BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #1BRINGS THE RETURN OF EARTH-2 SUPERMAN AS A BLACK LANTERN! PLUS, PA KENT'S CORPSE FLYING AROUND AS A BLACK LANTERN? MAYBE....
You know, Geoff Johns and DC have really done an incredible job of making every single one of the Blackest Night tie-ins a homerun. I really dug last week's Blackest Night Batman, as well as the three issue Tales of the Corps limited (a recommended read to anyone who missed them, we currently have all three in stock, and they really do a great job of fleshing out the back story and origins of the different color lantern corps), and the actual tie-ins in the ongoing books (Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps) have both been very organic, and well-done.
Why am I so damn stoked about this week's BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN? Well, it's featuring the Earth-2 Superman (who is an older, alternate world version of Superman who always had a more traditional classic style to his character), whom we haven't seen since the events of INFINITE CRISIS. After being beaten to death by SUPERBOY PRIME, Earth-2 Superman has been pretty much off the radar. And now, in this special three issue limited series written by critically acclaimed STARMAN writer James Robinson(who's been wowing us big time with the JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE mini-series), it looks like the Black Lantern Earth-2 Superman has dug up ol' Jonathan "Pa" Kent's corpse for a reason that will be revealed in this week's upcoming issue. From what the solicitations have had to say, we can tell that this limited series is going to focused in on Black Lantern Superman terrorizing Smallville, and also in exploring his role in the Blackest Night. Personally, I know from past works, that GEOFF JOHNS has a strong affinity for this character, and we're sure that the events that transpire in this tie-in will play into the core Blackest Night story. In other words, you definitely want to give this one a look this week. Solid writer, great artist, and an awesome cast of characters all wrapped up in that Blackest Night awesomeoness we've really come to enjoy this summer.. it's a can't miss, and a definite Third Eye Must Buy.
Clickhere to check out a preview of BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #1!
VERTIGO CRIME LINE LAUNCHES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH TWO ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVELS. 100 BULLETS WRITER BRIAN AZZARELLO'S FILTHY RICH & BRITISH NOIR LEGEND IAN RANKIN'S HELLBLAZER: DARK ENTRIES!
If there's one thing we love here at Third Eye, it's a good crime comic. The genre has exploded with high quality contenders over the last few years, ranging from the dripping in film noir aesthetic CRIMINAL and INCOGNITO series by ED BRUBAKER and SEAN PHILLIPS to the hardboiled, gritty crime masterpiece of SCALPED. And, you know, we're thinking, gee, with so many great crime comics out there right now... where could they possibly squeeze in even more?
Well, it looks like Vertigo is going to challenge that kind of thinking with their new VERTIGO CRIME imprint. This imprint is dedicated to releasing one-shot original graphic novels by some of the most critically acclaimed crime authors around, whether it be comic book writers like BRIAN AZZARELLO (the writer of 100 BULLETS) or IAN RANKIN (an internationally known crime novelist). DC sent us a hard copy of Dark Entries and Filthy Rich back in the Spring, and we've gotta say, we were extremely impressed. They're both dripping in horrifyingly realistic crime noir appeal. Very sinister, very brooding, and very well-written!
Azzarello's FILTHY RICH is the story of a down on his luck used car salesman by the name of Richard "Junk" Junkin who ends up becoming a hired goon as he falls in with the wrong crowd. The story is the classic downward spiral of a noir lead character, as we watch Junk slowly deterioate as the story proceeds. There's no redeeming qualities in any of the characters found in these pages, just pure, savage, violent, and ruthless individuals. The perfect recipe for a fantastic crime noir tale. We highly recommend giving FILTHY RICH a shot this Wednesday if you're a fan of titles like SCALPED, CRIMINAL, INCOGNITO, 100 BULLETS or SIN CITY.
Next up, we've got IAN RANKIN's DARK ENTRIES Hellblazer graphic novel. Now, we're fans of Hellblazer here at Third Eye, but we've found that with a character that's been around so long, with so many different stories, approaching a new Hellblazer story is kind of like approaching a new James Bond film. It's all about the creative teams (or in the case of the Bond flicks, the directors and whomever is cast as Bond). Most Hellblazer stories are presented as nice solid stand-alone stories, and while there may be references to stories from the past, they're usually not heavy-handed enough to where you feel you must read that story to get a better handle on what you're currently reading. Needless to say, we approach Hellblazer tales with a little skepticism sometimes, as you never know what you're gonna get.
And, this is why we were totally thrilled with DARK ENTRIES.
Rankin puts Constantine straight into the midst of a reality television show called "Haunted House." While the show featured a rigged house, and was all gimmicks... it's somehow taken on a life of it's own, and is attacking the contestants. Constantine agrees to go "undercover" as a contestant to find out what the score is with the house. And of course, shadowy characters from Constantine past thicken the plot, and we're shown that the producers of the show aren't all they appear to be.
