Mike’s Picks:

Nemesis #1

Although this territory has been tread a bit by Mark Waid in Irredeemable, Mark Millar gives us his take on the inverse scenario: the most powerful person in the world is pure evil.  Given the level of violence seen in his latest run on the Ultimate Avengers, and that this is an Icon book, the splatter level should be on 11.  Making this book a must have is the fact that Steve McNiven in on pencils, which after their team up on Civil War and Old Man Logan, bodes very well for the look of the book.

Scalped #36

Go ahead and just assume whenever there is a new Scalped book coming out it will make my list.  My favorite book of the last few years, this issue begins a new arc that delves into the character of ‘Shunka’, Red Crow’s right hand.  Red Crow gets into it and Shunka is sent in to clean it up.  I can’t heap enough praise on the execution of this title, from the writing to the art to the characterization, this is a book where the creators are at the peak of their craft.

Worth the money:

Amazing Spider-Man #624

As we get deeper into the ‘Gauntlet’ event, it is now clear this storyline turned out to be a tad different than I original imagined.  Unlike a 6-issue Sinister-Six storyline, this methodical approach to redefining Spidey’s classic list of villains is starting to feel a bit overly decompressed.  Waid is one of the better Spider-man writers and does a great job of handling this very special “they took our jobs” issue where Parker gets a taste of that 10% unemployment.  While you may or may not care for the 2.0 versions of these classic arch-enemies (and for the most part I do not), it’s the handling of the everyman Parker that makes this book work and has really been the saving grace since the OMD reboot.  The throw-back art by Paul Azaceta is very stylish and works well in most areas.

Save your receipt:

Ultimate Comics New Ultimates #1

Talk about putting a silk hat on a pig, what a waste of incredibly rendered Frank Cho art.  This guy is one of my favorite artists working today and his ability to draw T & A is legendary.  So much so, in fact, it seems that Jeff “I used to be a good writer” Loeb is relegating his script to serving Cho fastballs right across the plate and letting him draw everything in his wheelhouse.  Unfortunately, other than that, there is nothing here of note.  Same old dysfunctional group we saw Loeb do in Ultimates 3 and Ultimatum with the same lazy soap opera plots and navel gazing narrative that is just not entertaining.  If Ultimatum was supposed to wipe the slate clean for a new start, it’s ironic that the very author of that series doesn’t seem to get that point.  It’s sad that Marvel has seen fit to give the worst writer in comics two of the best artists (Cho & Adams).  If this was just a pin-up book, I would rate it higher.

Worth the cash:

Wolverine Weapon X #11

Ever wonder what The Terminator would be like if Jason Aaron wrote it?  Wonder no more.  Also, you get many pages of Captain America / Wolverine fan service where the recent hero worship WW2 Logan has for Steve Rogers is on display front and center.  I almost felt the wink to the audience as Logan brought Steve up to speed on his comings and goings since Cap was doing the dead thing.  For you evisceration fans out there, know that with a few nipples and f-bombs, this would have been a MAX title.   This issue also has Nightcrawler on designator driver duty during the super hero pub crawl.  And rounding all that out is some nicely embellished Ron Garney artwork and you have a quality offering here.  This was a fun book to read.

Save your reciept:

Spawn #196

To be perfectly honest, my interest in comics was already waning when Spawn #1 hit.  I always felt the concept of the character always outpaced the execution.  Great idea but never realized it’s potential.  When I saw that Todd McFarlane was ‘rebooting’ the title at issue #185, I was curious to see if maybe they were going to finally align the theory with actuality.  Short answer, “no”.  This is the same soup, just reheated.  The opening arc meandered for 11 issues that instead of reinventing the character just reset the board with new names and faces.  I have to give Todd some credit, the marketing got me to buy 11 issues, but this clumsy wrap up just gives us a Caucasian hero in the era of an African-American President (how groundbreaking) and re-calibrates the Spawn power set.  See you again at issue #312 when they try again.

Most comics come out on Wednesdays, from what we hear, so we figure we can start your new comics lust on Mondays. We’ll point you in the direction of books WE are interested in, and YOU can, in the comments below, let us know what YOU are interested in, k? This week, we’ve got plenty to get excited about.

