Up this week: B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Return of the Master #1, Galaxy Man #1, Li’l Homer #1, National Comics: Looker #1, Phantom Lady #1 (of 4) & Scam #1.

[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”212”] The Big One for 29th[/caption]

*** B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth:
The Return of the Master #1***

In the Scottish Highlands, a rogue scientist who escaped the bloody massacre in B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Russia assembles a paranormal cult bent on world destruction. Can the B.P.R.D. hunt down this group in time, or will demons be released into a world already teetering on the edge of apocalypse?

story by Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
art by Tyler Crook
published by Dark Horse Comics

Yes! It is yet anotherHellboy Universe book. Yes. A Hellboy-related book makes this list over and over. Not because we have any kind of exclusive contract (not that X would be against that if anyone from Dark Horse is reading this), but because Dark Horse and Mike Mignola understand that in order to attract new readers, you need to publish quality, self-contained stories. Not only high quality books, but in volume. I have already extolled the virtues of these books over and over again (See previous articles), so I won’t go into it again. If you are interested in trying comics then you can’t do much better than getting into the Hellboy Universe.

Galaxy Man #1

He’s a husband, a father, and a Hero! Meet Galaxy Man! While battling skelasaurs in downtown Stellar City, he’s joined by a mysterious sidekick named Cosmic Girl. Girl he helps him discover the real cause of all this chaos… the villainous Dr. Ross Rex!

story by Kyle Puttkammer
art by Patrick Gallagher
published by Galactic Press

I’ll be honest and tell you I know nothing about this franchise. However I do dig The Invincibles. And if you like the feel of that, it seems like you might catch the same kind of vibe from this book as you do from the movies. Give it a peek.

Li’l Homer #1

Long before Bart Simpson appeared on the scene, Springfield had its own original ‘bad aboy’ - the dim but adorable Li’l Homer. And you can be sure wherever Li’l Homer goes, trouble follows. Whether he’s just trying to fly a kite, searching for a lost donut, or matching wits with a real mean genie, Li’l Homer always comes out on top!

story by Carol Lay & Tony DiGerolamo
art by Scott Shaw & Mary Trainor
published by Bongo Comics

Come on. It’s the Simpsons! If you never heard of ‘em you’ve been living under a rock for over 20 years. If this particular book were in the serious comic book section, they would’ve given it a serious name like “Before Simpsons - Homer”.

National Comics: Looker #1

New digital-first adventures! Emily Briggs was a top supermodel until she was turned into a vampire! Briggs uses her supernatural powers to protect the innocent as they navigate the corrupt world of high fashion and modeling! A fresh, sexy take on a classic DC character!

story by Ian Edginton
art by Mike S. Miller
published by DC Comics

Another character is reborn into DC’s New 52 (and changed). This has a “good” vampire, but she’s in the fashion world! Definitely not for me, but I know you vampire fans out there that will probably love this.

Phantom Lady #1 (of 4)

The female FREEDOM FIGHTER debuts in her own miniseries! ï Featuring her partner-in-crimefighting, the diminutive dynamo known as DOLL MAN!

story by Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
art by Rich Perotta
published by DC Comics

This is a character I’m not familiar with, but  I am curious. Since it’s the beginning of a new series, I’m going to give it a look. Not so much for Phantom Lady herself, but for her quirky, and sometimes straight out creepy sidekick, The Dollman. Good title for someone looking for something a little different. On top of that, there’s a ton of top flight talent on this one.

Scam #1

Intended for Mature Audiences

SCAM is ‘X-Men meets Ocean’s 11” and involves a team of super-powered grifters on the biggest con of their lives - taking down a Vegas casino and getting revenge on a former teammate who double-crossed them!

story by Joe Mulvey
art by Joe Mulvey
published by Comix Tribe

With the success of the “Parker” series by Darwyn Cooke, it’s not surprising to see “Big Heist” books popping up here and there. This one actually has the people doing the heist with super powers! Should be interesting.

Original Article

Since every comic is someone’s first, the books have to be able to stand on their own. This week Noob takes over the helm and makes his review based on this comics own merit! A good story is a good story, no matter how long or short the run. So, this is where we draw the line for…

Queen Crab

[caption id=”” align=”alignright” width=”212”] story by Jimmy Palmiotti
art by Artiz Eiguren
designed by Bill Tortolini
cover by Sas Christian
edited by Amanda Conner
published by Image Comics[/caption]

Jimmy Palmiotti has a LOT of TALENT!
(And maybe a few “issues”)

I mainly review books only on the show itself. But occasionally something comes out that I have to tell our audience about right away. My co-host writes excellent reviews all the time, but if you see me writing a review on something, then know I feel it’s great, different, and possibly thought provoking. Queen Crab is such a book. It defies your expectations. There is no way you could possibly imagine what this story is like.

What you need to know is that it reads like a “slice of city life”, yet there is a fantastical twist to this tale that comes from so far out of left field, that after you’re smacked in the face with it, you are on unsure emotional footing for the remainder of the story. This isn’t an easy feat to pull off. The protagonist here (Ginger) is a walking, talking, contradiction just by herself. Part strong. Part low self esteem. Part street smart. Part naive. Part obnoxious. But mostly likable. She’s got 3 dimensions. There’s a part of her you may not like, but you get the feeling that if she just had a couple of more breaks, or maybe a more stable home life, that she just might be a very successful young woman with a good career and a wonderful family of her own.

This story immerses you in Ginger’s life. You immediately know this girl (Hell! I’ve dated this girl). She’s jaded. She routinely settles for less than she deserves time and time again. The result of which is a drastic toll on her disposition and her decision making process. This then leads to more bad decisions in an ever increasing vicious cycle.

So far so good. We have seen this type of story up until this point in the narrative. Terry Moore’s “Strangers In Paradise” comes to mind, but you’ll soon see this is not what this is at all. You’ll soon realize everything up to this point is to lull you into a false sense of familiarity. Then things start going places. Weird places. Ginger’s professional life has a dark side. Her romance seems a little “off”. Different. But not drastically so, and it progresses as many romances do.
 


Then… It hits you! Not like a slap in the face. But more like an anvil on the head. As Ginger’s life takes its seemingly predetermined course, we are confronted with two things that let us know that “All bets are off”! The first is a cold blooded and cowardly act of violence, and the other is a fantastical turn that we were given absolutely no hint to as to it’s nature or arrival. From this point on we are no longer on firm footing. We don’t have the slightest guess as to where this captivating story is going to take us, but we are thrilled to be on the ride. Even with all her faults, we find ourselves completely in Ginger’s corner including all of her abrasiveness.

From the fantastical turn in this book, onward, Ginger is on a path of discovery. We get to go along for the ride. We get to see the good and bad in people along the way. We marvel at the journey of discovery Ginger is on, and like the proverbial onion, layer upon layer is pulled back to reveal a much larger mystery at the core of Ginger’s journey.

I purposely left out spoilers in this review, but what I can tell you is that there is a lot of different kinds of sexual activity. Drinking. Marriage. Alcoholism. Sibling relationships. Murder. Accidental death. Infidelity. Parental Dysfunction. Adult language. Sea adventure. And finally MYSTERY!   That’s a lot to squeeze into any book but Palmiotti pulls this off effortlessly. The book feels like a quick read, but it really isn’t. You get every penny’s worth of entertainment.

