UNTIL YOUR HEART STOPS v30.4
by Brian Domingos

Scenes From The Future: Part LXXII

August 5th, 2009

Welcome to the start of August 2009 and a brand new installment of "Until Your Heart Stops." We’ve begun a new month which means a new PREVIEWS catalogue, which showcases all of the items shipping through the comics industry. The books below are scheduled to arrive in stores during October 2009 and beyond.

First thing up this month is a hardcover from Dark Horse Books and Matt Wagner.

I’d forgotten that we hadn’t had a collection of “Behold The Devil” yet – the most recent story in the GRENDEL saga, a lost portion of the history of Hunter Rose.

The Grendel character has spanned centuries and “Behold The Devil” goes back some decades to see more of Rose’s backstory. It’s a little more of “seeing where we’re going based on where we’ve been”.

I’m a big fan of Wagner’s work – I love his art and writing - and I think Hunter Rose is one of the best characters of the last 20 years. He’s everything cool about Batman but with the hardedge morals of a killer. Rose isn’t some maniac – he’s got a code all his own that he obeys.

This particular GRENDEL story is ridiculously gruesome – the first issue has something like an eight page setting of a Hunter Rose crime scene. It is bodies and blood (the book is black & white except for the red blood) with some framing and then it closes.

After seeing the first book at $3.50, I knew waiting for the collection was the right move, but I didn’t know it would be two years for it to come out. I’m going to get a good deal on the hardcover so it’ll be well worth my time.

GRENDEL: BEHOLD THE DEVIL HC (PAGE 30, $19.95, SSD: 12/16/09; OC: AUG09 0020)

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Last month I showcased the release of the trade paperback of Dean Motter’s MISTER X: CONDEMNED and this month Dark Horse is collecting a companion piece from Motter in ELECTROPOLIS.

The series is the third in a group of books based around retro-futuristic cities and their inhabitants. The first being MISTER X, the second being Vertigo's TERMINAL CITY, ELECTROPOLIS bridges the gap between the two and continues to explore the themes and overall tones.

The story is a murder mystery along the backdrop of a city that characterizes the Electric Age: “cathedral-sized Van Der Graaf generators and towering Strickfaden machines. From the air the city resembles nothing so much as the interior of an old radio or television set. Machinery as architecture... Electricity as commerce...”

ELECTROPOLIS a four issue story that’s actually six issues of material (number 4 was 70+ pages) that ran from May 2001 to August 2002.

Motter seems to love all of the future science stuff that I do, so I’m always looking for his work. I can’t wait for this and the aforementioned “Condemned” collection. Now all we need is the second TERMINAL CITY miniseries collected…

ELECTROPOLIS TPB (PAGE 35, $14.95, SSD: 12/02/09; OC: AUG09 0028)

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I honestly liked the recent AZRAEL miniseries probably more than I should have.

Fabian Nicieza took one of the “Three Batmen”, Michael Lane (from the Morrison story "Space Medicine" from BATMAN #672), and turned him into the new avenging angel, Azrael. It’s a story that makes a lot of sense (he was trained to replace Batman, so he’s obviously skilled) and he uses the "The Suit of Sorrows" (from the “Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul” crossover - a suit that drives its wearer crazy) to fight as the Order of Purity’s Angel of Justice.

He’s writing a two-part story that leads into the first issue of the ongoing book – all three issues coming this October. The first two parts are from BATMAN ANNUAL #27 (J. Calafiore & Mark McKenna) and DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #11 (Tom Mandrake) and I’m not crazy about the art teams. Calafiore’s gotten a ton of Bat-work lately but it’s nothing special. Mandrake, he’s hit or miss. The ongoing book is drawn by Ramon Bachs, which is weird, since he’s the new RED ROBIN artist. I don’t know how that works out.

I feel for Nicieza, because his AZRAEL miniseries had the awesome art of Frasier Irving and this is a step down. But his miniseries was so entertaining, I’m willing to give it a shot.

BATMAN ANNUAL #27 (PAGE 70, $4.99, SSD: 10/07/09; OC: AUG09 0108)
DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #11 (PAGE 70, $4.99, SSD: 10/14/09; OC: AUG09 0109)
AZRAEL #1 (PAGE 71, $2.99, SSD: 10/21/09; OC: AUG09 0110)

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To say that the last two years of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA has been a "meandering mess" would probably be putting it nicely.

There was a time where getting Dwayne McDuffie, producer and screenwriter of the totally excellent cartoon “Justice League Unlimited” would have been a dream come true. Now, after about 20 issues out of those two years, I’m thinking we would have been better off without him. I can’t imagine the stress of constantly having to coordinate with different editorial offices, trying to juggle your cast with the major books while trying to make comics worth reading. But the problem is that McDuffie seemed to grow tired of playing along. I’d read a lot of his negative comics about the situation – I don’t blame him – but he’s a smart enough guy to know that if you slag the bosses in public, it’s going to come back and bite you on the ass.

So he’s gone, and, with his Justice League miniseries, “Cry For Justice” in full swing, James Robinson is next in line to write DC’s flagship team book. It’s unclear who will flesh out the actual team but there have been hints: at the San Diego Comic-Con, a blacked out cover featured Mon-El (current replacement for the Man of Steel in the Robinson penned SUPERMAN), Donna Troy (the original Wonder Girl) and Dick Grayson/Batman. Additionally, Hal Jordan/Green Lantern was seen and Robinson hinted that Congorilla (who currently resides with the “Cry for Justice” group) will be there as well. I love Robinson’s writing, so I’m always an apologist. I can’t help it. I’ve loved it since his minor team work on WILDC.A.T.S. back in 1995 (to be released in tpb this September).