Rob’s Picks

Fell: Feral City, Volume 1

Yeah, I already have this, but you need to get it right now. It’s Ben Templesmith AND fooking Warren Ellis, so you know it’s good. It’s better than good. It’s freaking must-own classic comic book goodness. The  melancholy of the colors and Templesmith’s crazy artistic sensibility mesh ever so perfectly with Warren Ellis’ traditional poignant insanity. If you don’t own this, grab it NOW before it goes out of print AGAIN.

Demo #2

I’m so enamored by the concept of this book – Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan get to revisit their zine-like black and white roots and have complete creative control over this book, including not allowing ads in it. The story in #1 was well told, paced well, and felt like a slice of life gone mysteriously supernatural. You’re doing yourself a disservice by not picking this one up on Wednesday.

Mike’s Picks

Invincible Iron Man #24

Matt Fraction is definitely one of the most talented writers working today, and he deserved the Eisner nod he got on his IIM relaunch (the 3rd in 15 years).  This is the last book before the new era of Tony Stark begins.  Fraction created a clever and entertaining ‘end of life’ storyline that comes to a close here, before we get the new suit, back to basics, no more ‘Extremis’, ‘Age of Heroes’ shellhead.  The question is, will he have redeemed himself after Civil War and World War Hulk?

The Boys #40

I’ve been reading this since it started, and after Garth Ennis got done ‘taking the piss’ on all the main DC and Marvel characters, and even a certain famous creator, he started to turn the book into a narrative about the internal struggle of shadow governments and how they utilize powered up d-bags.  While the quality of his satire has been hit and miss, lately the book has been pretty on target, especially coming off the ‘started strong and fizzled at the end’ spin-off “Herogasm”.  Finishing up the origins (if they are to be believed) of the Boys (and one Girl), a new arc has begun, this time looking to poke some fun at the Legion of Super Heroes.

Tyler’s Picks

Green Hornet #1

So a million years ago, our favorite fatty Southwest flier was hired to develop the Green Hornet screenplay for Hollywood. Cut to this week: Dynamite Entertainment has blown the dust off this puppy and is prepping 2 other A-list titles (Matt Wagner’s Year One and Brett Matthew’s The Green Hornet Strikes!) for release this spring. Smith’s script has been speculated on for years so hopefully the wait for a female Kato and revamped origin is worth the wait.  Here’s to hoping Smith’s writing is as taut as the the days on Daredevil and Green Arrow and not as indulgent as the recent run on Batman. With Seth Rogen’s GH movie approaching fast, we’ll soon know who deserved the paycheck.

Mass Effect Redemption #3

Okay, I admit. I have played waaaay too much of this game trying to get all the possible dialogue trees out of the deep soil of this Game of the Year contender. Mac Walters did a fine job on the RPG crafting characters that rival Farscape in breadth and this filler story is no exception. I would talk about it more, but I actually have to pick up the 3rd printing of Issue 1 and 2nd printing of #2 because its been frakking sold out since the dawn of the Reapers. Word is Liara collects Shepard’s remains, which turns me on because my Lesbo Cmmdr. Shepard and Liara got it on hardcore in the firs t game. Space sex FTW!

First Wave #1

The DC pulp universe is finally unveiled. Seems 2010 is the Year of Noir, with Marvel schucking a few similar titles (Spidey, etc.) but its the Doc Savage and Batman books that are looking gritty and nifty. With an alternate DCU sans supermen, mere mortals Doc Savage, Batman and the Spirit fight for the city’s allegiances and likely suffer much angony at the expense of Brian Azarello’s brilliant writing. It doesn’t hurt that Rags Morales is doing the scribbles for this one either. Here’s to hoping DC can launch a new A-list book that doesn’t end up lining the bird cages (Ahem…”Trinity?”)