This is a solo effort from Jimmy Palmiotti who usually can be found with his partner in crime Justin Gray. Their partnership should be equated to nothing less than the Dean and Frank of the comic world. It would kill me if they ever split. To all my knowledge the pairing is still very much alive. But it’s nice to see Jimmy spread his creative wings by himself for a change. If this kind of quality is what we can expect, than I hope he keeps writing this (And other works) for years to come.

Story: 5 out of 5.

As for the artwork in this book, anyone that knows me, knows I love a clean line. The art is perfect for this book. Artiz does a phenomenal job giving each character their own face, look, and mannerisms. The “acting” is EXCELLENT! At no time do you not know how a character is feeling. Each scene is packed with the appropriate emotion. The layouts are clear and move the story along perfectly. Never are you confused as to what panel to read next. Same with the story telling aspect of this title. Major actions happen “Between the panels” here, and at times those pictures in our heads are as vivid as the actual rendered ones. His style is neither illustrative nor cartoonish but a solid mixture of both. The colors are vivid, beautiful, and a perfect compliment to the drawn line here.

Art: 5 out of 5

Extra Credit

It should also be noted that, like myself, Jimmy is a native New Yorker. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Way back when I was a wee little Noob, going to Coney Island (Where much of this book takes place) was an event. It was huge. It was magical. Unfortunately, through real estate planning, economic erosion, and the ravages of time, Coney Island is a shell of what it once was. With a few exceptions (The Cyclone. Playland. The Wonder Wheel.) Coney Island lays there like the corpse of a homeless person that no one bothered to call in and take to the morgue. I’m giving Jimmy extra points for capturing another of the few places that haven’t quite eroded yet in Coney Island… The Freak Show. Jimmy captures this as not only a place for us rubes to gawk at the odd people, but he also captures it as home and family where people like themselves can go to for decent treatment, and whatever help the show is in a position to give. Well done.

So there you have it. Like I said before, this book excited me, and it was something I thought that all comic book readers new and old, and people that just enjoy good stories should pick up at their earliest convenience.

The Queen Crab Hardcover retails for $12.99 and can hopefully be found at your local comic store, but can also be found at:

DCBS (Discount Comic Book Service) HUGE DISCOUNT $7.49 - now you have no excuse!

http://www.dcbservice.com/ist.aspx?id=4

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Queen-Crab-HC-Jimmy-Palmiotti/dp/1607065053

Original Article

Up this week: Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #1 (of 4), Before Watchmen Dr Manhattan #1 (of 4), Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike #1, Lobster Johnson: The Prayer of Neferu (one-shot) & Web Of Spider-Man #129.1.

[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”212”]The Big One for August 22nd[/caption]

*** Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #1 (of 4)***

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Rocketeer with an all-new full-length series! Dave Stevens created the Rocketeer in 1982 and it has proven to be a uniquely enduring Character. Now Cliff Secord and the Rocketeer take to the skies once again as Mark Waid and Chris Samnee spin a yarn in the best tradition of Dave Stevens, bringing us a tale of great adventure, suspense and humor! A ship docks in Los Angeles harbor from a far-off and exotic locale-with a big, mysterious… and living… cargo! Danger and mayhem abound as our hero leaps into the fray! Plus, we introduce a lovely new character who will be vying against Betty for Cliff’s affections!

story by Mark Waid
art by Chris Samnee
published by IDW Publishing

To say the Rocketeer is just a story about a guy with a Jetpack is like saying Indiana Jones stories are just about a guy with a whip. Ironically, to say Rocketeer stories are comparable to Indiana Jones stories if Indiana Jones had a Jetpack, is not all that inaccurate. Here is your chance to jump into a much under appreciated, rollicking adventure of a franchise. Additionally you get to read Mark Waid’s take on this character, and if you’ve been reading his current run on Marvel’s Daredevil, then you already know that he does rollicking adventure very well. It’s a natural match. Never has there been a better time to do a new Rocketeer movie. I don’t understand why we don’t have one yet. Until that time comes we should all be enjoying these stories in their natural form. Bring your imagination. Bring your sense of fun. Bring your enthusiasm. Escape for a while. Have a good time. Hell. We all deserve it.

Before Watchmen: Dr Manhattan #1 (of 4)

“I watch as a box containing a mystery is lowered into the soil.” And don’t miss the latest chapter of the CRIMSON CORSAIR backup epic from writer LEN WEIN and artist JOHN HIGGINS!

story by J. Michael Straczynski & Len Wein
art by John Higgins
published by DC Comics

I was conflicted about this series (Of series) when they were first announced. But now I find myself enjoying the ride. After having read Watchmen so many times, reading these prequel books makes me feel like putting on a well broken in pair of jeans. I don’t know how great this specific Dr. Manhattan series will be, but I’m going on record right now saying that, so far, I’m really glad DC decided to produce them.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike #1

Having fought to regain his soul after falling in love with the Slayer Buffy, the once-terrifying vampire villain Spike has been a bit less fearsome (to humans, at least). On his own adventure, Spike is forced to examine the man he once was, the man he is now, and the man he still hopes to become. As master of a steampunk ship filled with loyal, oversized alien cockroaches, Spike embarks on a journey to the dark side of the moon, setting into motion an adventure filled with demons, witches, and others who brew new evil in the world without magic!

story by Victor Gischler
art by Paul Lee & Andy Owens
published by Dark Horse Comics

Against all odds, the “Buffy-verse” lives on. Not only in Dark Horse’s main “Season” series of books, but now Buffy fans also now get read about Buffy’s “Bad Boy”. If youre a fan, and are looking for more Slayer goodness, then jump on in.

Lobster Johnson: The Prayer of Neferu (one-shot)

The Heliopic Brotherhood of Ra hold a Victorian themed party complete with the unrolling of a mummy, with decidedly unexpected results, including a gun-blazing vigilante promising justice!

story by Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
art by Wilfredo Torres
published by Dark Horse Comics

There’s a reason Hellboy Universe titles keep showing up on This Week’s Ones. It’s because Mike Mignola and crew keep pumping out quality, new reader friendly, have a fun time books! If you’re looking at getting into a quality franchise, then you can’t go wrong with these.

The Web of Spider-Man #129.1

Celebrating 50 Years of the Great Responsibility of his Great powers, The Spider-Man 50th Anniversary Series collects the Webbed Wonder’s greatest heretofore secret history! Spanning from his earliest days as a hero to the heyday of the heralded Big Time era and everything in between, a collection of Marvel Legends, venerated comic creators and awe-inspiring artists shine the spotlight on everything that makes Spider-Man the World’s Greatest Superhero!

story by Stuart Moore
art by Damion Scott
published by Marvel Comics

The nice things about the lighter workload weeks is that I get more time to indulge myself. Spider-Man books are no stranger to this column. Now that he’s been around for fifty years, Marvel is revisiting some of his old titles with “.1” issues. The neat idea here is that you don’t have to remember what happened years ago in that series, but the book you read does reflect the era it was originally run in. That’s a fun idea! I don’t care who you are! Imagine if you still have the original series neatly bagged and boarded somewhere! Now you have an excuse to go into your “Sacred Comic Archive” or closet, and you can neatly fit this new book where it belongs in the run (Read it first!). That’s geeky awesomeness!

Original Article

Up this week: Before Watchmen Rorschach #1 (of 4), Homecoming #1, Pathfinders #1 & The Victories #1.

