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UNTIL YOUR HEART STOPS v31.7
by Brian Domingos
Scenes From The Future: Part LXXV
November 4th, 2009
Welcome to the start of November 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 at the beginning of next year, starting in January 2010 and beyond.
 We start off this month, as we do with most months, with a pair of books from Mike Mignola’s corner of the Dark Horse publishing empire.
“King of Fear” is the latest miniseries that follows the agents of the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. It picks up threads from the previous mini, “The Black Goddess” and sends the Bureau scattered around the world.
Dark Horse has planned this perfectly, with the collection of “The Black Goddess” being released last week, I’m in the right mindset to jump back into the adventures of the B.P.R.D. Creator-wise, we’re dealing with the same terrific crew: Mignola and John Arcudi on story/script, Guy Davis on pencils/inks and Dave Stewart on colors. These guys have been doing it right since they all teamed up (with "The Dead") and it’s a joy to read the ongoing story.
Then, we’ve got the ninth volume of HELLBOY, “The Wild Hunt” from Mignola and artist Duncan Fegredo. It’s been a long time since I read the first Mignola/Fegredo HB story, and since “The Wild Hunt” picks up on some of the plot threads – specifically with the Queen of Blood – I’ll need to give “Darkness Calls” a reread before this comes out.
Bottom-line is – Mignola and Dark Horse always puts out a quality product in story, art and actual published material. I also love the heft of the books... that and the smell. This is a sure thing.
B.P.R.D.: KING OF FEAR #1 (OF 5) (PAGE 36, $2.99, Schedule Shipping Date: 01/13/10; Order Code: NOV09 0044)
HELLBOY: WILD HUNT, VOL. 9 TPB (PAGE 37, $19.99, SSD: 03/10/10; OC: NOV09 0045)
 Knowing that Dark Horse puts out such a nice product, I’m very close to buying Rafael Grampá’s MESMO DELIVERY for the second time.
I snagged a copy of the AdHouse edition earlier this year on Free Comic Book Day. I’ve seen a little bit of Grampá’s work previously (HELLBLAZER #250) but I didn’t know what to expect. It’s a tightly plotted story about a delivery truck, its secret cargo and the fist-fighting driver. There some unexpected twists so I won’t talk more about the plot but it’s the art that impressed me the most.
Grampá’s style is a mix of Paul Pope and Frank Quitely with the dense, detailed linework of Tony Millionaire. It’s 80 pages of tense storytelling and bloodied, broken fists. This Dark Horse edition is only ten bucks and really, that’s a steal for a complete work by one of the real up-and-coming talents.
I saw it for five bucks at DCBS; I had to splurge… again.
MESMO DELIVERY OGN (PAGE 41, $9.99, SSD: 03/03/10; OC: NOV09 0061)
 The main “Blackest Night” book hits a skip month before the big conclusion but there are still so so so many BN books to read.
GREEN LANTERN gets a 50th issue from Geoff Johns, Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy who dole out Hal Jordan Vs Black Lantern Spectre. GREEN LANTERN CORPS #44 (Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason & Rebecca Buchman) has Guy Gardner fall to the Rage of the Red Lanterns – by becoming one himself.
The “Blackest Night” tie-ins see their second issues: “The Flash” (Johns/Scott Kolins) has Barry Allen Vs Nekron, “JSA” (James Robinson/Eddy Barrows & Ruy Jose) has Black Lantern Lois Lane Vs Power-Girl and “Wonder Woman” has Diana Vs Death itself.
And that’s all well and done, but that’s not the Big BLACKEST NIGHT story of January. Eight canceled/ended books are coming back from the dead for a special issue:
I’m talking about Geoff Johns and Ryan Sook on THE ATOM & HAWKMAN #46: I love John’s Atom and his Hawkman and Sook draws both well. We're dealing with two different sets of Black Lantern Hawkmans and Black Lantern Hawkgirls. This is a must.
Fabian Nicieza, Julian Lopez & Bit get Selina Kyle involved with “Blackest Night” and deal with the murdered Black Mast in CATWOMAN #83. I’m just glad Will Pfeifer isn’t involved.
The BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN creative team of Peter J. Tomasi, Ardian Syaf & Vicente Cifuentes look at the magical side of the DCU in THE PHANTOM STRANGER #42.