All in all, the story is very creepy, and has a very sinister vibe running through it. I wouldn't go as far as calling it the BEST Hellblazer story, but it's certainly worthy of being put on your bookshelf next to the runs by Ellis, Ennis, and Azzarello.
Click here to read more about the Vertigo Crime books!
ARCHIE'S GETTING HITCHED! ARCHIE #600 KICKS OFF THE WEDDING OF ARCHIE THIS WEDNESDAY! YES, I'M SERIOUSLY WRITING ABOUT THIS!
Okay, I know what a lot of you are thinking... Steve has lost his mind. Seriously though, Archie is a HUGE part of comic book history. Who doesn't remember being a kid and reading an Archie comic? I mean, those little digests were EVERYWHERE. And, it always seemed like whenever you'd come across comics at a garage sale, sandwiched between a Conan and a Superman, there''d be an Archie. Now, it's been a long time since I've actually read myself an Archie comic, but I gotta admit... curiousity has got the best of me, and I'm going to be cracking open Archie #600 this Wednesday, just to see why he's gonnaa be picking Veronica over Betty.
Archie's a comic instution, and we're proud to say that we're kind of excited about the interest the whole "Archie's Getting Married" thing is getting. Heck, just the sheer novelty of it is awesome.
Anyways, let me stop my rambling, and get to the point: Archie #600 is kicking off the wedding of one of comic's longest running characters (and longest running bachelors). We're excited.
VIKING #3 FOLLOWS UP ON THE FIRST TWO ISSUES OF THIS INCREDIBLE NEW IMAGE SERIES! ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE 9th CENTURY'S NEVER BEEN BETTER!
Man, is Viking a gorgeous book or what? The artwork in this title is amazing, and we love seeing it in the giant Golden Age-style format. The story looks to be really getting into the gory meat and potatoes of things with this third issue coming out this week. We did think the first issue was good, but a little slow, and while the dialect takes a little getting used to, we feel that it was all just the creative team's way of breaking us in for the real story to begin.
And, in this Wednesday's Viking #3, all hell looks to be breaking loose as we see Egil with very little in the way of options left, about to pull off one of the biggest heists he can imagine.
The story of Viking is a really interesting one. It's your tried and true organized crime story, where there's no structure, and the establishment (the kingdoms) are a major part of the problem in itself. It's the Godfather set amidst the 9th Century. The book is so brutal, that you can almost hear the sounds of swords and axes slicing through chainmail. We're really digging it.
Click here to check out a preview of VIKING #3!
WOLVERINE WEAPON X #4 FROM "SCALPED" WRITER JASON AARON ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! ONE OF THE BEST WOLVERINE TITLES WE'VE READ IN A LONG TIME THAT'S NOT CALLED "OLD MAN LOGAN (sorry, that's our favorite!)"
We have been extremely happy with Jason Aaron's run on the new ongoing Wolverine series, WOLVERINE: WEAPON X. I mean, we expected big things when the writer of our favorite Vertigo title, SCALPED, said he was going to be bringing a Garth Ennis Punisher MAX kind of dynamic to everyone's favorite clawed Canadian, but we've had all of our expectations exceeded by a great deal.
First off, let me say that if you're a fan of the old school Frank Miller and Chris Claremont take on WOLVERINE, then you should pick up this book. It captures the spirit and tone of Miller and Claremont's dark and defining introduction of the character perfectly. Streamlined into a tight continuity within the book, WOLVERINE: WEAPON X features hardboiled Wolverine stories that dig into elements of Logan's past, and bring back familiar faces a plenty. Now, I know what you're saying.. isn't that what WOLVERINE ORIGINS is for? Well, Wolverine Origins biggest problem is it lacks consistency. It's more of a Tales of Wolverine story, instead of a straight-forward anything goes ongoing Wolverine story that develops plot ideas as it moves on. Plus, Weapon X is just plain better written, in our opinions. Oh, and it's violent as HELL.
And of course, who doesn't want to see blood and guts when it comes to Wolvie? I mean, that's part of the character's appeal, you know. The current story arc has been one brutal fight after the next, as Wolverine takes on the mysterious "Adamantium Men" (think Super Soldiers with laser claws). Simply put, if you have any interest in Wolverine, or just well-written Marvel books, then you need to give Wolverine Weapon X a shot. We currently have the three previous issues all in stock, so you can still catch up to where teh storyline is now. Good story, good art, all in all, it's a win.
Click here to read a preview of WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #4!
SWORDSMITH ASSASSIN #1 DELIVERS THAT VISCERAL "LONE WOLF & CUB"-style SAMURAI VIOLENCE THAT WE ALL LOVE!