Joining Robinson is Mark Bagley, who is a perfectly decent artist whom sometimes doesn’t do it for me. I liked his ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN work quite a bit, but TRINITY sort of didn’t work for me. I don’t know why. But I’m going to give him an honest shot here, and, as I said, we’ve seen a not-so-hot couple of years, so it’s worth the effort.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #38 (PAGE 86, $2.99, SSD: 10/21/09; OC: AUG09 0147)

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One of my favorite books solicited this month is Brett Lewis and John Paul Leon’s soviet super hero/soldier story, THE WINTER MEN. It’s a modern day masterpiece.

I discussed the final issue a couple of months ago, and it still sticks with me as one of the best things I’ve read.

Lewis has this tumultuous cast of characters, the former members of Mother Russia’s elite superhero team – the RED 11 – whom live these damages lives in the ruins of the once powerful nation. The team members have adapted to their new lives the best they can - Kris Kalenov is an honorable police officer; Nikki, a gangster; Drost, a soldier; Nina, a bodyguard; and the Siberian just is.

It starts with Kris investigating a kidnapping of a young girl, which leads him to the US and the black market organ trade. It’s a basic story setup that becomes more complex as the characters' stories interweave between each other.

The scripts are written in a conversational style – the dialogue is casual yet it delivers a large amount of necessary exposition. The characters and their relationships are very well defined and Lewis slowly shows the reader the complexities of the situations. There’s camaraderie between friends, passion between lovers and honor between foes.

And that’s all well and good but man, the art is absolutely stunning. John Paul Leon delivers the work of his career here. There’s not a wasted drop of ink anywhere. And Dave Stewart eloquently colors each page with a gorgeous palette of rich earth tones.

It’s stunning work. Make sure you all pre-order this. I’ve already got mine set up.

THE WINTER MEN TPB (PAGE 107, $19.99, SSD: 11/25/09; OC AUG09 0208)

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Yeah.

PLANETARY #27 is coming in October. It’s hard to believe it’s taken ten years to come out.

I remember when it started and the big mystery was “Who is the Fourth Man?” Of course, it then moved on to more complex stories and double-crossing before Elijah Snow (such a great name) did away with his foes, The Four.

I don’t even know what to say – Warren Ellis created some iconic characters (no coincidence) and John Cassaday grew from “some guy who draws real good” to a Titan of the Industry.

I’ll love this book forever, even if Ellis hates it. Now I can’t wait to for the fourth hardcover to come out, so I can have all four on the shelf together. And then I can tell off my mint copy of the first printing of ABSOLUTE PLANETARY.

For real. I’ve flipped threw it a few times but it’s pretty much just taken up space on the shelf for the last four years.

Any takers?

Oh, and Wildstorm is nicely re-offering a variety of PLANETARY related books (listed below) in case you missed them.

PLANETARY #27 (PAGE 108, $3.99, SSD: 10/07/09; OC: AUG09 0209)
PLANETARY: ALL OVER THE WORLD AND OTHER STORIES, VOL. 1 TPB (FEB068129) (PAGE 113, $14.99, SSD: 09/23/09; OC: AUG09 0218)
PLANETARY: THE FOURTH MAN, VOL. 2 TPB (JAN068213) (PAGE 113, $14.99, SSD: 09/30/09; OC: AUG09 0219)
PLANETARY: LEAVING THE 20TH CENTURY, VOL. 3 TPB (JAN050354) (PAGE 113, $14.99, SSD: 09/23/09; OC: AUG09 0220)
PLANETARY: CROSSING WORLDS TPB (APR078145) (PAGE 113, $14.99, SSD: 09/30/09; OC: AUG09 0221)
PLANETARY #24 (O/A) (PAGE 113, $2.99; OC: AUG09 0222)
PLANETARY #25 (O/A) (PAGE 113, $2.99; OC: AUG09 0223)
PLANETARY #26 (O/A) (PAGE 113, $2.99; OC: AUG09 0224)

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I’m so excited that AIR has made it to a second collection as well as a 14th issue. The market is impossible these days and knowing that the work of Willow Wilson and M.K. Perker is being seen and made available to the general public warms my bitter soul.

“Flying Machine” collects the second group of five issues, picking up from number five’s (massive) cliffhanger and explores the central concepts of the book and shedding light on the origins of hyperprax flight.

It’s a fun and challenging read, which bends the edges of perception and requires constant consumption. I love getting the pre-ordered copies in the mail, clearing a spot and savoring every page. Wilson’s plot is a slow simmer, as she carefully introduces her concepts and lets her characters live on their own. Perker’s art is subtle yet complex and Chris Chuckry’s colors are delicate and understated.

It’s one of my favorite books.

AIR #14 (PAGE 114, $2.99, SSD: 10/21/09; OC: AUG09 0225)
AIR: FLYING MACHINE, VOL. 2 TPB (PAGE 114, $12.99, SSD: 10/07/09; OC: AUG09 0226)

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I’ve been hearing people talk about Peter Milligan’s SHADE, THE CHANGING MAN for over a decade now, and have barely read any of it.

I picked up the first printing of “American Scream”, what, six years ago? and was ready for more, but apparently the sales weren’t there.

Milligan has had a ton of critical success but for some reason he doesn’t have the sales to back it up. He’s written some unbelievably wonderful comics – HUMAN TARGET, X-FORCE/X-STATIX, and ENIGMA, for example – but he’s written some other stuff that’s died on the table, only to be forgotten (most recently, INFINITY, INC). I think he’s terrific (his run on X-MEN is severely underrated) but people aren’t buying them like people buy Garth Ennis or Warren Ellis or Brian K Vaughan. I don’t know what it is about him: he writes psychological drama and it’s generally pretty weird but it’s not any weirder than the Grant Morrison stuff floating around and that guy can’t help but sell comics.