FINAL CRISIS - AFTERMATH: INK writer Eric Wallace teams with JSA VS KOBRA art team Don Kramer & Michael Babinski on THE POWER OF SHAZAM #48, showing a de-powered Billy and Mary Batson on the run from a Black Lantern Osiris. I always liked Kramer’s Marvel Family stuff, so this will be cool.
Black Lantern Vic Sage faces off against Renee Montoya and Lady Shiva, too, in THE QUESTION #37 from current Question writer Greg Rucka and classic Question artists Denys Cowan & Bill Sienkiewicz. This one’s a must, too and I hope it’s collected in the sixth QUESTION volume down the road.
The biggest surprise is STARMAN #81. One of my favorite series of all time returns for a special issue with The Shade on a date with Hope O’Dare and an ominous return of a Black Lantern Starman. There’s a lot of dead Starmen, so Who is anyone’s guess. James Robinson is of course the writer and while I’m disappointed to see that Peter Snejbjerg didn’t return for the art, Fernando Dagnino & Bill Sienkiewicz will be fine replacements (but it could have been perfect). And I hope this gets collected in the sixth STARMAN OMNIBUS down the line.
Dan DiDio and Renato Arlem are doing WEIRD WESTERN TALES #71, resurrecting Jonah Hex, Bat Lash and Scalphunter, which is odd, but OK.
Finally, John Ostrander & Gail Simone and J. Calafiore do a two-parter starting the Suicide Squad and Secret Six spanning SUICIDE SQUAD #67/SECRET SIX #17. Ostrander’s had some medical issues lately and it’s nice to see him getting some work. And on top of that, the two books – both starring Deadshot – were made for each other. I’m hoping these get collected in an upcoming SECRET SIX book.
GREEN LANTERN #50 (PAGE 57, $3.99, SSD: 01/27/10; OC: NOV09 0105)
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #44 (PAGE 58, $2.99, SSD: 01/20/10; OC: NOV09 0108)
BLACKEST NIGHT: THE FLASH #2 (OF 3) (PAGE 59, $2.99, SSD: 01/13/10; OC: NOV09 0110)
BLACKEST NIGHT: JSA #2 (OF 3) (PAGE 60, $2.99, SSD: 01/27/10; OC: NOV09 0112)
BLACKEST NIGHT: WONDER WOMAN #2 (OF 3) (PAGE 61, $2.99, SSD: 01/06/10; OC: NOV09 0114)
ATOM AND HAWKMAN #46 (PAGE 62, $2.99, SSD: 01/27/10; OC: NOV09 0116)
CATWOMAN #83 (PAGE 63, $2.99, SSD: 01/13/10; OC: NOV09 0117)
PHANTOM STRANGER #42 (PAGE 64, $2.99, SSD: 01/20/10; OC: NOV09 0118)
POWER OF SHAZAM #48 (PAGE 65, $2.99, SSD: 01/13/10; OC: NOV09 0119)
THE QUESTION #37 (PAGE 66, $2.99, SSD: 01/27/10; OC: NOV09 0120)
STARMAN #81 (PAGE 67, $2.99, SSD: 01/20/10; OC: NOV09 0121)
WEIRD WESTERN TALES #71 (PAGE 68, $2.99, SSD: 01/06/10; OC: NOV09 0122)
SUICIDE SQUAD #67 (PAGE 69, $2.99, SSD: 01/06/10; OC: NOV09 0123)
SECRET SIX #17 (PAGE 70, $2.99, SSD: 01/13/10; OC: NOV09 0124)
 Delayed a month to ship after the sixth issue of BLACKEST NIGHT, the seventh issue of Grant Morrison’s BATMAN AND ROBIN features a change in venue for a short arc.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #7 takes the Dynamic Duo across the pond to England for a team up with the UK’s B&R, Knight and Squire. They continue to track the Domino Killer, fight off new Bat-Rogue The Flamingo and get closer to figuring out the “death” of Bruce Wayne.
Sounds like a jam-packed three-issue arc.