Scalped #35 by Jason Aaron, Daniel Zezelj, Jock

I’ve made no secret about the fact that Scalped is the best comic being printed today.  If I could only read one comic, this would be it. The intertwining narratives of the different crime genre staples, such as undercover feds, gang warfare, betrayals, family secrets, and unlikely alliances are deftly woven against the backdrop of an Indian reservation.  This unique twist of using the loose governance of such a setting, gives Aaron the room to draw a wide tapestry of multi-layered characters and story lines with depth.  The art of R.M. Guera is absolutely perfect for this book, and the overall execution and quality of the visuals cannot be understated.  Jock continues to put his ankle in it on cover duty.  Not since Ennis’ Preacher, have I seen such a perfect blend of character development, noir, humor, violence, mystery, and action.  With Aaron just wrapping up an action packed arc in issue #34, this single story issue is as good a time as any to jump on board.  Then do yourself a favor and pick up the trades and catch up after you buy this.

In a special stand-alone issue, we meet a couple of characters for the first and last time – an aging husband and wife who eke out a living in the harsh and rugged heart of the Badlands. Learn what it means to reside in the poorest community in the entire United States – and what it means to survive.

One of Vertigo’s most raved about books is “Unknown Soldier” written by the incredibly talented Joshua Dysart.  Josh was kind enough to sit down with me at the Long Beach Comic Expo on Saturday, February 20th, to discuss Unknown Soldier, his previous work on HellBoy: “B.P.R.D. 1946” & “1947″, his upcoming book with Neil Young, “Greendale“, and a look back at “Tex“, his satiric take on George W. Bush before it was vogue to have one.  Be sure to follow Joshua on twitter at twitter.com/joshuadysart and visit his site at www.joshuadysart.com.

Download issue #1 of “Unknown Soldier” in PDF format for free.

Mike’s Picks

Unknown Soldier #17

Vertigo is sort of like the AMC of comics, not a lot of shows, but what is there is high quality.   Unknown Soldier is no different.  Forget the capes and powers for a second and allow yourself to be entertained with gritty, pulpy drama while learning a thing or two about the world.  Josh Dysart has immersed himself in this conflict to bring you a story you won’t forget.

Secret Warriors #13

Jonathan Hickman has been doing a great job of reintroducing Nick Fury and Hydra post-Secret Invasion into the Marvel U.  Nick Fury has always been one of my favorite characters, and his sparse use has elevated him to a legend.  Hickman, and his reputation for attention to detail, is in full effect here.  Stefano Caselli on pencils doesn’t hurt either.  He is a strong talent who is a perfect fit for the material.

Rob’s Picks

The Walking Dead 70

This is the most consistently great comic I have read in a long time. Whether you have read Kirkman’s other work or not, this is his magnum opus. publisher Image comics says, “Behind these walls everyone has their place; everyone has their job. There is no danger, there are no threats… everyone has hope. Will it last?” The cover shows us a melancholy foreboding, a sense of dread just under the surface of the quiet suburban town. I can’t wait.

Usagi Yojimbo 126

Curious about the rabbit ninja and this long-running comic? This might be the perfect place to jump in: “The rabbit ronin faces a terrifying creature from Japanese mythology in this creepy, self-contained story! Nukekubi are supernatural monsters that take the form of normal humans during the day, but at night can detach their heads to attack their unsuspecting prey.” The cover and subject matter alone make me want to grab this book right up.

Chris’s Picks

Avengers: The Initiative #33

This has been a pretty great series so far.  I am not usually an Avengers fan, but this Civil War story has been highly addictive.  I am really looking forward to seeing how the resistance handles taking on camp H.A.M.M.E.R..

Strange Girl: Limited Edition Complete Series

This is a great apocalyptic type series.  This series took on many questions of religion, while delivering a great story set in a dark time.  Keep an open mind and follow this awesome twisting tale down the rabit hole.  This is the series that started the careers of greats like Rick Remender and Eric Nguyen.  Snag this if you see it as only 1000 limited editions will be printed!

Tyler’s Picks

Flash: Rebirth #6

For a book about the Speed Force and the Fastest Man Alive, it feels like it has taken a year for this puppy to wrap up. And in fact, it nearly has. The first issue came out in April of last year. Whether it was the meticulous work of Ethan van Scriver or Geoff Johns forgot which story he was trying to tell between this and Blackest Night (in which Barry Allen is a significant participant), this book has as much energy and pulpiness as can possibly fit underneath the yellow boots.