But, Milligan is back at Vertigo with a new ongoing book (GREEK STREET), a run on HELLBLAZER, a Vertigo Crime Original Graphic Novel, THE BRONX KILL and a variety of reprints of his old Vertigo books, starting with SHADE.

The first volume gets a new printing and the second volume (collecting #7-13), “Edge of Vision” all get released this Fall. Milligan was joined on the book by the amazingly talent Chris Bachalo and Mark Pennington. It’s a gorgeous book with some weird-ass subject matter.

Also, the first collection of Milligan’s HELLBLAZER, “Scab”, also see its release in November. It’s #251-255 plus a short from #250. It’s weird to see Giuseppe Camuncoli as the regular artist, but he’s got the gig. And he’s joined by Goran Sudzuka and Eddie Campbell as well – a nice group.

So all of you SHADE fans and your petitions better get your asses out to those Local Comic Shops and pre-order the hell out of these. It’s Now or Never for Milligan – don’t blow it.

SHADE, THE CHANGING MAN: AMERICAN SCREAM, VOL. 1 TPB NEW PRINTING (PAGE 119, $17.99, SSD: 11/25/09; OC: AUG09 0239)
SHADE, THE CHANGING MAN: EDGE OF VISION, VOL. 2 TPB (PAGE 119, $19.99, SSD: 11/25/09; OC: AUG09 0240)
HELLBLAZER: SCAB TPB (PAGE 115, $14.99, SSD: 11/04/09, OC: AUG09 0230)

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The book with the dumbest sounding name might actually have the coolest premise.

So this rogue psychotherapist, Dr. Ghislain, was given the job of developing black/counter-ops squads and he used patients with Multiple Personality Disorder to do it. They became known as Triplets, each with specific and dangerous skills. The Triplets were rounded up by other rogue agents and one if left to take them on, the one called “Cowboy Ninja Viking”.

The PREVIEWS had sample pages and it’s interesting, because CNV speaks to himself and each world balloon has a personality specific icon attached, so you know who is speaking at the moment. It works well and is a nice design touch.

AJ Lieberman, known for some real middle of the road work at DC, came up with this cool premise and he’s working work Riley Rossmo, artist of SEVEN SONS and, more recently, PROOF. He’s a great, untapped, new artist and the sample pages (mentioned above) looked great.

I’ll actually be pre-ordering this, though I almost can’t believe it.

COYBOY NINJA VIKING #1 (PAGE 142, $3.50, SSD: 10/07/09; OC: AUG09 0294)

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I had splurged for the first LIBERTY COMICS issue and thought it was decent enough. Nothing all that special, but it’s for a good cause.

This year, though, it’s got Jim Lee & Neil Gaiman starting it off, and APOCALIPSTIX story from Ray Fawkes and Cameron Stewart, some Paul Pope, some Gail Simone, some Kathryn & Stuart Immonen, and some, yeah – CHANNEL ZERO from Brian Wood.

That’s it right there, CHANNEL ZERO. That alone is worth the five bucks.

LIBERTY COMICS: A CBLDF BENEFIT BOOK #2 (PAGE 148, $4.99, SSD: 10/14/09; OC: AUG09 0303)
LIBERTY COMICS: A CBLDF BENEFIT BOOK #1 (NEW PTG) (PAGE 148, $3.99, SSD: 09/30/09; OC: AUG09 0304)

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More DARK REIGN: THE LIST books in October:

Jonathan Hickman and Ed McGuinness do “Secret Warriors” and Osborn actually reaches out to Nick Fury for help. Rick Remender and John Romita Jr force Frank “The Punisher” Castle up against the Dark Avengers and it’s going to be a bloody mess.

Greg Pak and Ben Oliver’s issue of THE LIST: Hulk has Bruce Banner and Skaar (Son of Hulk) up against Osborn’s female forces. Finally Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic do “Wolverine” with Osborn, the Weapon Plus Program, Fantomex, Noh-Varr/Marvel Boy all mixed up with Wolverine.

The only one I’m dying to read is the “Wolverine” issue. I’m a big fan of Fantomex and Marvel Boy. “Punisher” will probably be good. “Secret Warriors” could go either way – Hickman’s scripts are hard-hitting and his artists have not been gritty enough yet. “Hulk” – I like Oliver’s work but man, I can’t seem to muster up the energy to care about Skaar.

We’ll see how this goes.

DARK REIGN: LIST - SECRET WARRIORS ONE SHOT (MARVEL PAGE 25, $3.99, SSD: 10/07/09; OC: AUG09 0450)
DARK REIGN: LIST - PUNISHER ONE SHOT (MARVEL PAGE 26, $3.99, SSD: 10/14/09; OC: AUG09 0451)
DARK REIGN: LIST - HULK ONE SHOT (MARVEL PAGE 27, $3.99, SSD: 10/21/09; OC: AUG09 0452)
DARK REIGN: LIST - WOLVERINE ONE SHOT (MARVEL PAGE 28, $3.99, SSD: 10/28/09; OC: AUG09 0453)

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Ed Brubaker’s run on DAREDEVIL ends with this month’s DD #500 and the entire “Return of the King” arc is collected in this five issue volume.