As a youngster, I had a steady diet of comic books, horror movies, punk rock, skateboarding and martial art flicks to keep me busy. Now, somewhere, somehow, shoe-horned in there, grew my love of ultra-violent, ultra-gory Samurai epics. Did I understand the skill in the directing of flicks like Seven Samurai? Not really. But, man, I really got sucked in when I saw a babycart full of weapons in Samurai Executioner, and dudes getting their heads chopped off.
So, when I saw the cover to Boom (publisher of our favorite evil superhero book, IRREDEEMABLE) Entertainment's SWORDSMITH ASSASSIN, I was pretty much hooked right then and there. I mean, c'mon, the title alone just screams Samurai movie awesomeoness. And, after reading through the preview pages, I think this one is definitely a good choice for those of you who like a good Samurai epic.
Basically, Toshiro Ono, is a swordsmith. He's renowned for making some of the best, and deadliest blades in Japan. And, when one of his own swords takes the lives of his family, well, he decides he's going to make sure his swords never kill again.
All in all, the art is solid, and the story seems more than capable. We're pumped. Samurai comics rule!
Click here to check out a preview of SWORDSMITH ASSASSIN #1!
DAREDEVIL #500 - GREAT JUMPING ON POINT! BRUBAKER SETS EVERYTHING UP FOR THE NEW CREATIVE TEAM!
Daredevil has been one of my consistent Marvel favorites for as long as I can remember. I originally got hooked on the series real hard when Brian Michael Bendis began his amazing run with Alex Maleev. I still think that's the high point of Daredevil (yes, I know it's near blasphemous to say, but I enjoyed it even more than Frank Miller's classic work on the book, even though I love that too). However, when Bendis left, they picked the right guy to continue the series with Ed Brubaker taking on writing duties. He managed to keep a strong handle on the same street-level crime noir vibe that Bendis had given to the character, and even take the story into darker directions.
Now, like I was sad that Bendis ended his run, I'm a bit bummed that this is Brubaker's big send-off.. however, the announcement of the next writer has got me pretty hopeful for the book's future. Andy Diggle, the writer of the critically acclaimed Vertigo espionage series "THE LOSERS" (soon to be a major motion picture) will be helming DD when Brubaker leaves. Diggle has proven his chops on books like his current run on Thunderbolts, and THE LOSERS, so we're pretty excited to see where he takes the character next.
As for Daredevil #500, well, if you've been intimidated about jumping aboard the title due to the immense amount of issues out, now's your chance to come on. This one wraps up everything Brubaker's set up, and sets the stage very nicely for the new direction of the series. PLUS, it's an issue #500, and those are always packed full of special guest creators, and some very neat material. C'mon, folks, find out why Daredevil has been one of Marvel's best kept secrets for nearly a decade. If you like your heroes a little dark, and are a fan of grittier, street-level tales, then give DD a shot!
Clickhereto read a preview of DAREDEVIL #500!
DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS #5 CONCLUDES ONE OF THE COOLEST DEADPOOL ARCS WE'VE READ THIS YEAR!
Lets face it, Deadpool is the best. And, what's even better is when a really stellar writer is behind the pen on Deadpool. And, Mike Benson (along with the killer art of Carlo Barberi) has been delivering one of the best Deadpool story arcs we've read this year. We know, we know, you really don't need a lot to make a super entertaining Deadpool story, but, still.. we appreciate it when there's a lot of well put together storytelling behind the witty repartee and bloodshed. Suicide Kings has featured 'Pool running all over the Marvel Universe, butting heads with everyone from the Punisher to Spider-man. Now, this week in the final issue of this five issue limited series (and we currently have all four of the previous issues in stock in case you need to hop on), it comes to it's grand, bloody conclusion. It's Deadpool vs. Tombstone, and hey.. maybe, throw a little bit of the Hood in there.. and well, you've got a recipe for some funnybook throwdown to stand the test of time.
Click here to read a preview of DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS #5!
BATMAN: REBORN - NEW ONGOING BATGIRL SERIES DEBUTS WITHBATGIRL #1 & BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #3 (from BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES co-creator PAUL DINI) BOTH CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM OF THE BAT BOOKS!
The Batman books, as we've been saying for a month or two now, are the best they have been in a very long time. We're extremely excited this week to see the debut of the brand new ongoing Batgirl series, which features a mysterious new Batgirl appearing in the aftermath of Bruce Wayne's death (or disappearance). Now, the creative team, it's a couple of guys who are still relatively unknown to us, but the preview pages are have some very pretty art, and the pacing looks pretty solid on the story. The big question on this is: Who is the new Batgirl? Cassandra Cain? That'd be too obvious, right? But, hey, Red Robin turned out to be Tim Drake, and who didn't see that coming!? Guess we'll find out on Wednesday. Clickherefor some preview pages of BATGIRL #1!