[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”212”] The Big One for August 15th[/caption]

*** Before Watchmen: Rorschach #1 (of 4)***

‘What made you this way?’ And don’t miss the latest chapter of the CRIMSON CORSAIR backup epic from writer LEN WEIN and artist JOHN HIGGINS! This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

story by Brian Azzarello & Len Wein
art by John Higgins
published by DC Comics

This is it. The one we’ve been waiting for since they started this. Ever since he screamed the iconic words “I’m not trapped in here with you. You’re trapped in here with me!”, we have wanted to know more about this most badass character in all of the opus that is Watchmen.

Homecoming #1

Nobody ever said being a teenager was easy… Just when you thought it was safe to go back to High School…Aspen Comics proudly presents an all-new series created by Michael Turner, Scott Lobdell and David Wohl. HOMECOMING! Hunter Wilson is just an average American teenager in an average American town, but when the beautiful and amnesiac Celeste arrives in his backyard, Hunter’s life will change forever. He discovers that Celeste had disappeared from that very house 10 years earlier, and now she’s back with little memory of who she was—but with strange, fantastic abilities and the knowledge that dark forces are rapidly approaching! Now, Hunter must help Celeste regain her memory while he tries to keep himself and his friends safe—and if that wasn’t difficult enough, Homecoming is just a week away and he doesn’t have a date to the dance yet!

story by David Wohl
art by Stefani Rennee & Emilio Lasio
publsihed by Apsen Comics

When I was prom age I used dream about girls with amnesia showing up at my house! Dark tidings be damned!

Pathfinder #1

Pathfinder is unleashed! Paizo’s incredible award-winning fantasy world, fiction line and tabletop RPG is now the ultimate fantasy comic from Dynamite Entertainment. Valeros can rely on his sword arm and his friends, the mysterious and beautiful sorcerer Seoni and silver tongued quick-witted elven rogue Merisiel, but nothing can prepare him for the dangers that lurk ahead. The scattered and chaotic goblin tribes of Varisia are changing, growing in power and unifying in ways no one has ever seen before. At the heart of this strange evolution is an ancient evil looking to establish itself anew. The iconic heroes at the core of the Pathfinder’s world are brought to life for the first time in a brand new story full of charm and high adventure that will please fans and entertain new readers alike. Discover why Pathfinder has overtaken the biggest brands in fantasy and gaming to become a best-selling fan phenomenon.

story by Jim Zubkavich
art by Andrew Huerta
published by Dynamite Entertainment

It’s big. It’s epic. And now it’s a comic book! Come and dig in to something meaty. Here it’s for you fantasy fans that have been looking for something new to try. This title is getting a place next to “The Wheel Of Time”… For now.

The Victories #1

Not long from now, all that will stand between you and evil are the Victories-six heroes sworn to protect us from crime, corruption, and the dark. As one member cracks down on the violence, he discovers himself touched by a painful past through the psychic powers of Link. Will this trauma cause him to self-destruct or continue the fight?

story by Michael Avon Oeming
art by Michael Avon Oeming & Nick Filardi
published by Dark Horse Comics

A great creator’s name is like a brand. You could’ve just put Oeming’s name on this, and not told me anything else about it. I’d buy it based on the brand alone.

Original Article

Up this week: Archer & Armstrong #1, Anti #1, Creep #0, Gambit #1, Godzilla: The Half Century War #1, Idolized #1, Moonstone’s Modern Myths: Thor, Unkillable Thunder Christ #1, Sensational Spider-Man #33.1, Star Wars: The Lost Tribe of the Sith #1 & Thun’da #1.

[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”212”] The Big One for August 8th[/caption]

*** Archer & Armstrong #1***

It’s a globetrotting quest for the Valiant Universe’s greatest secrets, from the New York Times bestselling team of Fred Van Lente (Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Zombies) and Clayton Henry (Uncanny X-Men)! Obadiah Archer was born and raised to cherish three things above all else: the faith of his parents, the love of his 22 brothers and sisters, and his lifelong mission to defeat the ultimate evildoer. Now, after years of training, Archer has been dispatched to the heart of America’s festering modern day Babylon, aka New York City, to root out and kill this infamous Great Satan. Unfortunately, dying has never been easy for Archer’s target — the hard-drinking, 10,000-year-old immortal known as Armstrong. Together, this unlikely pair of heroes is about to stumble headfirst into a centuries-old conspiracy that will bring the whole of ancient history crashing down on the modern day Valiant Universe. And that’s going to mean one Hell of a hangover.

story by Fred Van Lente
art by Clayton Henry
published by Valiant Entertainment

The Valiant onslaught continues. This week they resurrect one of their all time favorite titles. How could I have possibly have given TBO to anyone else?

Anti #1

Intended for Mature Audiences
Anti blasts out of Free Comic Book Day and into your hands for only $1.00 in this special ‘Buckshot’ 1st Issue Edition! Join producer Gale Anne Hurd (Terminator, Aliens, Walking Dead) as she presents the action-packed tale of Zachary, a faithless man forced to confront the reality that he’s the savior of the world. Chased by demons that have infiltrated earth disguised as humans, while grudgingly protected by demon-hunter Jordan, this journey for knowledge and survival is sure to give you plenty of bang for your buck!

story by Peter Calloway
art by Daniel Hillyard
published by 12 Gauge

This is a fascinating idea! What if you found out that YOU were the savior, and demons and forces of evil were out to stop you from savioring everything? Original concept here, and one I can’t wait to get my hands on.

Creep #0

A young boy puts a gun in his mouth and pulls the trigger. The police don’t care. Not about his death or the death of his best friend two months earlier. The dead boy’s mom seeks help from an old flame that’s employed as a detective. What she doesn’t know is that he suffers from acromegaly-a physical deformity resulting in brutish facial features at mid-life. Will his freakish appearance get in the way of solving the case?

story by John Arcudi
art by Jonathan Case
Dark Horse

This is not going to be light and happy faire. It will have a gruesome mystery, and a poor guy whose appearance stacks the deck against him. I have a gut feeling that this might be an instant classic.

Gambit #1

ALL-NEW ONGOING SERIES! When Marvel’s premiere thief sets his sights on his biggest score yet, he may just end up over his head. It’s going to take more than just playing cards and southern charm to get out of this one! BONUS! Bella Donna is NOT in this issue!

story by James Asmus
art by Clay Mann
published by Marvel Comics

Guess who’s back? That guy that was in 3,754 titles every month back in the nineties! I guess it’s time to see how a Gambit title flies again. I’m curious. I always liked the character and still do!

Godzilla: The Half Century War #1

Introducing a new and exciting look at Godzilla’s reign of destruction, courtesy of Orc Stain creator James Stokoe! The year is 1954 and Lieutnant Ota Murakami is on hand when Godzilla makes first landfall in Japan. Along with his pal Kentaro, Ota makes a desperate gamble to save lives… and in the process begins an obsession with the King of the Monsters that lasts fifty years! Don’t miss the first decade in a tale of a lifetime!

story by James Stokoe
art by James Stokoe
published by IDW Publishing

“People of Comic-Dom! Godzilla is approaching! Again”! I kid, but the recent Godzilla comics actually have been pretty damn good.

