Powers #3

In this 3rd iteration of Brian Michael Bendis’ ongoing super hero cop drama, the full impact of the reveal of Walker’s immortal status is front and center.  If you are even remotely a fan of Bendis and Oeming’s previous work, so far this seems to be on point with their better runs of the past.  And besides, you got to love this preview quote:

Walker’s past has come to bite him right in his ##$! big time and it’s going to take a @#$@#$ and a $@#$@ to get him out of the !@$#@#$@$@$@.

Batman & Robin #10

This book has been shipping like a mofo lately and overall the quality has been pretty high.  The rotating artists have all been on point and besides Rucka’s Detective, is really the only Bat-title worth reading.  Starting this issue we get to see how Bruce Wayne comes back Captain America style.

Rob’s Picks

Greek Street TPB

This one looks to be worth your buy. Peter Milligan’s been impressing me since The Books Of Magic back in the 90s, and a the cover alone makes me want this book. Says the publisher,

“Boasting a “Greek Chorus” of sexy strippers, vengeful gangsters, a murderous youth and a disturbed clairvoyant teenaged girl, GREEK STREET is Peter Milligan’s reimagining of the brutal and visceral tragedies of Ancient Greece played out on the mean streets of modern-day London. This first paperback collects issues #1-5 of the provocative new series.”

Captain Swing #2

I really dug the first issue of this new Ellis series, even with it’s uneven pacing and slow start. It’s got all the joy of most of Ellis’ work – pathos, violence, dark humor. Oh, and tesla-punk goodness written into every page, drawn into every panel by Raulo Caceres. Pick up issue two while you can — I think this is going to be a success.

Professor’s Pick

Stephen King’s “N” #1
Story: Marc Guggenheim
Art: Alex Maleev

This fascinating tale from King has had an odd evolution as a medium. Many comics start out on paper, before being transformed for the mediums of Internet or video. But “N” started out as a novella from one of King’s collections. It then was turned into an animated webisode back in 2008. The use of motion and voice-over made for an eerie experience. It was even released on DVD as a promotional. Flash-foward to the present and it is being released as the standard comic format, same graphics and text. Guggenheim does promise more in his prologue and there is indeed a few extra pages of story and art not released before. Overall, this is the type of psychological horror we’ve come to enjoy from King.

Tyler’s Picks

Ultimate Spider-man #8

I had mentioned in our now defunct Pull List that I was going to make a case that Ultimate Spiderman Vol.2 is the best Marvel book on the shelves. Bendis’s reinvigortated relaunch turns the mythos on its ass with Peter juggling the hottest chicks in school, being the little guy, and also confiding his biggest secret in his friends, said girlfriends and even Aunt May. In fact, this is almost a team book with Johnny Storm and Bobby Drake living with Peter and Aunt May thus creating the ultimate super-hero sleepover. Throw in a very active and angry Kitty Pride and this mutant friendly book reads better than most X-men titles these days. Issue 8 introduces a new hero that is supposed to be kind of a big dea to the Ultimate universel. In honor of the teeny bopper feel I gotta say: Can’t Hardly Wait.

Justice League: The Rise and Fall Special #1

The fallout from Blackest Night and Cry for Justice has caused quite the rift down the center of DC premier team book and this is the exploration of the aftershock. The new ruthless attitude of our heroes seems to be causing waves of fear in the rogues gallery and James Robinson has never been known to pull punches with his script. There is rumor that Green Arrow is going to be changed forever in this book so for those that love the quiver, order this puppy now!

Haunt #5
I am a big McFarlane fan.  I have enjoyed him since Spawn #1.  Haunt follows more death and suspense in the usual McFarlane way.  This issues is “supposed” to end a story arc that has been running for four issues.  Really stoked for this one.

Rob’s Picks:
Since Chris stole my Choker pick, here’s where I”m landing this week:

Known for his covers, Jock takes his special techniques to inside art, complementing Jamie Delano’s return to the famous supernatural detective, John Constantine, in Hellblazer: Pandemonium. I don’t think I can wait all the way to Wednesday to check this one out.

Giving in to my inner child is tons of fun, and this week, I may check out what many folks are raving about: The Muppet Show Comic Book #2. Of course, my ACTUAL children will want to give this one a read, and I’ll probably pick up #1 while I’m at the shop, if they have it.