Another of the Batman family that we've felt has been really good is Paul Dini's STREETS OF GOTHAM ongoing series. Dini, who co-created the classic BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, has really delivered heavily on bringing a very street-level, gritty feel to the world of Gotham City. A focus on the Gotham City PD, the criminal underworld and more, have all made Streets of Gotham one of our favorites. Really, this one should be getting a lot more hype than it is. It's a very well put-together, solid book that delivers great art, character development, and a well-paced story. Abuse is a pretty cool new character, and we can already feel the anticipation for the big reveal on who he is. And, finally, it's probably the coolest use of Hush we've seen in a very long time. The whole posing as Bruce Wayne thing is a little weird, but we're definitely digging the way that Dini's given the character more layers than just "that Batman villain Jim Lee drew." All in all, give Streets of Gotham a shot. We currently have the prior two issues in stock, so it's still early enough to catch up! Click here to read more about STREETS OF GOTHAM #3!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #603 *RED-HEADED STRANGER PT 3* CONTINUES THE BIG RETURN OF MARY JANE STORY ARC!
Amazing Spider-man really picked up with issue #600, and why? Well, it brought back the one character that all of us fans have been asking for since they got rid of her: Mary Jane! Spider-man without Mary Jane is just absurd. I mean, it worked back in the day, but, if there's one character you want to see evolving and growing.. it's the character of Spider-man. Why? Because, it's the guy behind the mask that makes the guy in the mask. And this rings most true with Spider-man.
So, 600 brought her back, and 601 kicked off the big RED-HEADED STRANGER storyline. Now things aren't COMPLETELY back the way they were, but they're getting there. What's cool though is this storyline is leading into an awesome year long Spidey storyline that's going to kick ten different kinds of ass. Basically, it's called the GAUNTLET, and will feature updates and revamps to all of Spidey's classic rogues, as he literally runs the gauntlet of fighting each and every one. It began with the re-introduction of Doc Ock, and now the Chameleon's back in the picture... who'll be next? We don't know, but we're glad to see Spidey's classic Rogue's Gallery coming back. Some of the newer villains from the last few years were the epitome of LAME.
Click hereto read a preview of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #603! And if you haven't hoped aboard, we still have limited quantities of 600, 601, and 602 all in stock!
X-MEN LEGACY #227: THE DARK X-MEN SAGA CONTINUES IN THIS WEEK'S X-MEN LEGACY #227 ! & X-MEN LEGACY #226 *DARK X-MEN* NOW BACK IN STOCK!
The Dark X-Men saga continues this week in the pages of X-MEN LEGACY #227! Between this and the MESSIAH WAR, it's been a pretty good year for the X-Books. Which is good, because man, it really seems like they have a hard time finding a good, connecting storyline to get those books running strong. Anyways, the Utopia/Dark X-Men saga continues this Wednesday in the pages of X-MEN LEGACY #227 which promises us a heated encounter between Dark Avenger Ares and Rogue, among other things. And after reading last week's UNCANNY X-MEN #514 *DARK X-MEN PT 4*, we're pretty stoked to see what's in store next in this storyline. A dramatic new change in the book is definitely promised, which is great, because up until recently, we've really felt Legacy has been kind of stale in comparison to Fraction's killer run on Uncanny. Click here to read a preview of X-MEN LEGACY #227!
UNKNOWN SOLDIER v.1: HAUNTED HOUSE arrives this Wednesday, collecting the first story arc of this amazing new Vertigo series for only $9.99!
Vertigo has been on a roll in 2009, between Unknown Soldier's development into one of our new favorites from them, and the hit sensation of THE UNWRITTEN, they are really on top of their game. This Wednesday, the first trade paperback collecting the first chunk of Unknown Soldier arrives, and like nearly all Vertigo volume 1s, it's only $9.99! And trust us, folks, this is a steal, because Unknown Soldier is TOP NOTCH stuff.
The storytelling and art compliment each other very nicely, and the book is really a very unrelenting yet well-thought out look at the horror of violence. The characters are very human, the story is very compelling, and it delivers all of the things I love about comic books: being surprised by new developments in the story, becoming attached to the characters, and always being left wanting more when I finish an issue. Unknown Soldier delivers all of these.
What's the scoop? It's 2002, in Uganda, and Dr. Moses Lwanga, becomes shocked at the horrors he has returned to. He's ambushed by two child soldiers of the Lord's Resistance Army, and right when it looks like he's going to bite it... a voice in his head tells him to take the AK-47 from the child and kill the boy. Without a second thought, he does. He snaps to his senses, becomes disgusted with what he's done, and bashes his face to shreds. The story continues as Moses deals with his new identity of Patrick, and the mysterious voice in his head that can turn him into a killer without a second thought. A brutal story of conflict, and the horrors of violence... Unknown Soldier is a solid read, and we highly recommend giving the first trade a shot!