Idolized #1

Aspen Comics proudly presents their first ever super-hero series, IDOLIZED! What would a real world filled with superheroes look like? In this all-new series it gets ugly, as a young, girl-next door named Joule reveals her tortured past and her desperate attempt for revenge-all while auditioning in front of the cameras and judges of the hot new TV show ‘SuperHero Idol’! IDOLIZED begins here, as we experience the initial audition that will make Joule a household name in homes across America, and we begin to learn the secrets she is hiding may lead to her shocking downfall! Written and created by David Schwartz, with gorgeous art by Micah Gunnell and David Curiel, and featuring a cover by the legendary Art Adams, and a photo cover starring Supermodel Rachel Clark, you won’t want to miss out on this innovative new series only from Aspen Comics!

story by David Schwartz
art by Micah Gunnell
published by Apsen Comics

Aspen is finally throwing its hat in the Super Hero ring! My colleagues and I have been hoping this day would come. With their high production quality, under appreciated talent, and their knack to get out good books on time all the time, we are hoping for the best.

Moonstone’s Modern Myths:
Thor, Unkillable Thunder Christ #1

Real Gods don’t get nailed to crosses, they bludgeon their enemies to death with giant hammers. Featuring a guest appearance by Blackest Terror! The second installation of Esquivel and Sarabia’s thought provoking and hilarious Modern Myths series.

story by Eric M. Esquivel
art by Ander Sarabia
published by Moonstone Books

Of course Thor wouldn’t take any crap from us weakling humans. We’re like lower life forms to him. Give him any crap? Bonk. Bonk on the head with the hammer. This looks hysterical.

Sensational Spider-Man #33.1

Celebrating 50 Years of the Great Responsibility of his Great powers, The Spider-Man 50th Anniversary Series collects the Webbed Wonder’s greatest heretofore secret history! Spanning from his earliest days as a hero to the heyday of the heralded Big Time era and everything in between, a collection of Marvel Legends, venerated comic creators and awe-inspiring artists shine the spotlight on everything that makes Spider-Man the World’s Greatest Superhero

story by Tom Defalco
art by Carlo Barberi
published by Marvel Comics

Here it is. Spidey! It’s 50 years now of quipping, web spinning and wall crawling. Find out what you need to know about America’s most beleaguered hero that never fails to face adversity with a smile and a joke. Much to the fury of his enemies, I’ve been reading Spidey for close to 40 years, and I can pt implore you enough to get in on the goodness.

Star Wars: The Lost Tribe of the Sith #1

On a planet ruled by a tribe of Sith-marooned thousands of years ago and cut off from the galaxy-the throne holder is about to be challenged by a power-hungry Sith rebel from the slums … and a thwarted royal Sith princess! Their few shared interests set them on a quest together-but most certainly not as partners! The saga of the lost tribe continues in comics, following the release of John Jackson Miller’s Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories-in print from Del Rey Books! Debuts one month after John Jackson Miller’s Lost Tribe of the Sith prose novel from Del Rey Books! An all-Sith tale with heroes, antiheroes, and straight-up villains!

story by John Jackson Miller
art by Andrea Mutti & Pierluigi Baldassini
published by Dark Horse Comics

More Star Wars. Yes more! It never ends. However, this is the part of the Star Wars Universe I always wanted to know more about. The Sith! They’ve always been shrouded in mystery to me and I’m itching to find out more.

Thun’da #1

The time is now. A Military helicopter crash lands in a remote valley in Africa. A lone survivor awakens with no memory of who he is or what he was doing there, but he’s wearing a uniform and is a skilled combatant. From the wreckage he learns only his name — ROGER DRUM. As he explores his new surroundings he is confronted by a bizarre lost world of dinosaurs and other strange creatures. Drum must learn to survive in this terrifying new reality while coming to terms with fragments of a past he isn’t sure he wants to remember.

story by Jim Zubkavich
art by Andrew Huerta
published by Dynamite Entertainment

Soldiers and dinosaurs are the new Zombie, Pirate, or Ninja of the comic world. The little kid part of my brain loves these stories. Add to that the fact that the protagonist here doesn’t quite know his past, and I’m itching for some escapist fun,

Original Article

Up this week: Archer & Armstrong #1, Anti #1, Creep #0, Gambit #1, Godzilla: The Half Century War #1, Idolized #1, Moonstone’s Modern Myths: Thor, Unkillable Thunder Christ #1, Sensational Spider-Man #33.1, Star Wars: The Lost Tribe of the Sith #1 & Thun’da #1.

[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”212”] The Big One for August 8th[/caption]

*** Archer & Armstrong #1***

It’s a globetrotting quest for the Valiant Universe’s greatest secrets, from the New York Times bestselling team of Fred Van Lente (Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Zombies) and Clayton Henry (Uncanny X-Men)! Obadiah Archer was born and raised to cherish three things above all else: the faith of his parents, the love of his 22 brothers and sisters, and his lifelong mission to defeat the ultimate evildoer. Now, after years of training, Archer has been dispatched to the heart of America’s festering modern day Babylon, aka New York City, to root out and kill this infamous Great Satan. Unfortunately, dying has never been easy for Archer’s target — the hard-drinking, 10,000-year-old immortal known as Armstrong. Together, this unlikely pair of heroes is about to stumble headfirst into a centuries-old conspiracy that will bring the whole of ancient history crashing down on the modern day Valiant Universe. And that’s going to mean one Hell of a hangover.

story by Fred Van Lente
art by Clayton Henry
published by Valiant Entertainment

The Valiant onslaught continues. This week they resurrect one of their all time favorite titles. How could I have possibly have given TBO to anyone else?

Anti #1

Intended for Mature Audiences
Anti blasts out of Free Comic Book Day and into your hands for only $1.00 in this special ‘Buckshot’ 1st Issue Edition! Join producer Gale Anne Hurd (Terminator, Aliens, Walking Dead) as she presents the action-packed tale of Zachary, a faithless man forced to confront the reality that he’s the savior of the world. Chased by demons that have infiltrated earth disguised as humans, while grudgingly protected by demon-hunter Jordan, this journey for knowledge and survival is sure to give you plenty of bang for your buck!

story by Peter Calloway
art by Daniel Hillyard
published by 12 Gauge

This is a fascinating idea! What if you found out that YOU were the savior, and demons and forces of evil were out to stop you from savioring everything? Original concept here, and one I can’t wait to get my hands on.

Creep #0

A young boy puts a gun in his mouth and pulls the trigger. The police don’t care. Not about his death or the death of his best friend two months earlier. The dead boy’s mom seeks help from an old flame that’s employed as a detective. What she doesn’t know is that he suffers from acromegaly-a physical deformity resulting in brutish facial features at mid-life. Will his freakish appearance get in the way of solving the case?

story by John Arcudi
art by Jonathan Case
Dark Horse

This is not going to be light and happy faire. It will have a gruesome mystery, and a poor guy whose appearance stacks the deck against him. I have a gut feeling that this might be an instant classic.

Gambit #1

ALL-NEW ONGOING SERIES! When Marvel’s premiere thief sets his sights on his biggest score yet, he may just end up over his head. It’s going to take more than just playing cards and southern charm to get out of this one! BONUS! Bella Donna is NOT in this issue!

story by James Asmus
art by Clay Mann
published by Marvel Comics

Guess who’s back? That guy that was in 3,754 titles every month back in the nineties! I guess it’s time to see how a Gambit title flies again. I’m curious. I always liked the character and still do!