The Splendid Magic of Penny Arcade: The 11 1/2 Anniversary Edition (HC)

There isn’t a point in me pimping this book. Go and buy it you ninny. If you don’t know Gabe and Tycho, or the men behind their justified sense of gaming hubris, then you know nothing. Vapid little mindflayer that you are.

Bout darn time we get a big update.  There is a lot here to enjoy.  My favorite update this week is the addition of Venom Vs Carnage.

• 2000AD Prog #1667 – $1.99
• Cages #2 – $0.99
• Daredevil (1998) #98 – $1.99
• Daredevil (1998) #99 – $1.99
• Donald Duck and the Three Musketeers #2 – $1.99
• Locke & Key: Head Games #2 – $0.99
• Marvel Knights (2000) #5 – $1.99
• Marvel Knights (2000) #6 – $1.99
• Marvel Knights (2000) #7 – $1.99
• Marvel Knights (2000) #8 – $1.99
• Marvel Knights (2000) #9 – $1.99
• Marvel Knights (2000) #10 – $1.99
• Scrooge McDuck and the Present from the Past – $0.99
• Shaun the Sheep Comic #3 – $0.99
• Superduck and the treasure of Dolly Paprika #7 – $0.99
• Tank Girl – The Gifting #3 – $0.99
• Tank Girl – The Gifting #4 – $0.99
• Tank Girl – Visions of Booga #1 – $0.99
• Tank Girl – Visions of Booga #2 – $0.99
• Tank Girl – Visions of Booga #3 – $0.99
• Tank Girl – Visions of Booga #4 – $0.99
• The Beagle Boys and the Untimely Holiday – $0.99
• The Incredible Hulk (1999) #101 – $1.99
• The Incredible Hulk (1999) #102 – $1.99
• The Incredible Hulk (1999) #103 – $1.99
• The Incredible Hulk (1999) #104 – $1.99
• The Incredible Hulk (1999) #105 – $1.99
• The Incredible Hulk (1999) #106 – $1.99
• Transformers: All Hail Megatron #12 – $1.99
• Transformers: Animated – The Arrival #3 – $0.99
• Transformers: Animated – The Arrival #4 – $0.99
• Transformers: Spotlight #14 – $1.99
• Transformers: Spotlight #15 – $1.99
• Transformers: Spotlight #16 – $1.99
• Uncanny X-Men (2003) #486 – $1.99
• Uncanny X-Men (2003) #487 – $1.99
• Uncanny X-Men (2003) #488 – $1.99
• Venom Vs. Carnage (2004) #1 – $1.99
• Venom Vs. Carnage (2004) #2 – $1.99
• Venom Vs. Carnage (2004) #3 – $1.99
• Venom Vs. Carnage (2004) #4 – $1.99
• Wallace & Gromit Comic #7 – $0.99
• Wolverine (2003) #38 – $1.99
• Wolverine (2003) #39 – $1.99
• Wolverine (2003) #40 – $1.99
• Wolverine (2003) #41 – $1.99
• Wolverine (2003) #42 – $1.99
• Wolverine (2003) #43 – $1.99
• Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse: Calamari Rising #12 – $0.99
• X-23: Target X (2007) #1 – $1.99
• X-23: Target X (2007) #2 – $1.99
• X-23: Target X (2007) #3 – $1.99
• X-23: Target X (2007) #4 – $1.99
• X-23: Target X (2007) #5 – $1.99
• X-23: Target X (2007) #6 – $1.99
• X-Men (2004) #187 – $1.99
• X-Men (2004) #188 – $1.99
• X-Men (2004) #189 – $1.99
• X-Men (2004) #190 – $1.99
• X-Men (2004) #191 – $1.99
• X-Men (2004) #192 – $1.99
• X-Mickey: Behind the Mask #7 – $1.99

New Series

Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca’s Afrodisiac collection is harder to find than a pimp at a PETA rally, and it’s a shame because more people need to be reading the adventures of “The Baddest Cat That Ever Walked The Earth”.  It’s sold out at Diamond, so do yourself a favor and order direct from the publisher.