Oh, and it also has some Batwoman too, and, yeah, Cameron Stewart on art. People talk about the Morrison/Stewart collaboration on SEA GUY, and, while I do love that stuff, I thought their MANHATTAN GUARDIAN work for SEVEN SOLDIERNS was pitch-perfect superheroics. I’m expecting more of the same here. And Stewart’s shown off some of his pages in various places and he’s doing a nice homage to Frank Quitely in his style, which means it’s going be a killer book.
I can’t wait for this.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #7 (PAGE 71, $2.99, SSD: 01/27/10; OC: NOV09 0125)
 So we’re currently one issue into the James Robinson/Mark Bagley-era of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA and so far we’re covering the same old “standing around and talking about things” ground.
It’s a place-holder for the “Blackest Night” issues before they debut a new team roster in J.L.A. #41 and there are some old favorites and new surprises.
Dr. Light sticks around from the current incarnation and Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Ollie Queen/Green Arrow and Ray Palmer/The Atom represent the old folks. New to the crew are some classic “promoted” Titans: Dick Grayson/Batman, Donna Troy, Cyborg and Starfire. Robinson also threw in his recent toys Mon-El, the Guardian and Congorilla to round it off.
It’s a weird mix of generations and eras but I think there’s some potential. I’d rather Robinson write characters he wants, rather than characters he’s stuck with using (we saw how that didn't work with McDuffie). He’s got the Junior Big Three in Dick, Donna and Mon; Ray Palmer who’s always fun and the Guardian and Congorilla, whom are really growing on me. And Robinson said that the cast is likely to fluctuate, which adds more storytelling range.
I’m hoping this creative team stays comfortable and sticks around for a while. It’s a shame to see J.L.A. be a boring book month after month. I’m ready for the League to make their way to the top again.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41 CVR A (PAGE 81, $3.99, SSD: 01/20/10; OC: NOV09 0153)
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41 CVR B (PAGE 81, $3.99, SSD: 01/20/10; OC: NOV09 0154)
 There are more than a half-dozen DC trade paperbacks coming in February that are worth your while. Here’s a quick look:
The second half of ALL-STAR SUPERMAN finally gets a soft cover edition. I followed the issues and have the hardcovers so I can tell you truthfully that this is one of the best Superman stories I’ve ever read. Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely pushed the boundaries of storytelling and continue to show off the potential that comics – words + pictures – can deliver. Superman’s greatest triumphs are here in this comic, whether it’s fighting off aliens from the Bizarro planet, using microscopic Kandorians to cure cancer or metaphysically giving birth to himself. It’s stunning.
I’m mildly interested in the THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD: MILESTONE collection, which integrated the Milestone characters into the DC Universe. It’s a bevy of talents like Matt Wayne, Adam Beechen and John Rozum working to introduce (respectively) Static & Black Lightning (B&B #24), Blue Beetle & Hardware (B&B #25) and The Spectre (Crispus Allen) & Xombi (B&B #26). I’ve only read the Spectre/Xombi issue and it was a good one. Rozum’s one of those under-appreciated talents out there and Scott Hampton's art was haunting. Also included here are reprints of HARDWARE #16, STATIC #12 and XOMBI #6 from Dwayne McDuffie, Kurt Busiek and Rozum.
The push to reprint Garth Ennis and John McCrea’s HITMAN continues with a new edition of the second volume, 10,000 BULLETS. This has issues #4-8 which has Tommy Monaghan facing off against Moe, the living twin Dubelz brother as well as the first Annual, which has a terrific Western pastiche. The first story introduces Tommy’s friend, the non-swearing Natt "the Hatt" Walls, the bumbling vigilante Nightfist, the quick-draw assassin Johnny Navarone,and has some of the move violent action scenes in the entire series. It’s brutal and heart-wrenching and sets a tone for the rest of the series. The annual is by Carlos Ezquerra and Steve Pugh and does action on the Mexican Border with some of the funnier material in the first year of the book. HITMAN skillfully toes the line of humor and drama, delivering a hard-hitting action romp. I highly recommend it.
It’s taken a while to see this get collected, but it’ll be a welcome addition to my shelf. DC UNIVERSE: ORIGINS collects the two page origins of the heroes and villains that were first seen in the back of 52, then COUNTDOWN and recently in books like “Cry For Justice”. Writers Mark Waid, Scotty Beatty and Len Wein got to work with the best in the business to boil down the origin stories of over 50 characters. They are all well done and let you know everything you need to know about these characters. It’s a nice little treat.