Godzilla: The Half Century War #1

Introducing a new and exciting look at Godzilla’s reign of destruction, courtesy of Orc Stain creator James Stokoe! The year is 1954 and Lieutnant Ota Murakami is on hand when Godzilla makes first landfall in Japan. Along with his pal Kentaro, Ota makes a desperate gamble to save lives… and in the process begins an obsession with the King of the Monsters that lasts fifty years! Don’t miss the first decade in a tale of a lifetime!

story by James Stokoe
art by James Stokoe
published by IDW Publishing

“People of Comic-Dom! Godzilla is approaching! Again”! I kid, but the recent Godzilla comics actually have been pretty damn good.

Idolized #1

Aspen Comics proudly presents their first ever super-hero series, IDOLIZED! What would a real world filled with superheroes look like? In this all-new series it gets ugly, as a young, girl-next door named Joule reveals her tortured past and her desperate attempt for revenge-all while auditioning in front of the cameras and judges of the hot new TV show ‘SuperHero Idol’! IDOLIZED begins here, as we experience the initial audition that will make Joule a household name in homes across America, and we begin to learn the secrets she is hiding may lead to her shocking downfall! Written and created by David Schwartz, with gorgeous art by Micah Gunnell and David Curiel, and featuring a cover by the legendary Art Adams, and a photo cover starring Supermodel Rachel Clark, you won’t want to miss out on this innovative new series only from Aspen Comics!

story by David Schwartz
art by Micah Gunnell
published by Apsen Comics

Aspen is finally throwing its hat in the Super Hero ring! My colleagues and I have been hoping this day would come. With their high production quality, under appreciated talent, and their knack to get out good books on time all the time, we are hoping for the best.

Moonstone’s Modern Myths:
Thor, Unkillable Thunder Christ #1

Real Gods don’t get nailed to crosses, they bludgeon their enemies to death with giant hammers. Featuring a guest appearance by Blackest Terror! The second installation of Esquivel and Sarabia’s thought provoking and hilarious Modern Myths series.

story by Eric M. Esquivel
art by Ander Sarabia
published by Moonstone Books

Of course Thor wouldn’t take any crap from us weakling humans. We’re like lower life forms to him. Give him any crap? Bonk. Bonk on the head with the hammer. This looks hysterical.

Sensational Spider-Man #33.1

Celebrating 50 Years of the Great Responsibility of his Great powers, The Spider-Man 50th Anniversary Series collects the Webbed Wonder’s greatest heretofore secret history! Spanning from his earliest days as a hero to the heyday of the heralded Big Time era and everything in between, a collection of Marvel Legends, venerated comic creators and awe-inspiring artists shine the spotlight on everything that makes Spider-Man the World’s Greatest Superhero

story by Tom Defalco
art by Carlo Barberi
published by Marvel Comics

Here it is. Spidey! It’s 50 years now of quipping, web spinning and wall crawling. Find out what you need to know about America’s most beleaguered hero that never fails to face adversity with a smile and a joke. Much to the fury of his enemies, I’ve been reading Spidey for close to 40 years, and I can pt implore you enough to get in on the goodness.

Star Wars: The Lost Tribe of the Sith #1

On a planet ruled by a tribe of Sith-marooned thousands of years ago and cut off from the galaxy-the throne holder is about to be challenged by a power-hungry Sith rebel from the slums … and a thwarted royal Sith princess! Their few shared interests set them on a quest together-but most certainly not as partners! The saga of the lost tribe continues in comics, following the release of John Jackson Miller’s Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories-in print from Del Rey Books! Debuts one month after John Jackson Miller’s Lost Tribe of the Sith prose novel from Del Rey Books! An all-Sith tale with heroes, antiheroes, and straight-up villains!

story by John Jackson Miller
art by Andrea Mutti & Pierluigi Baldassini
published by Dark Horse Comics

More Star Wars. Yes more! It never ends. However, this is the part of the Star Wars Universe I always wanted to know more about. The Sith! They’ve always been shrouded in mystery to me and I’m itching to find out more.

Thun’da #1

The time is now. A Military helicopter crash lands in a remote valley in Africa. A lone survivor awakens with no memory of who he is or what he was doing there, but he’s wearing a uniform and is a skilled combatant. From the wreckage he learns only his name — ROGER DRUM. As he explores his new surroundings he is confronted by a bizarre lost world of dinosaurs and other strange creatures. Drum must learn to survive in this terrifying new reality while coming to terms with fragments of a past he isn’t sure he wants to remember.

story by Jim Zubkavich
art by Andrew Huerta
published by Dynamite Entertainment

Soldiers and dinosaurs are the new Zombie, Pirate, or Ninja of the comic world. The little kid part of my brain loves these stories. Add to that the fact that the protagonist here doesn’t quite know his past, and I’m itching for some escapist fun,

Original Article

Up this week: Planet Of The Apes Annual #1, Beasts of Burden: Neighborhood Watch (one-shot), Deadpool Kills Marvel Universe #1 (of 4), Deadworld - War Of The Dead #1, First X-Men #1, Harvest #1, Hawkeye #1, Infected #1 & Think Tank #1.

[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”212”] The Big One for August 1st[/caption]

*** Planet Of The Apes Annual #1***

The PLANET OF THE APES ANNUAL leaves no stone unturned! Join superstar writer Jeff Parker (HULK, THUNDERBOLTS), acclaimed writer/artist Gabriel Hardman (HULK, AGENTS OF ATLAS), red hot writer Corinna Bechko (HEATHENTOWN, FEAR ITSELF: THE HOMEFRONT), and Apes mega-scribe Daryl Gregory as they pit man versus ape. And with art from Gabriel Hardman, Carlos Magno (TRANSFORMERS), and John Lucas (UNCANNY X-FORCE), this is a special issue you won’t want to miss. Discover the untold stories of the PLANET OF THE APES, with stories spanning from the first human rebellion, to Ape society’s glorious renaissance, to a simple story of a boy and his pet human. There’s something for every Apes fan in this Annual!

story by Jeff Parker
art by Gabriel Hardman
published by Boom! Studios

One of the best license based books on the market today. Smart stories. Great art. Intelligent dialog. It’s all there for you and here’s you chance to jump into the ape fun. Even if you’re not a traditional movie apes fan, this book separates itself with the awesome stories it has presented to us thus far.

Beasts of Burden: Neighborhood Watch (One Shot)

Adventure, mystery, horror, and humor thrive on every page of the Eisner z Beasts of Burden. The four-legged occult-investigating team-a heroic gang of dogs and one cat-are doing their best to protect their home, Burden Hill, from a chicken-stealing goblin, a frightful basilisk, and a strange lost herd of sheep! This special one-shot reprints three stories from Dark Horse Presents! Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson return to the characters that won them the 2005 Eisner Award for Best Short Story!

story by Evan Dorkin
art by Jill Thompson
Published by Dark Horse Comics

Great stuff here. Contributing to the awesome-ness is that it features intelligent dogs! Join the adventures as this special pack of canines sets out to make things right in the world they inhabit. Highest recommendation.

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe #1

What if everthing you thought was funny about Deadpool…was actually just disturbing? What if he decided to kill everyone and everything that makes up the Marvel Universe? What if he actually pulled it off? Would that be FUN for you? The Merc with a Mouth takes a turn for the twisted in a weekly horror comic like no other…

story by Cullen Bunn
art by Dalibor Talajic
published by Marvel Comics

Deadpool has long been the “Bugs Bunny” of the Marvel Universe. In this tale we get a look at him if he took a darker turn. So much so that he becomes a strait up homicidal maniac and decides to kill everyone in his shared world. Join me in reading this twist on what has traditionally been a goofball character.