Tyler’s Picks:

This week is all about the sublime delineations of Frank Quietly and increasingly complex archetype adjustments by Grant Morrison.

Batman and Robin #8 might only have a Quietly cover, but new penciler Cameron Stewart is doing his best to keep the book looking good. With Damien down for the count and Dick Grayson finding out just how difficult it is wearing Bruce’s cowl and following his primal desires, this book has become the go-to spot for the ongoing evolution in the new Batman mythos. And seeing as Morrison is the bastard who killed Bruce Wayne, its only fitting we get excited to see what crawls out of the long lost Lazarus Pit beneath London town.

Staying true to form, my softcover graphic novel pick of the week is All-Star Superman Vol. 2. Instead of alienating both fans and casual readers like Frank Miller did with All Star Batman and Robin, Morrison actually deepens the Superman lore and gives it a fresh universal appeal. With a tapestry of subtle quests, Superman is faced with his own impending death and sets out to accomplish 12 significant tasks, ranging from creating life to fixing the Sun’s heart. Morrison and Quietly deliver on a massive level with thoughtful and brilliant storytelling. If you missed these in issue form, now is the time to pick up both volumes.

Mike’s Pick:

I know the Punisher has been done to death, but Jason Aaron’s take on the birth of the MAX universe version of the Kingpin is as fresh and entertaining as the Frankencastle pulp tale that Rick Remender is telling in the 616 universe.  Steve Dillon’s heavy and deliberate line work, that worked so well on Ennis’ Preacher run, is in full effect here.  All the violence and sex that the MAX line allows is fully exploited here by Aaron in telling a witty and intelligent tale of a possible origin of one of the criminal legends of the Marvel U.  Do not miss Punisher MAX #4.

What am I looking forward to this week? Well, since I’m putting together lists of upcoming comics, I notice those first. I have a perverse love for Buffy Season 8, the painted covers. The comics have always been, in my opinion, way better than the TV show (though I must admit I’ve only watched the first three seasons), and every week, I see these at the local shop and tend to lose my saving throw against “shiny” purchases. This week, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 #32: Twilight part 1 comes out and I may jump back into the series again.

Mass Effect Redemption is another draw, though I’ll probably skip it, even though I’m a big gamer, loved Mass Effect 1, and enjoyed the hell out of the little bit of Mass Effect 2 I got to play at a buddy’s house this past weekend. Game-based comics never really had much draw for me. I like the stories as they’re presented in-game, and tend to steer clear of novelizations and comic-book adaptations.

Doom Patrol #7? Hell yeah. Just the fact that I missed the first 6 books here makes me especially eager to check it out, and see what back issues the local shop has in the longboxes. I was a big Doom Patrol fan back when Grant Morrison picked up the series int eh mid-90s, and the fact that J.M. Matteis is part of this book is the main reason I’ll grab it. Moonshadow forever, right?

There’s no way I’ll miss a new Grant Morrison Batman storyline, especially after the amazing RIP series. Even though this is technically a last week’s release, I’m grabbing it this week. Cameron Stewart is the artist on this one, and as I’ve been folliwing him on Tiwtter, Im gonna have to check this one out. It’s the beginning of a new story, and has Batwoman in it. Can you go wrong there? I think not.

I’ve been a fan of Vertigo books from the way-back as well, and the new team up between Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan, Demo, has me fairly hot and heavy. Reading an interview with Wood, I was excited to learn that the book would have no ads, and would stick to the black and white, single story approach of the earlier indie book they put together. This one is on my must-read list, and you can get a preview of it right here.

On the digital side of things, I’ll continue my read-through of Ultimate Spider-Man over at Marvel Digital Comics. What a great deal that is, even though it’s limited to one publisher’s books, I’m getting a hell of ton of fun out of it.

I’ve also just grabbed the latest Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse off the PSN for my PSPGo – honestly, even if I never play a video game on the handheld console again, the digital comics and video player from the Playstation Network has made me a huge fan of the console and of Sony. While it’s not doing as well as Sony would like, I’m sure, the fact is that the PSP may be the best platform for digital comics I’ve seen, yet (though the iPhone has some serious competition for it, as well). Wormwood is a darkly humorous take on the juxtaposition between the supernatural and the mundane, filtered through the amazing and liquid artwork of Ben Templesmith, who also happens to be the writer. The PSP versions even have author commentary, like a DVD. Great stuff!