Next, there’s a pair of FINAL CRISIS – AFTERMATH tpbs, collecting “Dance” and “Run!”. Both are six issues a piece and focus on plot points and characters that spun out of last year’s FINAL CRISIS. “Dance” came from Joe Casey, ChrisCross, Eduardo Pansica (and others) and showcased Japan’s premiere teen-team, the Super Young Team. It played up to Casey’s strengths – pop culture, the media and teen-speak – and worked itself into a fun little prima donna mellow drama. “Run!” came from Matthew Sturges & Freddie Williams II and dealt with The Human Flame and his getaway from the heroes (for the death of Martian Manhunter) and the villains (for siding with Libra). Sturges had a plethora of bizarre characters that the ‘Flame could run from and Williams’ art progressed to the next level. Both had a lot of potential and succeeded pretty well.
The seeds of all of this BLACKEST NIGHT stuff were planted long ago, as seen in Geoff Johns’ recent retconing and reintroductions of classic Green Lantern lore. “Secret Origin” is a new version of Hal Jordan’s origin and shows the real dealings of Sinestro, the fate of Sector 666 and Black Hand. It’s a lot of set-up for the recent arcs and all necessary to the overall BLACKEST NIGHT story. By Johns, Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Finally, there’s the KOBRA: RESURRECTION collection, which shows the origin of the fundamentalist DCU villain. It includes the first Kobra story, the uncollected Kobra story from CHECKMATE #23-25 and February’s reintroduction of the character from “Faces of Evil.” I had a feeling something like this was going to be on the horizon, what with the JSA VS KOBRA being so awesome. Oh, and here’s a quick rundown of the talents involved: Martin Pasko, Jack Kirby, Greg Rucka, Eric Trautmann and Ivan Brandon writing and Mike Nasser, Kirby and Joe Bennet on art. It’s a lot of cool stories about one of the DCU’s hardcore villains.
ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, VOL. 2 TPB (PAGE 88, $12.99, SSD: 02/10/10; OC: NOV09 0184)
BRAVE AND THE BOLD: MILESTONE TPB (PAGE 88, $17.99, SSD: 02/10/10; OC: NOV09 0171)
HITMAN: 10,000 BULLETS, VOL. 2 NEW PTG TPB (PAGE 88, $17.99, SSD: 02/24/10; OC: NOV09 0172)
DC UNIVERSE ORIGINS TPB (PAGE 88, $14.99, SSD: 02/17/10; OC: NOV09 0173)
FINAL CRISIS - AFTERMATH: DANCE TPB (PAGE 89, $17.99, SSD: 02/17/10; OC: NOV09 0175)
FINAL CRISIS - AFTERMATH: RUN TPB (PAGE 89, $17.99, SSD: 02/24/10; OC: NOV09 0176)
GREEN LANTERN: SECRET ORIGIN TPB (PAGE 89, $14.99, SSD: 02/03/10; OC: NOV09 0177)
KOBRA: RESURRECTION TPB (PAGE 90, $19.99, SSD: 02/17/10; OC: NOV09 0180)
 My continued love affair with the Wildstorm Universe spreads into the new year as THE AUTHORITY and WILDCATS formally get new creative teams.
The co-writing team behind THE HIGHWAYMEN Marc Bernardin & Adam Freeman take over with THE AUTHORITY #18 with a group of super powered beings leaving the Earth with the Carrier, The Authority's long-time home and headquarters. There’s a lovely spread by Al Barrionuevo on the WS blog that shows a majority of the WSU characters put to the test. I don’t know who the new Authority is going to be yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing the new team. Bernardin & Freeman write some awesome, action-packed comics and is Barrionuevo looking for his big break.
Over on the other side, Adam Beechen and artists Tim Seeley & Ryan Wynn give the flagship WSU title a new direction as WILDCATS #19 features a massive cast and deadly new foes. Although I have no connection to the art team, I thought Beechen had a great run on ROBIN and I’m going to continue to support his work.
I’ve got a good feeling about this stuff.
THE AUTHORITY #18 (PAGE 96, $2.99, SSD: 01/06/10; OC: NOV09 0203)
WILDCATS #19 (PAGE 96, $2.99, SSD: 01/27/10; OC: NOV09 0204)
 Just in time for the new creative team change, the second collection of the “World’s End”-era AUTHORITY contains the final issues of the Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning run (#8-17).