Click here to read the full issue of #1, and see for yourself!
Why am I so damn stoked about this week's BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN? Well, it's featuring the Earth-2 Superman (who is an older, alternate world version of Superman who always had a more traditional classic style to his character), whom we haven't seen since the events of INFINITE CRISIS. After being beaten to death by SUPERBOY PRIME, Earth-2 Superman has been pretty much off the radar. And now, in this special three issue limited series written by critically acclaimed STARMAN writer James Robinson(who's been wowing us big time with the JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE mini-series), it looks like the Black Lantern Earth-2 Superman has dug up ol' Jonathan "Pa" Kent's corpse for a reason that will be revealed in this week's upcoming issue. From what the solicitations have had to say, we can tell that this limited series is going to focused in on Black Lantern Superman terrorizing Smallville, and also in exploring his role in the Blackest Night. Personally, I know from past works, that GEOFF JOHNS has a strong affinity for this character, and we're sure that the events that transpire in this tie-in will play into the core Blackest Night story. In other words, you definitely want to give this one a look this week. Solid writer, great artist, and an awesome cast of characters all wrapped up in that Blackest Night awesomeoness we've really come to enjoy this summer.. it's a can't miss, and a definite Third Eye Must Buy.
Clickhere to check out a preview of BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #1!
VERTIGO CRIME LINE LAUNCHES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH TWO ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVELS. 100 BULLETS WRITER BRIAN AZZARELLO'S FILTHY RICH & BRITISH NOIR LEGEND IAN RANKIN'S HELLBLAZER: DARK ENTRIES!
If there's one thing we love here at Third Eye, it's a good crime comic. The genre has exploded with high quality contenders over the last few years, ranging from the dripping in film noir aesthetic CRIMINAL and INCOGNITO series by ED BRUBAKER and SEAN PHILLIPS to the hardboiled, gritty crime masterpiece of SCALPED. And, you know, we're thinking, gee, with so many great crime comics out there right now... where could they possibly squeeze in even more?
Well, it looks like Vertigo is going to challenge that kind of thinking with their new VERTIGO CRIME imprint. This imprint is dedicated to releasing one-shot original graphic novels by some of the most critically acclaimed crime authors around, whether it be comic book writers like BRIAN AZZARELLO (the writer of 100 BULLETS) or IAN RANKIN (an internationally known crime novelist). DC sent us a hard copy of Dark Entries and Filthy Rich back in the Spring, and we've gotta say, we were extremely impressed. They're both dripping in horrifyingly realistic crime noir appeal. Very sinister, very brooding, and very well-written!
Azzarello's FILTHY RICH is the story of a down on his luck used car salesman by the name of Richard "Junk" Junkin who ends up becoming a hired goon as he falls in with the wrong crowd. The story is the classic downward spiral of a noir lead character, as we watch Junk slowly deterioate as the story proceeds. There's no redeeming qualities in any of the characters found in these pages, just pure, savage, violent, and ruthless individuals. The perfect recipe for a fantastic crime noir tale. We highly recommend giving FILTHY RICH a shot this Wednesday if you're a fan of titles like SCALPED, CRIMINAL, INCOGNITO, 100 BULLETS or SIN CITY.
Next up, we've got IAN RANKIN's DARK ENTRIES Hellblazer graphic novel. Now, we're fans of Hellblazer here at Third Eye, but we've found that with a character that's been around so long, with so many different stories, approaching a new Hellblazer story is kind of like approaching a new James Bond film. It's all about the creative teams (or in the case of the Bond flicks, the directors and whomever is cast as Bond). Most Hellblazer stories are presented as nice solid stand-alone stories, and while there may be references to stories from the past, they're usually not heavy-handed enough to where you feel you must read that story to get a better handle on what you're currently reading. Needless to say, we approach Hellblazer tales with a little skepticism sometimes, as you never know what you're gonna get.
And, this is why we were totally thrilled with DARK ENTRIES.
Rankin puts Constantine straight into the midst of a reality television show called "Haunted House." While the show featured a rigged house, and was all gimmicks... it's somehow taken on a life of it's own, and is attacking the contestants. Constantine agrees to go "undercover" as a contestant to find out what the score is with the house. And of course, shadowy characters from Constantine past thicken the plot, and we're shown that the producers of the show aren't all they appear to be.
All in all, the story is very creepy, and has a very sinister vibe running through it. I wouldn't go as far as calling it the BEST Hellblazer story, but it's certainly worthy of being put on your bookshelf next to the runs by Ellis, Ennis, and Azzarello.
