world of men and journeys into the unknown: the award-winning Conqueror Worm, which brings back some of Hellboy's earliest foes, in the story that ends his career with the B.P.R.D. and marks his first run-in with the fan-favorite masked hero Lobster Johnson; the haunting fairy tale The Third Wish; and The Island, a dark and surreal glimpse into the true origin of the Right Hand of Doom and Hellboy's own destiny; along with a new, expanded sketchbook of never-before-seen Mignola artwork. Includes over thirty pages of new sketchbook material!

Justice Society of America #31 - Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges; Art and cover by Jesus Merino. Magog and Wildcat square off as the team traitor involved in the attack on a fellow JSAer is revealed! It all leads to greater tension and permanent rifts within the most storied Super Hero team of all time! Clearly, this was an inside job, and though they may not realize it now, the damage to the group is deeper than any of them suspects.

Last Days of Animal Man #5 (of 6) - Written by Gerry Conway; Art by Chris Batista and Dave Meikis; Cover by Brian Bolland. His powers are gone. His teammates are beaten. His family hates him. Prismatik and Bloodrage have all the power of the League of Titans HQ to themselves. And this miniseries only has one issue to go. It doesn't look good for Buddy Baker, does it? There's a reason we called it The Last Days of Animal Man, folks!

Secret Warriors #8 - Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN Penciled by ALESSANDRO VITTI Cover by JIM CHEUNG Nick Fury and a long-dormant spy now reactivated continue their top secret mission while the kids get in way over their heads as they go up against members of the Dark Avengers and the Thunderbolts...and while no one else is looking, HYDRA's grand plans continue to unfold. All that and Ares is finally reunited with his son - watch the sparks fly! It's GOD OF FEAR. GOD OF WAR.

Superman #692 - Written by James Robinson; Art by Fernando Dagnino and Raúl Fernandez; Cover by CAFU. Tragedy strikes in the aftermath of "Codename: Patriot" as Metropolis buries one of its own! And with a man down, the Science Police are on their own to stop a cadre of Super-Villains from stealing a formerly common commodity that has suddenly become rarer than gold!

Teen Titans #75 - Written by Felicia D. Henderson; co-feature written by Sean McKeever; Art by Joe Bennett and Jack Jadson; co-feature art by Yildiray Cinar and Júlio Ferreira; Cover by Joe Bennett and Jack Jadson. Come celebrate our gala 75th issue with an all-star cast of Titans past and present! Joining this issue for the extravaganza is new ongoing writer Felicia D. Henderson, a co-executive producer on TV's hit show Fringe! Don't miss this start to a fresh new take on DC's premier teen team! And in the Ravager co-feature, Rose lies nearly dead in the Arctic when a horrific discovery chills her even more!

Thunderbolts #136 - Meet the newest Thunderbolts...Power Man and Iron Fist?! Norman Osborn, in need of a powerful duo to send on a to secret mission, makes the former Heroes for Hire a deal they can't refuse! Luke Cage and Danny Rand have no choice but to become Osborn's personal assassins! What could have caused all this? Fan favorite writer Rick Remender (Punisher) and rising-star artist Mahmud A. Asrar (Nova Annual #1) spill all the secrets--and some blood-in this 100 proof double-sized blow-out!

Trotsky HC - Trotsky was a hero to some, a ruthless demon to others. To Stalin, he was such a threat that he warranted murder by pickaxe.Renowned comic artist Rick Geary uses his distinct style to depict the stark reality of the man and his times. Trotsky's life becomes a guide to the creation of the Soviet Union, the horrors of World War I, and the establishment of international communism. Ranging from his boyhood in the Ukraine to his conflict with Stalin and his romance with Frida Kahlo, Trotsky is a stunning look at one of the 20th Century's most important figures.

Wonder Woman #36 - Written by Gail Simone; Art by Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan; Cover by Aaron Lopresti. "The Rise of the Olympian" has changed Wonder Woman's life completely, and it's not over yet as repercussions are still being felt all over the world! In this issue, Diana finds herself fighting for her life against the man destined by the gods to take her place – Achilles, the Warkiller!

X-Factor #49 - Written by PETER DAVID Penciled by VALENTINE DE LANDRO Cover by DAVID YARDIN 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?

What a sparse week. If you take away the hard covers this would be about the lightest week of regular comic books for me in a very long time. Truth be told I hope to continue to pare down my list as time moves forward and maybe make the 15/20 book type weeks the norm as opposed to the exception.