Brubaker had the difficult task of following Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev’s fantastic run (DD# 26-81) and was left with Matt Murdock, guilty and locked in prison with most of the criminals he helped put away as his costumed alter-ego. Over nearly 40 issues, Brubaker did what most writers do: he dragged him through the gutter in order to make him a stronger character. Matt fought his way out of prison, hunted his enemy to Europe, and watched his loving wife get twisted and distorted due to his secret his secret. It’s been a tough couple of years for Matt, whom always looks like he’s on the verge of collapse.

Brub has been lucky enough to Michael Lark join him for a majority of the run, with Lark lending his noir sensibilities and gritty realistic style to the vigilante action. David Aja, seen here in “Return”, also pitched in throughout the run, a nice addition to the creative team.

DAREDEVIL changed its numbering so that #120 was actually #500, so the new creative team of Andy Diggle and Roberto De la Torre will take over with #501.

Diggle and De la Torre started a solid run together on THUNDERBOLTS and I’m guessing De la Torre left for DD. They are a great team, and have supplied a lot of great action scenes. There’s also word that with their run, DD will rejoin the Marvel Universe – for the last couple of years, he’s been off in his own corner of the MU, not really participating with the major events.

Diggle is taking Daredevil into the fold with September’s DAREDEVIL: THE LIST (with Billy Tan) and it’s likely the reintroduction will begin there.

I have high hopes – DD has been a must read for a decade now and Diggle has yet to disappoint. I just hope that Marvel either has a ton of De la Torre pages in the can or a suitable fill-in artist – he’s not known for his speed.

DAREDEVIL #501 (MARVEL PAGE 31, $2.99, SSD: 10/07/09; OC: AUG09 0458)

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It’s hard to believe it’s been a year and we’ve barely had six issues of Warren Ellis’ ASTONISHING X-MEN. I knew Simone Bianchi was going to be a rough addition to the book and at only 6 issues, it has not really paid off.

But, Ellis had some interesting ideas and I liked his interpretations of the characters. He’s just the guy I’d want focusing on the super-secret science-based organization like S.W.O.R.D.

He’s back with the ongoing series, with his former collaborator Phil Jimenez for at least five issues and will be just perfect. Jimenez did some great X-work on NEW X-MEN with Grant Morrison (“Murder at the Mansion” and “Planet X”) and Ellis already knows how to write for him (based on THE AUTHORITY/PLANETARY and "Shoot").

The actual “Astonishing” team is Cyclops, White Queen, Storm, Beast, Wolverine and Armor. I hate Armor. I wish the team had a little more variety – as in not all the basics from UNCANNY X-MEN. But that’s fine. I’d just like to read this book and, you know, see it come out from time to time. Hopefully Jimenez will stick around for a while and Ellis can get some momentum going.

ASTONISHING X-MEN #31 (MARVEL PAGE 63, $2.99, SSD: 10/07/09; OC: AUG09 0511)

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I’m not a huge DEADPOOL fan, but I can appreciate the character. I enjoyed the Gail Simone run quite a bit and I liked some of the Joe Kelly stories. I find that writers tend to be too shticky and the result is an annoying script. I noticed that the solicitation doesn’t include Daniel Way, so that might help that issue…

It’s otherwise a group of writers (Kelly, Jason Aaron and some others) writing stories for artists like Kyle Baker, Shawn Crystal and… Rob Liefeld. That’s right, Joe Kelly fans – Liefeld’s drawing the Kelly story. Good luck with that.

Otherwise, I like the idea of the 900th issue of DEADPOOL and the Dave Johnson cover is awesome.

I’ll probably pick this one up.

DEADPOOL #900 (MARVEL PAGE 72, $4.99, SSD: 10/07/09; OC: AUG09 0527)

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I went through a period in my formative years where I was completely obsessed with BLOOM COUNTY. I don’t really remember what it was about it, but I couldn’t get enough.

I’d already started collecting those bound versions of THE FAR SIDE and, of course, had some GARFIELD books, but BLOOM COUNTY just caught me one day. I pretty much started hording them, savoring every page. I remember sitting on the solitary bench at the Fashion Barn – seemingly for hours – waiting for my mother to finish shopping, reading every page slowly and deliberately.

I adored the characters: Opus, large-nosed penguin; Milo Bloom, a 10-year-old newspaper reporter and original story lead; Steve Dallas, defense attorney and BC’s anti-hero; and Bill the Cat, Garfield parody and political juggernaut. I know there were others, but I’m blanking on them.

I realize now that I was probably too young to fully grasp what Berkeley Breathed was producing. The politics likely went over my head, though I liked laughing with Bill the Cat.

This collected edition – the first of five – will likely be an attractive reprint but the price is a little high. It’s 288 11”x8” pages for 40 bucks. I need to see if my old copies of “Toons For Our Times” and “Penguin Dreams and Stranger Things” are still in the basement at my mom’s house. Maybe I’ll get all nostalgic like and preorder this sucker.

BLOOM COUNTY COMPLETE LIBRARY, VOL. 1 HC (PAGE 271, $39.99, SSD: 10/07/09; OC: AUG09 0908)

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Like most people, I’ve got a Jetpack Fetish, and the ROCKETEER, an everyday guy with a leather jacket and a helmet with a fin, fits right in there.

It also speaks to the lover of pulp and the 1930s in me, making this a no-brainer. I liked the movie quite a bit. I can vividly remember the mechanic, Peevy (Alan Arkin), sticking the piece of gum on Cliff’s (Bill Campbell) jetpack to seal the fuel leak.