Click here to read more about the Vertigo Crime books!
ARCHIE'S GETTING HITCHED! ARCHIE #600 KICKS OFF THE WEDDING OF ARCHIE THIS WEDNESDAY! YES, I'M SERIOUSLY WRITING ABOUT THIS!
Okay, I know what a lot of you are thinking... Steve has lost his mind. Seriously though, Archie is a HUGE part of comic book history. Who doesn't remember being a kid and reading an Archie comic? I mean, those little digests were EVERYWHERE. And, it always seemed like whenever you'd come across comics at a garage sale, sandwiched between a Conan and a Superman, there''d be an Archie. Now, it's been a long time since I've actually read myself an Archie comic, but I gotta admit... curiousity has got the best of me, and I'm going to be cracking open Archie #600 this Wednesday, just to see why he's gonnaa be picking Veronica over Betty.
Archie's a comic instution, and we're proud to say that we're kind of excited about the interest the whole "Archie's Getting Married" thing is getting. Heck, just the sheer novelty of it is awesome.
Anyways, let me stop my rambling, and get to the point: Archie #600 is kicking off the wedding of one of comic's longest running characters (and longest running bachelors). We're excited.
VIKING #3 FOLLOWS UP ON THE FIRST TWO ISSUES OF THIS INCREDIBLE NEW IMAGE SERIES! ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE 9th CENTURY'S NEVER BEEN BETTER!
Man, is Viking a gorgeous book or what? The artwork in this title is amazing, and we love seeing it in the giant Golden Age-style format. The story looks to be really getting into the gory meat and potatoes of things with this third issue coming out this week. We did think the first issue was good, but a little slow, and while the dialect takes a little getting used to, we feel that it was all just the creative team's way of breaking us in for the real story to begin.
And, in this Wednesday's Viking #3, all hell looks to be breaking loose as we see Egil with very little in the way of options left, about to pull off one of the biggest heists he can imagine.
The story of Viking is a really interesting one. It's your tried and true organized crime story, where there's no structure, and the establishment (the kingdoms) are a major part of the problem in itself. It's the Godfather set amidst the 9th Century. The book is so brutal, that you can almost hear the sounds of swords and axes slicing through chainmail. We're really digging it.
Click here to check out a preview of VIKING #3!
WOLVERINE WEAPON X #4 FROM "SCALPED" WRITER JASON AARON ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! ONE OF THE BEST WOLVERINE TITLES WE'VE READ IN A LONG TIME THAT'S NOT CALLED "OLD MAN LOGAN (sorry, that's our favorite!)"
We have been extremely happy with Jason Aaron's run on the new ongoing Wolverine series, WOLVERINE: WEAPON X. I mean, we expected big things when the writer of our favorite Vertigo title, SCALPED, said he was going to be bringing a Garth Ennis Punisher MAX kind of dynamic to everyone's favorite clawed Canadian, but we've had all of our expectations exceeded by a great deal.
First off, let me say that if you're a fan of the old school Frank Miller and Chris Claremont take on WOLVERINE, then you should pick up this book. It captures the spirit and tone of Miller and Claremont's dark and defining introduction of the character perfectly. Streamlined into a tight continuity within the book, WOLVERINE: WEAPON X features hardboiled Wolverine stories that dig into elements of Logan's past, and bring back familiar faces a plenty. Now, I know what you're saying.. isn't that what WOLVERINE ORIGINS is for? Well, Wolverine Origins biggest problem is it lacks consistency. It's more of a Tales of Wolverine story, instead of a straight-forward anything goes ongoing Wolverine story that develops plot ideas as it moves on. Plus, Weapon X is just plain better written, in our opinions. Oh, and it's violent as HELL.
And of course, who doesn't want to see blood and guts when it comes to Wolvie? I mean, that's part of the character's appeal, you know. The current story arc has been one brutal fight after the next, as Wolverine takes on the mysterious "Adamantium Men" (think Super Soldiers with laser claws). Simply put, if you have any interest in Wolverine, or just well-written Marvel books, then you need to give Wolverine Weapon X a shot. We currently have the three previous issues all in stock, so you can still catch up to where teh storyline is now. Good story, good art, all in all, it's a win.
Click here to read a preview of WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #4!
SWORDSMITH ASSASSIN #1 DELIVERS THAT VISCERAL "LONE WOLF & CUB"-style SAMURAI VIOLENCE THAT WE ALL LOVE!
As a youngster, I had a steady diet of comic books, horror movies, punk rock, skateboarding and martial art flicks to keep me busy. Now, somewhere, somehow, shoe-horned in there, grew my love of ultra-violent, ultra-gory Samurai epics. Did I understand the skill in the directing of flicks like Seven Samurai? Not really. But, man, I really got sucked in when I saw a babycart full of weapons in Samurai Executioner, and dudes getting their heads chopped off.
