A bunch of number one issues…
BETTY & VERONICA #1: Well, here comes Archie Comics…once again with a new take on some very old characters. This time around, it’s everyone’s favorite gal pals, Betty and Veronica. What makes this different from their portrayal in the horror line and their portrayal in either ARCHIE or JUGHEAD is that this is the work of the amazing Adam Hughes. It looks tremendous! I could just go through this book and not READ IT! Once you get down to the story, that’s pretty cool too. We get the usual cast of characters, but also get narration from J. Farnsworth Wigglebottom III, also known as Jughead’s dog Hot Dog. That’s right: the dog is the narrator. It also has enough sense to be able to make fun of itself too. And, if you’re a die hard, you need to go find all 24 covers by such luminaries as Stephanie Buscema, Cliff Chiang, Rebekah Isaacs, Moritat, and Ryan Sook.
CIVIL WAR II: Welcome to Marvel’s newest “sequel” of sorts. This is the newest “Earth shaking event” in the Marvel Universe that will lead into a bunch of major events this fall including DEAD NO MORE and DEATH OF X. More importantly, it leads into the new era of Marvel Now this October. So…here is an Inhuman named Ulysses who can see the possible future and Captain Marvel and her camp decide that he could be a powerful tool in keeping the world safe. In the process, a mission is run against Thanos with deadly consequences. War Machine is killed and She-Hulk is critically injured, leading to a split between Carol’s camp and Tony Stark’s. Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez are the architects of this series that also features (SPOILER) the death of Bruce Banner and the rumored death of Tony Stark. As events go, it’s an interesting one.
DARK KNIGHT RETURNS-THE LAST CRUSADE: Frank Miller, Brian Azzarello, and John Romita Jr. combine for this one shot that acts as a prequel to THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. Regular Batman villains including Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, and The Joker all show up, as does Selina Kyle. In fact, this does a great job of tying Batman mythology to this book with references to the death of Jason Todd. Romita’s art is typical Romita and Miller works nicely with Azzarello to tell a short, concise and pretty cool tale. In fact, I enjoyed this more than I have been enjoying the newest DARK KNIGHT epic.
THE FLINTSTONES #1: First off-this is NOT your father’s FLINTSTONES. As part of the rebooted Hanna Barbera line, Mark Russell and Steve Pugh brings us THE FLINTSTONES. And, like the rest of the line, this is a long way from the cartoons we know. Beginning at a museum in the present day, we travel back to Bedrock 100,000 years ago and meet Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty and Mr. Slate. Or specifically these new versions of them. The story was fun, but not funny, if you get my drift. What I really loved was all the Bedrock takes on modern businesses such as TarPit, Spears and Roebuck, the Outback Snakehouse and the Wammoth Bammoth Thank you Mammoth. This was such a fun read that I can’t wait for issue #2.
GROO FRAY OF THE GODS #1: This is a dream book if you are a fan of this classic warrior! Sergio Aragones, Mark Evanier, Tom Luth and Stan Sakai combine to bring us the continuing adventures of the most feared warrior of all time. The book is fun, funny and filled with jokes and sight gags galore. This is an amazing effort that looks great and is a nice joy to sit back and read and not have to use a ton of brain matter to figure out a plot. Highly recommended!
LADY KILLER 2 #1: Everyone’s favorite housewife assassin is back in this wonderful mini-series from Joelle Jones and Michelle Madsen. This first series was a wonderful 1960’s tale of blood and intrigue and this second arc is no different. Tupperware saleslady by day and then murderer by night, this story rocks! And Madsen’s art is wonderfully grotesque. Let’s put it this way: the book’s first killing is amazing, gory and…just really, REALLY disturbing.
MIDNIGHT OF THE SOUL #1: Howard Chaykin is back! And he brings with him his favorite bits in the form of a troubled lead character, sex, intrigue and offensive language and actions. With a BLACK KISS feel to it and a slight AMERICAN FLAGG look to it, Chaykin brings us the story of a World War II vet turned writer that is in a failing marriage with a wife with moral issues. Chaykin remains one of the most dynamic, although not prolific, storytellers of my generation and this issue proves that he is not looking to stop any time soon. His work is not for everyone, but if you’re a fan of his work, this is a must read.
ROM #1: The classic toy turned comic hero is back in a new series from IDW. Christos Gage and Chris Ryall write it while David Messina illustrated it and it brings Rom into the IDW Universe. The space knight, misunderstood though he is, is here to hunt the Dire Wraiths, who have already made themselves a part of the Earth population. And, after a full length issue filled with crazy action and confusing plot points, the issue ends with the G.I. Joes showing up. For me, it’s one and done. The story was predictable and the art was just okay.
THE SHADOW-THE DEATH OF MARGO LANE #1: Here’s everything you need to know about this book in two words: MATT WAGNER. Besides this being a great take on a classic character, it’s a complete Matt Wagner effort. He wrote it and illustrated it and it looks so amazing! I have long been a fan of Wagner, so this was a no-brainer for me. And I’ve also been a huge fan of The Shadow since the reprint paperbacks of the Seventies came out. Yeah…this was a no-brainer for me. This is a highly recommended series because it looks great, reads like a pulp novel, and is just a whole lot of fun!
SNOTGIRL #1: Yeah…that’s what it’s called-SNOTGIRL! It’s Brian Lee O’Malley. You may not know that name but if you have any kind of connection to SCOTT PILGRIM, you know his work. Leslie Hung is the artist on the book, which is about a pretty vapid fashion blogger. I was immediately intrigued because it WAS O’Malley. But the book left me cold. I don’t like the character or any of the supporting cast. While O’Malley’s characterizations are wonderful, I just don’t like the characters. Maybe if I was a 13 year old girl…
WACKY RACELAND #1: Hey kids: all the characters from this classic television cartoon are here in this wacky DC take on these Hanna Barbera creations. Oh yeah: it’s set in a post-Apocalyptic future and it’s pretty hardcore. Yeah, we get Penelope Pitstop and Dick Dastardly (with Muttley), the Ant Hill Mob, the Gruesome Twosome, the Slag Brothers and more. Ken Portac is the writer with art from the always-amazing Leonardo Manco. It’s blood, death, crazy monsters, and killer characters. We also get a back-up, by the same creative team, set in the days before the great race. Like the rest of the new Hanna Barbera line, this is an amazing twist that is just a hoot to read.
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