Deadworld: War of the Dead #1

Special All-new 5-part weekly series returns what has been called the forefather of all zombie comics! The undead have overrun the Earth! A small outpost, remnants of a twisted scientists’ scheme to defeat the plague, holds out against the army of King Zombie with their secret weapon, the Lepers-victims of a bizarre experiment that left them with dead flesh in breathing husks with flesh that even zombies won’t touch.

story by Gary Reed
art by Sami Makkonen
published by IDW Publishing

Deadworld has a long history. There are a wealth of previous tales that stand testimony to the staying power of this franchise. If you like undead tales with a twist, I highly suggest that you give this a try.

First X-Men #1

X-Men legend Neal Adams returns to Marvel’s Mutants! The secret history of the X-Men…BEFORE Xavier’s team! Starring Wolverine & Sabretooth!

story by Christos Gage & Neal Adams
art by Neal Adams
published by Marvel Comics

I can honestly say I’ve never seen this particular part of X-Men lore. For most of us it started with Xavier’s school and his family of mutant teenagers. This book promises to tell us how certain mutants survived before they had a nice school to go to. I’m all in! Plus we get Adams and Gage!

Harvest #1

Intended for Mature Readers
Human traffickers. Rogue medical teams. Yakuza run organ mills and a six year-old drug fiend. Welcome to Dr. Benjamin Dane’s nightmare. His only way out? Bring down the man who set him up by reclaiming organs already placed in some very powerful people. If Dexter, ER and 100 Bullets had a three-way and that mind blowing tryst somehow resulted in a kid, that kid would read HARVEST. Medical Grade Revenge.

story by A. J. Lieberman
art by Colin Lorimer
published by Image Comics

A different kind of comic in every way. If tights and flights aren’t your thing and your looking for something more grounded, than give this a try. It’s more of a TV horror crime thriller than your traditional comic book faire.

Hawkeye #1

Matt Fraction & David Aja (IMMORTAL IRON FIST) reunite to tell the ongoing tales of Avenger Clint Barton. He’s on the mean streets of New York City to do what he can to help people.

story by Matt Fraction
ast by David Aja
published by Marvel Comics

Hawkeye has always been a cool character. Not only because he just uses a now and arrow, but also because he really has no super powers to speak of. Additionally, you can always count on a Hawkeye book to give you high adventure and certain amount of humor.

Infected #1

Intended for Mature Readers
A riveting adaptation of Book One of the New York Times best-selling horror trilogy by Scott Sigler! Chad Minshew brings to life the story of a mysterious disease that turns ordinary people into paranoid, raving murderers. Former all-pro linebacker Perry Dawsey awakens to find mysterious welts growing on his body. Soon after, strange voices start whispering, telling him to do horrible things. He is infected. The disease wants something from Perry, something that could alter the fate of the human race.

story by Chad Minshew & Scott Sigler
art by Chad Minshew
published by IDW Publishing

This was a New York Time best seller. It’s a creepy tale that details the horrors of what normal people do after being infected by a horrible disease. If you like Stephen King type horror this might be the book for you.

Think Tank #1

story MATT HAWKINS art / cover RAHSAN EKEDAL & BRIAN REBER FIGHTING THE MAN… WITH SCIENCE! Dr. David Loren is many things: child prodigy, inventor, genius, slacker… mass murderer. When a military think tank’s smartest scientist decides he can no longer stomach creating weapons of destruction, will he be able to think his way out of his dilemma or find himself subject to the machinations of smaller men?

story by Matt Hawkins
art by Rahsan Ekedal & Brian Reber
published by Image Comics

Here’s a completely different type of story for you. What happens when a person who is hired for his genius in order to create weapons, but then grows a conscience all of a sudden. For a completely original story this may be tailor made to you.

Original Article

Up this week: National Comics: Eternity #1, Axe Cop: President of the World #1, Debris #1, Everybody Loves Tank Girl #1, Irresistible #1 & Star Wars: Darth Maul - Death Sentence #1.

[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”212”] The Big One for July 25th[/caption]

*** National Comics: Eternity #1***

An exciting new series of stand-alone comics that feature unique takes on classic characters! JEFF LEMIRE (ANIMAL MAN) and CULLY HAMNER (RED) bring a contemporary approach to the hero we used to know as KID ETERNITY! Can introverted medical examiner Kid Eternity solve a deadly crime in just 24 hours.

story by Jeff Lemire
art by Cully Hamner
published by DC Comics

This had to be The Big One. It has a tremendous amount of things going for it. I’ll just list them here and let you decide whether or not it’s in your clutches this coming Wednesday:

1. Jeff Lemire is a proven storyteller. Both in the shorter three or four part story arc, superhero type stories as well as the long form, written for trade paperback, and collected editions type stories. He’s a solid writer. I love his work both from Animal Man and Sweet Tooth.
2. Artist Cully Hamner is very much a writer’s artist. Look at his last couple creative projects and you will see a who’s who of comic illuminati. (Rucka, Robinson, Ellis, Giffen).
3. This is a new line of book from DC comics but under the National imprint. DC comics has set this up for different creative takes on familiar characters. You not only get the first issue in a series, you also get the first issue from an imprint. This does not mean you will be able to sell it on eBay 10 years from now and pay off your mortgage. It’s just kind of a cool feeling when you get in on the ground floor of something.
4. STAND ALONE STORIES! This is a big one for me. I want more single issue, one and done comics out there. I feel an all inclusive tale has a way better chance of being adopted by magazine and book readers. Way more than the serial format that dominates the market now.

I know! HUGE! Right? Give it a try!

Axe Cop: President of the World #1

Axe Cop has been appointed president of the whole world! But what will Axe Cop and his friends do in a world with no bad guys? Look to defeat the bad guys from outer space, of course! Written by 8-year-old Malachai Nicolle and drawn by his 31-year-old brother Ethan Nicolle, Axe Cop is commander in chief of hilarious adventures as only a kid could imagine!

story by Malachai Nicolle
art by Ethan Nicolle
published by Dark Horse Comics

Hysterical idea. Take a real little kid, have him tell you only what a child’s mind can imagine, and put his great ideas right down into the page of a comic. I know you probably can’t remember what your imagination was capable of when you were a little kid, but take it from a parent, it’s usually awesome! Add to that the fact that there’s a 28 year difference between 8 year old writer and his 31 year old brother and that only helps warm the heart as well as putting a smile on your face.

Debris #1

INTENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES!

In the far future, humanity has doomed planet earth to rot and decay, covering her surface with garbage. Now, ancient spirits called the Colossals rise from the debris and attack the remaining survivors, forcing the human race to the brink of extinction. One warrior woman, Maya, sets out to find the last source of pure water to save the world before the monsters bring it all to an end.

story by Kurtis J. Wiebe
art by Riley Rossmo
published by Image Comics

It seems like huge monsters from the deep has almost become its own genre now. I have said in the past that I was a Godzilla fan as a wee little Noob, and I think that may be the reason why I got into sci if, and fantasy stories in the first place. I don’t exactly know how the author will approach this tale but I do know that I’ll give the creators a chance to catch my eye. Please join me.

Everybody Loves Tank Girl #1

INTENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES!