“Rule Brittania” shows the Authority against one of their own, invaders from a far away land and them eventually getting back on their feet. The recent issues have been particularly great with the combined art of Simone Coleby and Drew Johnson.
And hey, it’s nine issues for twenty bucks – that’s a savings of $7, which should be a selling point.
And oh, yeah, the final of four PLANETARY hardcovers. It contains issues #19-27, the remaining story parts that close the current chapter of the “Elijah Snow” story. It’s not over, mind you (hopefully), but it’s done for now. I didn’t talk about the final issue when it came out last month because I couldn’t think of the right words. It’s hard to think of the whole book in the context of 10 years and 27 issues.
I reread the entirety of the series leading up to #27 and I think it works out pretty well. The problem is that it feels like a different book than it was at the very start. But truthfully, it fits with the change in Elijah, the man he became after his memories came back was not the same that started the series.
But yeah – I still liked it. And there’s a lot of great material in here. Warren Ellis and John Cassaday might not look back on it fondly but I always will.
THE AUTHORITY: RULE BRITTANIA TPB (PAGE 97, $19.99, SSD: 02/24/10; OC: NOV09 0206)
PLANETARY, VOL. 4 HC (PAGE 97, $24.99, SSD: 03/03/10; OC: NOV09 0207)
 Over in the Vertigo corner of the DC output, we’ve got the fourth Vertigo Crime book, THE BRONX KILL.
Peter Milligan and James Romberger do a generational crime story about the son of family of cops who wants to be a writer and slowly learns the dark truths about his family’s past. Knowing it’s Milligan, it’s sure to be an utterly twisted story. And Romberger, probably best known for his arc on 20/20 VISIONS, can handle the warped and perverse.
We’ve had two Vertigo Crime books so far (only one was actually a crime story, but that’s neither here nor there) and I’m already in love with the format. The books are gorgeously produced, with lovely Lee Bermejo covers and a uniform trade-dress. It’s a great little package in 5” x 8” and 184 pages for only 20 bucks.
THE BRONX KILL is also the second of what will hopefully be many VC books in 2010. Now’s the time, Vertigo and I’m ready for more.
BRONX KILL HC (PAGE 104, $19.99, SSD: 03/17/10; OC: NOV09 0223)
 It’s no surprise that I’m a big fan of Grant Morrison, but I’m also a huge fan of artist Sean Murphy.
Murphy’s work on his OGN OFF-ROAD, BATMAN/SCARECROW: YEAR ONE and SUPERMAN/BATMAN is top notch comics. His storytelling is graceful; the figures move deftly through the panels with energy and ease. I’m not talking speedlines or anything like that. He’s just got The Eye, the ability to pin-point the perfect moment to sum up the action of a scene. (Frank Quitely and Paul Pope as have it.)
So yeah, to see that the two of them are working on something called JOE THE BARBARIAN seems like a hoot. We’ve got this young boy with health problems and a messed up homelife who drifts between the Real World and Fantasy.
So far we’ve seen art that’s a mash-up of 20+ years of pop culture references from ninja soldiers, transforming robots and space ship pilots.
That sounds like 8 issues of perfection – and the first issue’s only a buck.
JOE THE BARBARIAN #1 (OF 8) (PAGE 108, $1.00, SSD: 01/20/10; OC: NOV09 0224)
 I’m happy to see Erik Larsen solicit another SAVAGE DRAGON trade paperback, but I’m fearful it’ll never come out.
I read DRAGON back in high school, really enjoying from #30 to around #52. I didn’t like #50 all that much so I was a bit soured by the whole thing, but I wanted to follow it up again. There was a 12th volume that was solicited a couple of years ago (collection #59-63) that seems to have fallen off of the production schedule.
Like 6 years back he did volume 15 called “This Savage World” which was at the time all out of order. It was a new status quo back in, jeez, 2003 and collected #76-81. He’s all over the map with this stuff.