So, when I saw the cover to Boom (publisher of our favorite evil superhero book, IRREDEEMABLE) Entertainment's SWORDSMITH ASSASSIN, I was pretty much hooked right then and there. I mean, c'mon, the title alone just screams Samurai movie awesomeoness. And, after reading through the preview pages, I think this one is definitely a good choice for those of you who like a good Samurai epic.
Basically, Toshiro Ono, is a swordsmith. He's renowned for making some of the best, and deadliest blades in Japan. And, when one of his own swords takes the lives of his family, well, he decides he's going to make sure his swords never kill again.
All in all, the art is solid, and the story seems more than capable. We're pumped. Samurai comics rule!
Click here to check out a preview of SWORDSMITH ASSASSIN #1!
DAREDEVIL #500 - GREAT JUMPING ON POINT! BRUBAKER SETS EVERYTHING UP FOR THE NEW CREATIVE TEAM!
Daredevil has been one of my consistent Marvel favorites for as long as I can remember. I originally got hooked on the series real hard when Brian Michael Bendis began his amazing run with Alex Maleev. I still think that's the high point of Daredevil (yes, I know it's near blasphemous to say, but I enjoyed it even more than Frank Miller's classic work on the book, even though I love that too). However, when Bendis left, they picked the right guy to continue the series with Ed Brubaker taking on writing duties. He managed to keep a strong handle on the same street-level crime noir vibe that Bendis had given to the character, and even take the story into darker directions.
Now, like I was sad that Bendis ended his run, I'm a bit bummed that this is Brubaker's big send-off.. however, the announcement of the next writer has got me pretty hopeful for the book's future. Andy Diggle, the writer of the critically acclaimed Vertigo espionage series "THE LOSERS" (soon to be a major motion picture) will be helming DD when Brubaker leaves. Diggle has proven his chops on books like his current run on Thunderbolts, and THE LOSERS, so we're pretty excited to see where he takes the character next.
As for Daredevil #500, well, if you've been intimidated about jumping aboard the title due to the immense amount of issues out, now's your chance to come on. This one wraps up everything Brubaker's set up, and sets the stage very nicely for the new direction of the series. PLUS, it's an issue #500, and those are always packed full of special guest creators, and some very neat material. C'mon, folks, find out why Daredevil has been one of Marvel's best kept secrets for nearly a decade. If you like your heroes a little dark, and are a fan of grittier, street-level tales, then give DD a shot!
Clickhereto read a preview of DAREDEVIL #500!
DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS #5 CONCLUDES ONE OF THE COOLEST DEADPOOL ARCS WE'VE READ THIS YEAR!
Lets face it, Deadpool is the best. And, what's even better is when a really stellar writer is behind the pen on Deadpool. And, Mike Benson (along with the killer art of Carlo Barberi) has been delivering one of the best Deadpool story arcs we've read this year. We know, we know, you really don't need a lot to make a super entertaining Deadpool story, but, still.. we appreciate it when there's a lot of well put together storytelling behind the witty repartee and bloodshed. Suicide Kings has featured 'Pool running all over the Marvel Universe, butting heads with everyone from the Punisher to Spider-man. Now, this week in the final issue of this five issue limited series (and we currently have all four of the previous issues in stock in case you need to hop on), it comes to it's grand, bloody conclusion. It's Deadpool vs. Tombstone, and hey.. maybe, throw a little bit of the Hood in there.. and well, you've got a recipe for some funnybook throwdown to stand the test of time.
Click here to read a preview of DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS #5!
BATMAN: REBORN - NEW ONGOING BATGIRL SERIES DEBUTS WITHBATGIRL #1 & BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #3 (from BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES co-creator PAUL DINI) BOTH CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM OF THE BAT BOOKS!
The Batman books, as we've been saying for a month or two now, are the best they have been in a very long time. We're extremely excited this week to see the debut of the brand new ongoing Batgirl series, which features a mysterious new Batgirl appearing in the aftermath of Bruce Wayne's death (or disappearance). Now, the creative team, it's a couple of guys who are still relatively unknown to us, but the preview pages are have some very pretty art, and the pacing looks pretty solid on the story. The big question on this is: Who is the new Batgirl? Cassandra Cain? That'd be too obvious, right? But, hey, Red Robin turned out to be Tim Drake, and who didn't see that coming!? Guess we'll find out on Wednesday. Clickherefor some preview pages of BATGIRL #1!