A heart-shaped box of Tank Girl delights: peer inside The Tank; gasp at The Annual Swearing Competition; cheer as our heroes rip it up in The Automatic Psychedelic Hand-Grenade Crowbar &%$@-Storm Massacre; and wonder why the hell anyone would choose Tank Girl as a babysitter. All you need is love. All you need is Tank Girl.

story by Alan Martin
art by Jim Mahfood
published by Titan Comics

Once upon a time there was a comic book named Tank Girl. It was a solid book with a solid indie following. This concept was then realized for film in 1995. You may or may not have seen it. I have seen it. The comic is a good read. Tank Girl lives in a future apocalyptic world, and she has her own vintage tank!

I have chosen to bite down hard on my lip because my co-host X is a huge fan of this film. “Greatest Comic Movie of All Time,” he said. And not just to me. To distinguished company as well! I wish I would’ve known this before he made this foible public. I could’ve had an intervention or something. We could’ve buried it somehow. I am so flabbergasted at this perceived elevation of the movie in question, but to the resulting degradation of the other, much better, comic movies.. like Superman 5 and Popeye! Well we all have to live with it now. So instead of writing more on this book, I’ll just bite my lip like I said and keep my thoughts to ….. OOPS! Like I said. It was a good book.

… Here we go again …
The comic and movie where both excellent! If you want to learn more about my opinions of comic book movies, check out The Reel Deal from Alt3red Egos. If you want to hear the metaphorical pin hitting the floor and my “supposed” faux paus, then listen to The Real Deal – The Avengers. Remember – True genius is often misunderstood. Greatness is seldom recognized in one’s own generation. In other words, go read this comic and see why I should be exonerated. Naomi Watts with black hair, HELLO!
- X

Irresistible #1

INTENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES!

The brand new series from the mind behind the Wonderland trilogy, FLY and the Waking BEGINS HERE!!!

Allen Keeg was your average middle age heart broken sap who just went through the worst break up in his life. That was a year ago. Since then Allen’s been having trouble getting back into the swing of things. But all that’s about to change. When Allen saves an old woman from being mugged he will be given an amazing supernatural ability that will change his whole life. But is the gift of being irresistible to every woman he meets a gift or a dreadful curse.

story by Raven Gregory
art by Sean Chen
published by Zenescope

This new comic book “Irresistible” from Zenescope promises to tell us how it feels to be.. Well.. Umm.. “irresistible” to the opposite sex. Their solicit questions us “Would it be a blessing or a curse”? I have to go curse on this one. The entire “opposite sex” label is just too encompassing! Man or woman. Just go through the list of people in your head. All the people that you see from on a typical weekday. Now imagine all of them (Men or women) trying to be with you. Let’s face it folks. Each of us has our own aesthetic, and how many times in a day,.. Check that. How many times in a month do you see someone who think is truly attractive to you? And if you’re in a committed relationship? Forget it. All that being said, I’m curious to see what direction Zenescope takes with this.

Star Wars: Darth Maul - Death Sentence #1

By now the galaxy has learned the terrible truth: Sith Lord Darth Maul still lives. Worse, he has joined forces with his brother Savage Opress! The Jedi are searching for them and, after Maul and Opress cut a murderous swath through the Outer Rim, so is an army of mercenaries hired by a wealthy mine owner. Darth Maul has a price on his head, and for him there is only one way to deal with such a problem: go directly to the source! This is a direct follow-up to the events in the television series The Clone Wars!

story by Tom Taylor
art by Bruno Redondo
published by Dark Horse Comics

If you’re a Clone Wars fan, or know one, then get this book for them. Now I can only hope, that when the series ended, the producers included a “Continued in ..” advertisement.

Original Article

Up this week: Concrete: Three Easy Pieces, Captain Marvel #1, Danger Girl - G.I. Joe #1 (of 4), Finding Gossamyr #1 & Jennifer Blood Annual #1.

[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”212”]The Big One for July 18th[/caption]

*** Concrete: Three Easy Pieces***

One of the medium’s all-time greats is back in this collection of Concrete stories from the relaunched Dark Horse Presents! In three new adventures, the most human of heroes intervenes in a burglary that turns out to be much more, investigates a possible sighting of the aliens who gave him his rocky body, and develops an alternative to the Taser: himself. This issue strikes the perfect balance of inviting stories for new readers and character development for longtime fans.

story by Paul Chadwick
art by Paul Chadwick
published by Dark Horse Comics

It’s a character that’s been around a long time, like I said, and here’s your chance to get in on the fun. If you do end up loving this then there are volumes of back stories for you to gobble up.

Captain Marvel #1

SHE’S BACK! The ‘Mightiest’ of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! Ace pilot. Legendary Avenger. 100% pure bad-a$$. Carol Danvers has a new name, a new mission … and all the power she needs to make her life a living hell. Guest starring Captain America.

story by Kelly Sue DeConnick
art by Dexter Soy
published by Marvel Comics

No shrinking violet here! Carol Danvers is possibly the strongest female lead in comics today. Smart, independent, and can kick your ass if you get out of line. On top of that, she’s a card carrying Avenger.

Danger Girl/G.I. Joe #1 (of 4)

The two most incredible covert action teams the world has ever known-so covert, in fact, that neither knows the other exists-are meeting for the first time ever! Repeat: Danger Girl and G.I. JOE, together. Spies! Girls! Ninjas! COBRA! If your head did not just explode, then you are one of the lucky few remaining that will live to enjoy a summer blockbuster you’ll have to see to believe!

story by Andy Hartnell
art by John Royce
publsihed by Dynamite Entertainment

Finally! The event I know… Someone has been waiting for! (I kid). Here’s another example of the kind of book I’m looking to feature in this weekly article. Two different franchise fans that may not even know the other exists, but now they all get chance to sample each other.

Finding Gossamyr #1

The hit Free Comic Book Day series continues here. When a brilliant young boy named Denny solves the most perplexing puzzle in the history of mankind, he and his caretaker sister, Jenna, are transported to the fantastic land of Gossamyr, where math is magic and the boy’s unique condition gives him incredible power.

story by David Rodriguez
art by Sarah Ellerton
published by Th3rd World Studios

Never forget we need to bring as many children as possible to the comic book table. When you go in the shop this week, grab this for a kid in your life.

Jennifer Blood Annual #1

The year is 1987, and Jennifer Blood doesn’t exist yet. Neither does Jen Fellows. Instead, there’s only Jessica Blute, daughter of Sam Blute, six years old going on seven and very happy in her world… even though it’s about to come to an end.

story by Al Ewing
art by Marcos Marz
published by Dynamite Entertainment

The Jennifer Blood story continues with this look back at a brand new aspect of this Ennis opus. If you are curious about this “title that could”, this might be where you can take a peek!

Original Article

Up this week: Eerie Comics #1, Adventure Time Marceline Scream Queens #1, Battle Beasts #1, The Crow #1, Deathstroke #11, Enormous #1, Long Ranger: Snake of Iron #1, Punk Rock Jesus #1 & Revival #1.

[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”212”] The Big One for July 11th[/caption]

*** Eerie Comics #1***

Uncle Creepy’s been having all the fun in Dark Horse’s revival of classic Warren magazines, so now it’s Cousin Eerie’s turn! The terrifying treasury of sinister sci-fi and fearsome fantasy returns with two all-new stories to thrill and chill, plus a classic reprint! First up is a dose of robotic paranoia from red-hot writer/artist David Lapham, followed by way-too-close encounters from Creepy veteran Christopher Taylor! Your trip to the comics store is about to get a lot more horrifying!

story by Daniel Laphamn & Christopher A. Taylor
art by Daniel Lapham & Rafa Garres
published by Dark Horse Comics

This is a great horror anthology series that was born in the sixties and now is being written for our time. Additionally, you get to see the difference in the tales, because we’re also getting a story from the original run! Turn off the lights and give this book a look.