So now we’ve got “Back In Blue” which skips ahead to SD #145-150 and resets the status quo to Dragon back with the Chicago police department. Fair enough, I’ll keep up. But I want to see the missing, 100 issues. Sounds like Larsen needs some "collection" help. He could do six-eight issue tpbs two or three times a year to get caught. Hell, even more of those B&W archives would work.
SAVAGE DRAGON BACK IN BLUE TPB (PAGE 146, $14.99, SSD: 01/06/10; OC: NOV09 0357)
 I thought that SECRET INVASION turned out to be a bit of a mess but DARK REIGN has actually worked out pretty well. The result has been some of the best comics from Marvel in recent years, namely Matt Fraction’s INVINCIBLE IRON MAN and Andy Diggle’s THUNDERBOLTS.
The next era/event is here, marking the end of Norman Osborn’s “Dark Reign” and the beginning of the reunification of The Big Three Avengers and the SEIGE. It starts in December and spans the following four months, right into May. It’s nice to see a shortened “event” with only a dozen tie-ins instead of a hundred.
Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel – previous collaborators on HOUSE OF M – are doing the main SIEGE book which shows Osborn’s last power grab: Asgard itself. I’m a little concerned because, yeah, I love comics and all but that Thor/Asgard stuff bores me to tears.
The tie-ins for January are NEW AVENGERS #61 (Bendis/Stuart Immonen), DARK AVENGERS #13 (Bendis/Deodato Jr.), SIEGE: EMBEDDED (Brian Reed/Chris Samnee), DARK WOLVERINE #82 (Marjorie Liu & Daniel Way/Giuseppe Camuncoli), AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #32 (Christos N. Gage/Rafa Sandoval).
The new Marvel Universe status quo starts here.
SIEGE: EMBEDDED #1 (OF 4) (MARVEL PAGE 4, $3.99, SSD: 01/06/10; OC: NOV09 0418)
SIEGE #1 (OF 4) (MARVEL PAGE 5, $3.99, SSD: 01/06/10; OC: NOV09 0419)
NEW AVENGERS #61 (MARVEL PAGE 6, $3.99, SSD: 01/27/10; OC: NOV09 0423)
DARK AVENGERS #13 (MARVEL PAGE 7, $3.99, SSD: 01/20/10; OC: NOV09 0424)
DARK WOLVERINE #82 (MARVEL PAGE 8, $2.99, SSD: 01/20/10; OC: NOV09 0425)
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #32 (MARVEL PAGE 9, $2.99, SSD: 01/27/10; OC: NOV09 0426)
 A quick pair of Marvel trades:
I was immediately put off by the title, the cover art and the price tag of MARVEL DIVAS, so much that I didn’t even want to spend a second looking at it. It seemed like a cheesy money grab, attempting to cash in on the recently announced GOTHAM SIRENS book from Paul Dini and DC.
Turns out, though, it’s actually pretty good. Roberto Aguierre-Sacasa delivers his usual tender scripts, that showcase the characters that just happen to be superheroines. They are four women living in New York City with man trouble and problems at work who just happen to punch bad guys in the face. The art by Tonci Zonjic helps sell the scripts, with expressive figure-work and acting. It makes a seamless story that is as funny as it is sad.
We also have the second “Ultimate Collection” of Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos’ ALIAS. The final thirteen issues deal with Spider-Women problems (young and old) and the Secret Origin of Jessica Jones and why she’s not a superhero any more. It’s about as fucked up as you can get. It’s psychological torture and mayhem from the Purple Man and a last minute save by the X-man Jean Grey. It’s an unexpectedly complex story that cemented my love for Jessica and her plight.
Bendis and Gaydos work perfectly in tangent telling some of the finest stories around.
Really cool stuff.
MARVEL DIVAS TPB (MARVEL PAGE 113, $14.99, SSD: 01/06/10; OC: NOV09 0563)
ALIAS ULTIMATE COLLECTION, BOOK 2 TPB (MARVEL PAGE 115, $34.99, SSD: 01/27/10; OC: NOV09 0567)
 I mentioned last week that I was surprised to that I was actually enjoying a G.I. JOE comic and now, I’m just as surprised that I’m looking forward to another.
Of course, it’s the second volume of the book I liked before, “Cobra” by the same creative team of Mike Costa, Christos Gage and artist Antonio Fuso.
