Yesterday resulted in a severe bank breaking visit to my local comic shop, the esteemed Graham Cracker’s Comics of Chicago (who happen to come up 3rd on Google when you search ‘comic books’ btw!). I had not set foot in the store since early December so to say my appetite was voracious was an understatement. I have a steady stream of books that get pulled but I sought out some new titles to accent the already colorful stack. As many readers know, we are a critical bunch but its also our peers’ opinions that help fuel our own about what constitutes a good book. I have put great stock in the recommendations of both Shane and Nick at the Lincoln Park store and must admit half this list exists because of them.

Stephen King’s The Dark Tower: Battle of Jericho Hill

First up is one of my favorite ongoing “mini-series” and for the life of me I hate that I can’t wait for the hardcover versions of each installment to release. I am speaking of the seemingly endless Dark Tower series based on the half-ton tome by Stephen King. For years, writers Peter David and King’s archivist Robin Furth have created one of the more compelling mythologies along with the incredibly nuanced work of Jae Lee and Richard Isanove. Right now, the series is midway through the Battle of Jericho Hill, which marks the triumphant return of Jae Lee (whose meticulous pace has sometimes crippled the release schedule of the book in the past) . Since the Gunslinger Reborn, this series has been nothing short of a work of art, with appendixes and sketchbooks in the back of nearly every (too short) issue. The lore of Gilead and the sons of Gunslingers is teeming with sinister magic, love and betrayal and moral choices at every turn that you’d think King was writing it himself. In fact, all of these stories stand alone from the novels but are born from his story bible by Ms. Robin Furth and then approved by King. The result is pure visual poetry.

As if one Stephen King book weren’t enough, there is the other epic adaptation of the ultimate apocalypse odyssey: The Stand: Soul Survivors is the third itteration in the maxi series format (again likely in order to fend off shipping deadlines). Having read the 1,100+ page opus, its so satisfying to see wunderkind artist Mike Perkins make all the locations and characters come to life as they were described with an unsettling accuracy. The journey of Larry Underwood, Franny, Mother Abagail and the others to face off with the ever-evil Randall Flagg is one worth taking in either format, but to see it without Gary Sinese chewing up the scenery makes it all the better.

As I stated above, Marvel is certainly making good decisions with its literary adaptations. Adding to that roster is The Marvelous Land of Oz. Right off the heels of the NY Times best-selling “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (now available in hardcover), the aimless quest of Tip, Jack Pumpkinhead, the Animated Saw-Horse is the best all-ages fun in comics today. Every page jumps to life with whimsical art and crisp dialogue. The Marvelous Land of Oz is based on Baum’s second book, which never featured Dorothy, yet keeps the Tin Man and Scarecrow and a few other familar faces in the mix. Oz is written by Eric Shanower (who us vets remember as the incredible artist of The Elsewhere Prince maxi-series based on the strip by Moebius) and is fleshed out by the incredibly talented and stylized Skottie Young. It is a book that must been seen to be believed. If you have any sort of affection for the Wizard of Oz, Baum’s books or even the sinister Return to Oz, this is for you.

And now for something completely different:  When I walked into the store yesterday and asked Nick and Shane what was getting their blood running, they pointed me to the back wall to pick up both trade paperback volumes of Mark Waid and Peter Krause’s Irredeemable. I nearly only bought the first one and am now extremely grateful that I had a second trade to pound through. Waid has proven time and time again that he is deserving of those Eisner Awards on his desk and the tale of the vengeful Plutonian is possibly his best work to date. This vicious, dark and extremely violent book from Boom! Studios gives any of Alan Moore’s  dysfunctional super hero work a run for its money. What happens when an invincible super hero is done being a hero and decides he can do whatever he wants? He keeps you reading. By far my favorite book in a loooong time. You might as well pick these up and wait for Vol. 3 because it has completely disappeared off the shelves.

Until the next pull!  (In which I take on SIEGE, The New Avengers, Blackest Night one shots and why Ulitmate Comics Spider-Man Vol. 2 might be the best Webhead/ X-men book ever…)

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.