I’ve never had a chance to read the comics, and IDW is reprinting the entire run of Dave Stewart’s ROCKETEER new hardcover editions. The first is normal sized (7” x 10”), 144 pages, recolored by Laura (THE AUTHORITY) Martin. The second, “Deluxe Edition” is the same as the standard, but printed in a larger format (8” x 12”) plus 100 more pages of extras (sketches, layouts, etc).

The standard is $29.99 with the “Deluxe” at $75. I’ll be fine with the standard edition, but I can see the appeal of the “Deluxe”. This is going to be fun.

ROCKETEER COMPLETE COLLECTION, VOL. 1 HC (PAGE 280, $29.99, SSD: 10/28/09; OC: AUG09 0961)
ROCKETEER COMPLETE COLLECTION DLX ED HC VOL 01 (PAGE 280, $75.00, SSD: 10/28/09; OC: AUG09 0962)

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We’ve been waiting for STUMPTOWN for a long time now.

Greg Rucka’s Portland-based crime book was announced last summer and has hopefully been in production this whole time. He’s writing Dex, a flawed yet honorable P.I., who’s in over her head with gambling debts at a casino and trying to break even. She takes a gig trying to find the granddaughter of the casino’s boss and it will likely not work out too well for her.

Rucka writes terrific strong female leads so I’ve got a good feeling about this. I love this type of story and will happily preorder every issue. It’s an ongoing book that was originally scheduled to be four issues arcs with a break in between. I don’t know if that’s still the plan, but that would work for me.

Matthew Southworth does the art, and based on what I saw on INFINITY, INC., he’s got a gritty and slightly realistic style that would be perfect for this type of book. Oh! And it’s full color.

I’m excited for new creator-owned work from Rucka.

STUMPTOWN #1 (PAGE 294, $3.99, 10/21/09; OC: AUG09 1027)

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Lots and lots of comics coming this Fall. And man, this week, is massive.

Upcoming…
Books and items shipping Wednesday August 5th, 2009

JUN090719 8-9-3 OGN
Automaton
$15.00

I preordered this Xeric Foundation winner based on little more than the cover and the artwork. Jack Hsu’s book is a cartoony look at the Yakuza. It’s a “double cross” story that looks like fun. We’ll see.

JUN090733 ABSOLUTION #1 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
JUN090735 ABSOLUTION #1 (OF 6) CRIMEFILES ED (MR) $3.99
JUN090734 ABSOLUTION #1 (OF 6) WRAP CVR
Avatar Press
$3.99

ABSOLUTION is Christos Gage’s mature super hero book about a police-sanctioned vigilante whom crosses the line and starts killing his criminals. It’s a sound concept, but the first issue was pretty much by-the-numbers. I’m hoping Gage works it out.

APR090824 ABSTRACT COMICS ANTHOLOGY HC $39.99
JUN090520 AGENTS OF ATLAS #9 $2.99
MAY090580 AGENTS OF ATLAS PREM HC DARK REIGN $24.99
FEB094228 ALIVE GN VOL 07 (RES) (MR) $11.99
JUN090450 ALL WINNERS COMICS #1 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL $3.99
JUN090476 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #601 $2.99
JUN090984 AMERICAN MCGEES GRIMM #4 $3.99
JUN090962 ANGEL #24 $3.99
JUN090965 ANGEL AFTER THE FALL TP VOL 01 $19.99
JUN090977 ASTRO BOY MOVIE PREQUEL UNDERGROUND #4 $3.99
JUN090237 ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE BOOK THREE #4 (OF 4) $3.99

JUN090233 THE AUTHORITY #13
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99

Last issue of THE AUTHORITY was a heartbreaker. Apollo is infected with the Warhol Virus and left in deepfreeze until the team can find a cure. This takes them to Gamora – the source of the virus – which won’t be good for anyone. Abnet & Lanning are wrapping up their story but it’s still going strong.

MAY091083 BABY & ME GN VOL 15 $8.99
JAN090310 BATMAN #608 POSTER $8.99
MAY098154 BATMAN AND ROBIN #1 3RD PTG $2.99

JUN090152 BATMAN: CONFIDENTIAL #32
DC Comics
$2.99

Part two of Peter Milligan & Andy Clarke’s story of Batman Vs a Humanoid Russian Bear. Yeah.

MAY090657 BETTY #181 $2.50
MAY090660 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #173 $3.99
APR091070 BEYOND WONDERLAND COVER GALLERY $3.99
MAY090823 BIG QUESTIONS #12 (MR) $5.95
MAY091077 BLACK BIRD GN VOL 01 $8.99
JUN090524 BLACK PANTHER 2 #7 $2.99
MAR094216 BLOODRAYNE PRIME CUTS #4 DIPASCALE CVR A $3.99
MAR094217 BLOODRAYNE PRIME CUTS #4 SCOTT CVR B $3.99
MAY091082 BODY GN VOL 06 $8.99
MAY090181 BOOSTER GOLD REALITY LOST TP $14.99
JUN090832 BOYS #33 (MR) $2.99
JUN090048 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #27 CHEN CVR $2.99
JUN090049 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #27 JEANTY CVR $2.99
MAY091102 CAIN TRILOGY PACK (MR) $26.99
JUN090439 CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #2 (OF 5) $3.99
MAY098195 CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #2 (OF 5) CASSADAY SKETCH VAR $3.99
MAY098094 CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #2 (OF 5) CASSADAY VAR (PP #875) $3.99
MAY098011 CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #2 (OF 5) TIM SALE VAR (PP #875) $3.99
MAY098173 CHEW #1 3RD PTG (MR) (PP #877) $2.99
MAY098172 CHEW #2 2ND PTG (MR) (PP #877) $2.99
JUN090376 CHEW #3 (MR) $2.99
MAY090755 COMPLETE JACK SURVIVES HC (RES) (MR) $34.95
MAY091081 CRIMSON HERO TP VOL 11 $8.99
MAY091066 D GRAY MAN GN VOL 14 $7.99
MAY098104 DARK AVENGERS UNCANNY X-MEN UTOPIA #1 2ND PTG VAR $3.99

MAY090458 DARK REIGN: ZODIAC #2 (OF 3)
Marvel Comics
$3.99

First issue of “Zodiac” was awesome. This is the only “must read” “Dark Reign” miniseries. Joe Casey and Nathan Fox are the best. I hope they work together again.