Adventure Time Marceline Scream Queens #1

JOIN FAN-FAVORITE CHARACTERS MARCELINE AND PRINCESS BUBBLEGUM FOR RIOT GRRL ROCK-FUELED EXCITEMENT IN THIS BRAND-NEW ADVENTURE TIME MINI-SERIES! Thanks to a newfound interest in music, Princess Bubblegum joins Marceline’s paranormal rock band for a tour across the land of Ooo! But when they’re threatened by everything from scenesters to beasts born of self-doubt, can they make it to the RADDEST GIG EVER in time?! Written and drawn by acclaimed cartoonist Meredith Gran (OCTOPUS PIE) and featuring a back-up story from Jen Wang (KOKO BE GOOD), with variant covers by rockstar lady cartoonists Chynna Clugston (BLUE MONDAY), Ming Doyle (POPGUN), and Colleen Coover (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS)! ADVENTURE TIME #1 and #2 were INSTANT SELL OUTS! DON’T MISS OUT ON THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF THIS ALL-AGES PHENOMENON!

story by Meredith Gran & Jen Wang
art by Chynna Clugston & Jen Bennett
published by Boom! Studios

Noob is currently working on the Noob’s eye view of this title so check back soon. X hates this cartoon … er, uhm, doesn’t watch it, so he doesn’t have anything constructive to add here just now.

Battle Beasts #1

It’s just another average day for Bliss, an ignored linguist at the Department of Defense. However, when Bliss unlocks the secret translation of an ancient scroll, terror rains from the sky… in the form of the BATTLE BEASTS! Unstoppable creatures armed to the teeth, the Battle Beasts are determined to make Earth their own personal war zone. Nothing can stop their merciless carnage. Nothing except perhaps a gentle word from the one woman who can understand them-Bliss!

story by Bobby Curnow
art by Valerio Schiti
published by IDW Publishing

I know nothing about Battle Beasts. I was too old for the toys when they came out, and I kind of lump this franchise in with a lot of others that started out as toys, and then got half hour commercials disguised as TV shows, and then actually culled out a fan base. Not for me. But if you’re a fan than jump right in and good on ya!

The Crow #1

THE CROW is reborn-in Tokyo. Can a dark spirit fight for the light? THE CROW has always done just that-striking from the shadows, a kind of shadow himself. The spirit of the Crow is back, transfiguring Jamie Osterberg, an American studying in Tokyo and deeply in love with his Japanese girlfriend, Yumi … until the love of his life is stolen. The Crow must once more make the wrong thing right-but this time he might have to do it by killing his own true love.

story by John Shirley
art by Kevin Colden
published by IDW Publishing

Let’s face it. The Crow franchise will forever be cursed to be known as the movie that Bruce Lee’s son was shot to death during filming. It’s too bad. The movie itself was better than a lot of people think, and this really is a solid story. I would have no problem recommending this book.

Deathstroke #11

DEATHSTROKE, ZEALOT and the OMEGAS vs. LOBO! LOBO locates his cache of weaponry aboard the crashed STARPOINT cruiser and attempts to activate the ship’s WORLD BREAKER protocol!

story by Rob Liefeld
art by Rob Liefeld
published by DC Comics

If there is any book in DC that is better fodder for being given the Liefeld treatment, I don’t know about it. I’m a big Lobo fan because his whole concept is “Superman as a really pissed off biker”.

Enormous #1

In the midst of a planetary battle for food and fuel, a vast ecological cataclysm spawns THE ENORMOUS, massive beasts unlike anything ever witnessed. Humankind struggles to stave off extinction and the only law is to hunt or be hunted. It’s an epic action adventure featuring the survival of the biggest!

story by Tim Daniel
art by Tim Daniel
published by Image Comics

Fun! This is a perfect example of the kind of fun I look to read all the time. Ravaged world. Struggling Survivors. GIGANTIC monsters running around. One comic. One fun and complete story.

The Lone Ranger: Snake of Iron #1

The Ranger and Tonto are in the crossfire as a bloody Kiowa uprising draws these western legends onto the warpath. The Spirit Horse has returned to the plains and calling the tribes to battle. Is this a ghostly apparition or something else? If the Lone Ranger cannot solve the mystery then the land north of the Brazos will run red with blood!

story by Chuck Dixon
art by Esteve Polls
published by Dynamite Entertainment

Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE Westerns. Imagine today that a Police officer hears shots in a bar. He runs in and sees a man with a gun standing over the dead body of another man with a gun. The man who obviously did the killing says “He called me a liar, so we went for our irons”. The officer asks the patrons if that’s what happened, and the patrons all say “yes”. The man is free to go (or stay and drink more!) after paying the bartender for cleanup. It’s just the simplicity of that era that fascinates me. Revenge was also legal. The Lone Ranger proves the old adage that if you are going to kill a group of men, then you better make sure you kill all of them.

Punk Rock Jesus #1

The newest reality show hit has the unlikeliest celebrity of all in this new black and white miniseries from writer/artist Sean Murphy (JOE THE BARBARIAN, Off Road)! J2, the TV series starring a clone of Jesus Christ, causes chaos across a near-future United States in PUNK ROCK JESUS, a new miniseries written and drawn by Sean Murphy, the acclaimed illustrator of JOE THE BARBARIAN and AMERICAN VAMPIRE: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. J2 causes outrage and adulation. Religious zealots either love or hate the show, angry politicians worry about its influence on the nation, and members of the scientific community fear the implications of cloning a human being at all - let alone the Son of God. And what effect will this all have on Gwen, the young woman who is selected, through an American Idol-style process, to be the mother of the new Messiah? All this leads to the hiring of Thomas McKael, the clone’s bodyguard and a former IRA operative with a turbulent past who must protect the new Messiah - a baby who captivates the world, but grows up to become an angry teenager.

story by Sean Murphy
art by Sean Murphy
published by Vertigo

It’s called PUNK ROCK JESUS! That’s all you should really have to know. PUNK - ROCK - JESUS!

Revival #1

For one day in rural central Wisconsin, the dead came back to life. Now it’s up to Officer Dana Cypress to deal with the media scrutiny, religious zealots, and government quarantine that has come with them. In a town where the living have to learn to deal with those who are supposed to be dead, Officer Cypress must solve a brutal murder, and everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect. A beautiful ‘farm noir’ that puts a new twist on the zombie genre, created by NYT Bestselling author TIM SEELEY and acclaimed artist MIKE NORTON.

story by Tim Seeley
art by Mike Norton
published by Image Comics

For one day in rural central Wisconsin, the dead came back to life. Now it’s up to Officer Dana Cypress to deal with the media scrutiny, religious zealots, and government quarantine that has come with them. In a town where the living have to learn to deal with those who are supposed to be dead, Officer Cypress must solve a brutal murder, and everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect. A beautiful ‘farm noir’ that puts a new twist on the zombie genre, created by NYT Bestselling author TIM SEELEY and acclaimed artist MIKE NORTON.
Yes. It is another zombie book. BUT it’s a great new take on the genre. On top of that, this is a great creative crew and I think you’ll find yourself pleasantly satisfied.

Original Article