Another of the Batman family that we've felt has been really good is Paul Dini's STREETS OF GOTHAM ongoing series. Dini, who co-created the classic BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, has really delivered heavily on bringing a very street-level, gritty feel to the world of Gotham City. A focus on the Gotham City PD, the criminal underworld and more, have all made Streets of Gotham one of our favorites. Really, this one should be getting a lot more hype than it is. It's a very well put-together, solid book that delivers great art, character development, and a well-paced story. Abuse is a pretty cool new character, and we can already feel the anticipation for the big reveal on who he is. And, finally, it's probably the coolest use of Hush we've seen in a very long time. The whole posing as Bruce Wayne thing is a little weird, but we're definitely digging the way that Dini's given the character more layers than just "that Batman villain Jim Lee drew." All in all, give Streets of Gotham a shot. We currently have the prior two issues in stock, so it's still early enough to catch up! Click here to read more about STREETS OF GOTHAM #3!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #603 *RED-HEADED STRANGER PT 3* CONTINUES THE BIG RETURN OF MARY JANE STORY ARC!
Amazing Spider-man really picked up with issue #600, and why? Well, it brought back the one character that all of us fans have been asking for since they got rid of her: Mary Jane! Spider-man without Mary Jane is just absurd. I mean, it worked back in the day, but, if there's one character you want to see evolving and growing.. it's the character of Spider-man. Why? Because, it's the guy behind the mask that makes the guy in the mask. And this rings most true with Spider-man.
So, 600 brought her back, and 601 kicked off the big RED-HEADED STRANGER storyline. Now things aren't COMPLETELY back the way they were, but they're getting there. What's cool though is this storyline is leading into an awesome year long Spidey storyline that's going to kick ten different kinds of ass. Basically, it's called the GAUNTLET, and will feature updates and revamps to all of Spidey's classic rogues, as he literally runs the gauntlet of fighting each and every one. It began with the re-introduction of Doc Ock, and now the Chameleon's back in the picture... who'll be next? We don't know, but we're glad to see Spidey's classic Rogue's Gallery coming back. Some of the newer villains from the last few years were the epitome of LAME.
Click hereto read a preview of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #603! And if you haven't hoped aboard, we still have limited quantities of 600, 601, and 602 all in stock!
X-MEN LEGACY #227: THE DARK X-MEN SAGA CONTINUES IN THIS WEEK'S X-MEN LEGACY #227 ! & X-MEN LEGACY #226 *DARK X-MEN* NOW BACK IN STOCK!
The Dark X-Men saga continues this week in the pages of X-MEN LEGACY #227! Between this and the MESSIAH WAR, it's been a pretty good year for the X-Books. Which is good, because man, it really seems like they have a hard time finding a good, connecting storyline to get those books running strong. Anyways, the Utopia/Dark X-Men saga continues this Wednesday in the pages of X-MEN LEGACY #227 which promises us a heated encounter between Dark Avenger Ares and Rogue, among other things. And after reading last week's UNCANNY X-MEN #514 *DARK X-MEN PT 4*, we're pretty stoked to see what's in store next in this storyline. A dramatic new change in the book is definitely promised, which is great, because up until recently, we've really felt Legacy has been kind of stale in comparison to Fraction's killer run on Uncanny. Click here to read a preview of X-MEN LEGACY #227!
UNKNOWN SOLDIER v.1: HAUNTED HOUSE arrives this Wednesday, collecting the first story arc of this amazing new Vertigo series for only $9.99!
Vertigo has been on a roll in 2009, between Unknown Soldier's development into one of our new favorites from them, and the hit sensation of THE UNWRITTEN, they are really on top of their game. This Wednesday, the first trade paperback collecting the first chunk of Unknown Soldier arrives, and like nearly all Vertigo volume 1s, it's only $9.99! And trust us, folks, this is a steal, because Unknown Soldier is TOP NOTCH stuff.
The storytelling and art compliment each other very nicely, and the book is really a very unrelenting yet well-thought out look at the horror of violence. The characters are very human, the story is very compelling, and it delivers all of the things I love about comic books: being surprised by new developments in the story, becoming attached to the characters, and always being left wanting more when I finish an issue. Unknown Soldier delivers all of these.
What's the scoop? It's 2002, in Uganda, and Dr. Moses Lwanga, becomes shocked at the horrors he has returned to. He's ambushed by two child soldiers of the Lord's Resistance Army, and right when it looks like he's going to bite it... a voice in his head tells him to take the AK-47 from the child and kill the boy. Without a second thought, he does. He snaps to his senses, becomes disgusted with what he's done, and bashes his face to shreds. The story continues as Moses deals with his new identity of Patrick, and the mysterious voice in his head that can turn him into a killer without a second thought. A brutal story of conflict, and the horrors of violence... Unknown Soldier is a solid read, and we highly recommend giving the first trade a shot!
Click here to read the full issue of #1, and see for yourself!
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