MAY098152 DARK WOLVERINE #75 2ND PTG VAR $3.99
MAR090184 DC LIBRARY FLASH OF TWO WORLDS HC $39.99
JUN090186 DEAD ROMEO #5 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN090774 DEAD RUN #3 $3.99
MAY098153 DEADPOOL #11 2ND PTG VAR $2.99
MAY098109 DEADPOOL MERC WITH A MOUTH #1 2ND PTG DAZO VAR $3.99
JUN090589 DEADPOOL MERC WITH A MOUTH #2 $2.99
MAY090185 DEATH OF THE NEW GODS TP $19.99
JUN090603 DESTROYER #5 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
MAY090822 DIVINE MELODY GN VOL 04 (OF 6) $9.95
MAY090728 DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP #2 (OF 24) $3.99
JUN090972 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #9 $3.99

JUN090176 DOOM PATROL #1
DC Comics
$3.99

I’m pretty excited for Keith Giffen and Matthew Clark’s DOOM PATROL, mostly because I like Clark and I want to see him on a cool book. The back-up, excuse me co-feature, of the METAL MEN from Giffen, DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire will be a lot of fun. More on this next month.

APR090380 DYNAMO 5 #23 $3.50
JUN090646 ETERNALS TP MANIFEST DESTINY $12.99
JUN090526 EXILES #5 $2.99
JUN090643 EXILES ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP BOOK 02 $34.99
MAY091069 EYESHEILD 21 TP VOL 27 $7.99
JUN090967 FALLEN ANGEL REBORN #2 $3.99
MAY090714 FEMALE FORCE #5 PRINCESS DIANA $3.99
JUN090135 FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH RUN #4 (OF 6) $2.99

APR090210 FINAL CRISIS: REVELATIONS HC
DC Comics
$19.99

I think I read most of “Revelations” in issues, but I don’t remember how it ended. It’s the FINAL CRISIS tie-in that focused on The Spectre, Vandal Savage and The new Question. I liked seeing Greg Rucka write Cris Allen (Spectre) and Renee Montoya (The Question) again, but it kind of a rough miniseries. I’m unsure how it all ties together, though, since Montoya is a major part of the end of FC. I guess it all happens before the Dark Side Club? Philip Tan did the art and it’s either bad penciling or bad colors. I think it’s the colors.

APR090734 FINDING NEMO REEF RESCUE #2 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN090535 GHOST RIDERS HEAVENS ON FIRE #1 (OF 6) $3.99
JUN090799 GIGANTIC ROBOT HC $16.95
MAR094043 GIRL GENIUS HC VOL 08 AGATHA & CHAPEL OF BONES $48.95
MAR094044 GIRL GENIUS TP VOL 04 (NEW PTG) $22.95
MAR094042 GIRL GENIUS TP VOL 08 AGATHA & CHAPEL OF BONES $22.95

JUN090266 GREEK STREET #2
Vertigo/DC Comics
$2.99

One issue in and I’m not totally convinced about GREEK STREET yet. Milligan delivers pretty much what I expect but I don’t see yet how it’s going to work in the long run. I’m giving it a shot, though, since Milligan deserves it. Davide Gianfelice’s art doesn’t hurt.

JAN093979 GWAII SC $14.95
APR090756 HACK SLASH SERIES #24 A CVR SEELEY (MR) $3.50
APR090757 HACK SLASH SERIES #24 B CVR MERHOFF (MR) $3.50
MAY091084 HARUKA BEYOND THE STREAM OF TIME GN VOL 05 $8.99
JUN090647 HEROES REBORN THE RETURN TP $29.99
MAY091075 HIKARU NO GO TP VOL 16 $7.95
MAY091072 HOSHIN ENGI TP VOL 14 $7.99
OCT080242 HOT TOYS DARK KNIGHT 1/6 SCALE BATMOBILE $450.00
JUN090537 HOUSE OF M MASTERS OF EVIL #1 (OF 4) $3.99
JUN090264 HOUSE OF MYSTERY #16 (MR) $2.99
JUN090512 HULK #13 DKR $3.99
JUN091053 INCARNATE #1 (OF 3) (MR) $4.99
MAY098150 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #15 2ND PTG VAR $2.99

JUN090496 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #16
Marvel Comics
$2.99

This is awesome and probably my favorite Marvel book.

Matt Fraction has done an excellent job with Tony Stark, post-SECRET INVASION; a lesser writer may have just written him out all together.

JUN090548 IRON MAN ARMOR WARS #1 (OF 4) $2.99

JUN090778 IRREDEEMABLE #5
Boom! Studios
$0.99

JUN090793 IRREDEEMABLE, VOL. 1 TPB
Boom! Studios
$9.99

IRREDEEMABLE is really kind of awesome. Really. Mark Waid is doing the ultimate “good guy gone bad” story. The first four issues are available this week as a 10 buck trade paperback, which is a great deal. On top of that, #5 is here for another 99 cents. I just read it. It’s bad stuff. The Plutonian is a Superman analogue, yeah, but he’s Superman cranked up to 11. Peter Krause’s art is really slick as well. It’s a great looking book and where else are you going to find five comics for 11 bucks this week?

FEB094453 JAMES BOND TP GIRL MACHINE $19.95
JUN091046 JENNA BLUE GN (MR) $7.99
JUN090383 JERSEY GODS #6 $3.50
MAY091074 JOJOS BIZARRE ADVENTURE TP VOL 12 (RES) $7.99
JUN090187 JONAH HEX #46 $2.99

JUN090183 JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #2 (OF 7)
DC Comics
$3.99

Lots of complaints about last issue. I liked it just fine and can’t wait for more. Thanks.

APR090350 KABOOM LTD ED HC $24.99
APR090648 KADE RISING SUN #4 (OF 4) $3.95
MAY091085 KAZE HIKARU GN VOL 14 $8.99
JUN090800 KRAMERS ERGOT SC VOL 06 (O/A) (MR) $34.95
MAR094059 LAND OF OZ PKT MANGA TP VOL 01 $14.95
MAY090813 LE CHEVALIER DEON GN VOL 07 (MR) $11.99
MAY090715 LEGEND OF ISIS (BLUEWATER) #3 $3.99
MAY091089 LEGEND OF ZELDA GN VOL 06 FOUR SWORDS PT 1 $7.99
MAY090716 LIONSGATE FILMS LEPRECHAUN #3 (MR) $3.99
APR090826 LOCAS HC VOL 02 MAGGIE HOPEY & RAY $39.99
JUN090991 LOCKE & KEY TP VOL 01 WELCOME TO LOVECRAFT $19.99
JUN091021 LOVE AND CAPES #11 $3.95

JUN090463 LUKE CAGE NOIR #1 (OF 4) $3.99
JUN090464 LUKE CAGE NOIR #1 (OF 4) CALERO VAR
Marvel Comics
$3.99

Not really into the writers (Mike Benson and Adam Glass) but I love love love Shawn Martinbrough’s art.

And Luke Cage is pretty cool, I guess.

JUN090658 MARVELS PROJECT POSTER $8.99

MAY090190 METAL MEN TPB
DC Comics
$14.99

Duncan Rouleau’s METAL MEN is crammed with material. It’s a tough read but worth the time and effort, especially at fifteen bucks.

JUN090190 MIGHTY #7 $2.99
FEB092598 MMW GOLDEN AGE YOUNG ALLIES HC VOL 01 $59.99
FEB092599 MMW GOLDEN AGE YOUNG ALLIES HC VOL 01 VAR ED 121 $59.99
FEB092600 MMW SUB-MARINER HC VOL 03 $54.99
FEB092601 MMW SUB-MARINER HC VOL 03 VAR ED 120 $54.99
MAY091071 MUHYO ROJIS BUREAU SUPER INVEST TP VOL 12 $7.99
APR090739 MUPPET ROBIN HOOD #3 (OF 4) $2.99
MAY090257 MUSASHI #9 VOL 16 (RES) $9.99

MAY090186 NIGHTWING: THE GREAT LEAP TPB
DC Comics
$19.99

I liked Peter Tomasi’s take on Dick Grayson/Nightwing but the stuff here, (NIGHTWING #147-153) just wasn’t as good. It’s Nightwing Vs Two-Face, part of the “R.I.P.” story and it didn’t grab me. There’s a solid Doug Mahnke issue in there, though. This is pretty much for completists, only.

MAY090816 NODAME CANTABILE GN VOL 16 (MR) $11.99
MAY091068 NORA LAST CHRONICLE OF DEVILDOM GN VOL 06 $7.99

JUN090247 NORTH 40 #2 (OF 6)
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99

I think I need to read more of NORTH 40 before I really comment.

Horror comics are hard to pull off and I’m not yet convinced.

But it’s early, still.

JUN090449 OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #8 $3.99
MAY091078 OTOMEN GN VOL 03 $8.99

NOV082239 PAX ROMANA, VOL. 1 TPB
Image Comics
$14.99

I gave up on Hickman’s PAX ROMANA after the second issue. There’s too much going on to try to remember what during four issues over a year.

The tpb, though, should be fine.

MAY090986 PHANTOM GHOST WHO WALKS #4 CVR A $3.99
MAY091088 POKEMON ADVENTURES TP VOL 02 2ND ED $7.99
MAY090713 POLITICAL POWER #1 COLIN POWELL $3.99

JUN090172 RED CIRCLE: THE HANGMAN #1
DC Comics
$2.99

I don’t really care about these “Red Circle” books, but if you do, here’s the first. From: J. Michael Straczynski and art by Tom Derenick & Bill Sienkiewicz.

MAY091067 ROSARIO VAMPIRE GN VOL 08 $7.99
FEB090011 SAGA SOLOMON KANE TP $19.95
JUN090392 SAVAGE DRAGON #151 $3.50
JUN090232 SCOOBY DOO #147 $2.50
JUN090194 SECRET SIX #12 $2.99
MAY091076 SHONEN JUMP SEPTEMBER 09 $4.99
MAY091070 SLAM DUNK GN VOL 05 $7.99
JUN090195 SOLOMON GRUNDY #6 (OF 7) $2.99
MAY090665 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES TP VOL 11 $7.95
MAY090575 SPIDER-MAN AND THE HUMAN TORCH HC $19.99

MAY090595 SPIDER-MAN: CRIME AND PUNISHER TPB
Marvel Comics
$14.99

I’m generally pretty apathetic regarding AMAZING SPIDER-MAN these days, but I’ve been dying to read Zeb Wells & Paolo Rivera’s Punisher story. The art’s great.

MAY090599 SPIDER-MAN FAMILY TIES TP $14.99
JUN090196 SPIRIT #32 $2.99
JUN090960 STAR TREK ALIEN SPOTLIGHT Q $3.99
MAY090011 STAR WARS DARK TIMES BLUE HARVEST #0 $2.99
JUN090057 STAR WARS INVASION #2 (OF 5) $2.99
JUN090197 STRANGE ADVENTURES #6 (OF 8) $3.99
APR091006 STREET FIGHTER IV #3 (OF 4) A CVR TSANG $3.95
APR091007 STREET FIGHTER IV #3 (OF 4) B CVR NG $3.95
JAN090312 SUPERMAN #204 POSTER $8.99

JUN090159 SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #6 (OF 12)
DC Comics
$2.99

The “Codename: Patriot” crossover starts here. The last issue of “WoNK” ended with Zod pledging his allegiance to Superman … then getting shot during a speech. It was actually very, very unexpected. I was planning on not reading this whole story, but I might need to check it out now.

MAY090668 TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #34 $2.69
MAR094391 TALES FROM THE CRYPT GN VOL 07 SOMETHING WICCA $7.95
MAY090980 TALES OF TMNT #60 $3.25
MAY090258 TEARS OF A LAMB VOL 06 $9.99
JUN090842 TERMINATOR REVOLUTION TP $19.99
MAY090626 TERRY MOORES ECHO #14 $3.50
JUN090837 THE GOOD THE BAD & THE UGLY #2 $3.50
DEC080078 TIM BURTON PLAYING CARDS $4.99

MAY090248 TRANSMETROPOLITAN: YEAR OF THE BASTARD NEW EDITION, VOL. 3 TPB
Vertigo/DC Comics
$12.99

“Year of the Bastard” is where Spider Jerusalem decides to head back to hardcore reporting and dives headfirst into covering the upcoming election. This is where the story starts coming together – the first two volumes are fun and insanity, but this, this is where the magic lives.

JUN090458 TROJAN WAR #4 (OF 5) $3.99

JUN090321 TYRESE GIBSON’S MAYHEM #1 (OF 3)
Image Comics
$2.99

This looks terrible. I don’t know who’s looking for it. I saw some preview pages over @CBR and it looks like it’s pages that fell out of an old issue of SPAWN. Tone Rodriguez’s art has a McFarlane/Chaykin-esque look to it (and not in a good way). I can’t wait until Tyrese Gibson stars in the crappy MAYHEM movie.

MAY090439 ULTIMATUM FANTASTIC FOUR REQUIEM #1 $3.99
MAY090441 ULTIMATUM X-MEN REQUIEM #1 $3.99
FEB090127 UMBRELLA ACADEMY BUTTON PACK #2 $5.99
MAY098151 UNCANNY X-MEN #513 2ND PTG VAR $3.99
MAY091080 VAMPIRE KNIGHT TP VOL 07 $8.99
JUN090987 VEIL #2 $3.99
MAY090717 VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS #11 $3.99
MAY091065 WAQ WAQ GN VOL 01 $7.99
MAY090527 WAR MACHINE #8 $2.99
JUN090569 WAR OF KINGS #6 (OF 6) $3.99
JUN090568 WAR OF KINGS WARRIORS #2 (OF 2) $3.99
APR090720 WARLOCK (BLUEWATER) #4 $3.99
JUN090202 WARLORD #5 $2.99

APR090689 WARREN ELLIS’ FRANKENSTEIN’S WOMB OGN
Avatar Press
$6.99

FRANKENSTEIN’S WOMB comes from Warren Ellis & Marek Oleksicki, dealing with Mary Shelley’s visit to Castle Frankenstein (she never really did) where she was “inspired” or “horrified” into creating the epic science fiction story. The preview pages I saw looked great. I’m glad to see this finally come out.

JUN091047 WE THE PEOPLE GN (MR) $7.99

JUN090139 WEDNESDAY COMICS #5 (OF 12)
DC Comics
$3.99

OK, after reading #4, THE FLASH/IRIS WEST is the best strip in this comic. It’s totally coming together in such a cool way. And Batman is fun, too.

OCT080050 WETA HALO 3 CORTANA STATUE $250.00
JUL080069 WETA NARNIA PRINCE CASPIAN STATUE CASPIAN & STEED $330.00
APR090939 WHEN WE FALL GN $18.75
MAY090718 WILLIAM SHATNER PRESENTS TEK WAR #2 (MR) $3.99
JUN090052 WITCHFINDER IN THE SERVICE OF ANGELS #2 (OF 5) $2.99
JAN090316 WOMEN OF THE DCU SERIES 2 SUPERGIRL BUST $55.00
JAN090333 WOW PREMIUM SER 1 GNOLL WARLORD AF PI
JAN090332 WOW PREMIUM SER 1 TUSKARR AF PI
MAY090579 X-MEN LEGACY SALVAGE PREM HC $24.99
MAY090605 X-MEN ORIGINAL SIN TP $14.99
APR090937 YOUNG LOVECRAFT GN $14.95

---

That’s a ton of books this week. Thanks for reading. I think I’ll have some mini reviews for next time. See you then.

 

Brian Domingos is the Editor-in-Chief at Popimage.com. Questions? Comments? Love Notes? Email him via brian@popimage.com. To submit a comic for review, please email him at the email link. We're always interested to see what people have to offer. And you can follow him on Twitter @bdomingos


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