It’s a black-ops series where the JOE agent codenamed Chuckles infiltrates COBRA and might be past the point of no return. Actually, when I think about it, it reminds me a lot of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips SLEEPER. Big Bads, secrecy and the good guy in hiding. Fuso even has a Phillips-esque style, more like a looser Michael Lark. But the talent is there.
So yeah, more G.I. JOE for me.
GI JOE COBRA II #1 (PAGE 235, $3.99, SSD: 01/27/10; OC: NOV09 0809)
 Last book of the month is a weird one.
Marc Guggenheim’s RESURRECTION is an examination of the world 10 years after aliens invaded and the human beings looking to survive the whole ordeal. The original miniseries ran for seven issues from Guggenheim, Dave Dumeer and Douglas Dabbs. It was in black & white and was collected in an oh-so-awesomely cheap trade paperback for six dollars.
The book was relaunched as in full color earlier this year with Justin Greenwood on art and has shipped steadily. I’ve been waiting for another collection and was excited when I saw this but wait a minute:
This Deluxe Edition collects the 7 new issues plus the first 7 issues… for $25 bucks. I know it’s a good deal issues-by-the-dollar but I don’t want the first 7 again. I certainly don’t want to pay eight times what I paid for the first tpb for the new reprint.
Seems kind of bogus.
BUT – it is a good book. It doesn’t fall into the traps you’d think it would, with Guggenheim staying away from the obvious plot holes and telling a new kind of story. It’s a cool little book. If you’re new to the series, I say absolutely, go for it.
RESURRECTION: DELUXE EDITION, VOL. 1 TPB (PAGE 251, $24.99, SSD: 01/20/10; OC: NOV09 0887)
I’m running a little late this week because I was sick but here’s what shipped yesterday:
Upcoming…
Books and items shipping Wednesday November 4th, 2009
AUG090974 A CHRISTMAS CAROL HC $14.99
AUG090678 ABSOLUTION #3 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
AUG090680 ABSOLUTION #3 (OF 6) CRIMEFILES ED (MR) $3.99
AUG090679 ABSOLUTION #3 (OF 6) WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
AUG090348 AGE OF BRONZE #29 (MR) $3.50
SEP090014 AGE OF REPTILES JOURNEY #1 $3.50
AUG090444 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #610 $2.99
SEP090872 ANGEL #27 $3.99
AUG090806 AOD ASH SAVES OBAMA #3 (OF 4) $3.50
SEP090434 ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS $3.99
 - AUG098059 ASTONISHING X-MEN #32 SUPER HERO SQUAD VAR (PP #888)
SEP090465 ASTONISHING X-MEN #32
Marvel Comics
$2.99
I liked the ending of #31 and the potential there but I thought the overall issue was bloated and filler. Phil Jimenez's art is a pleasant change of pace, though.
SEP090756 ATHENA #2 $3.50
JUL090989 ATOMIKA #11 (OF 12) $2.99
 - SEP090194 THE AUTHORITY #16
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99
I talked about this up top there: THE AUTHORITY continues to kick ass. I’m glad to see the team getting their shit together after a year of “oh god, what now?” They are the frigging Authority – they are world conquerors – this shouldn’t be a big deal. Anyway, cool stories + great art = solid comics.SEP090779 BAKUGAN BATTLE BRAWLERS GN VOL 03 FEUD BETWEEN FRIENDS $7.99
 - AUG090168 BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL COMPANION TPB
DC Comics
$14.99
For you Bat-completists out there, you might want to get this book. I didn’t love most of it, but there are some actually decent stories and art. They had great Ladronn covers, at least.SEP090128 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #36 $2.99
SEP090126 BATMAN THE UNSEEN #3 (OF 5) $2.99
AUG090103 BATMAN WIDENING GYRE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
AUG091102 BEAST MASTER GN VOL 01 $9.99
JUL091034 BEST OF WIZARD OF ID HC $19.95
AUG091105 BLACK BIRD GN VOL 02 $9.99
SEP090415 BLACK WIDOW DEADLY ORIGIN #1 (OF 4) $3.99
SEP090416 BLACK WIDOW DEADLY ORIGIN #1 (OF 4) RANEY VAR $3.99
AUG091110 BODY GN VOL 07 $9.99
SEP090749 BOYS #36 (MR) $2.99
JUN090834 BOYS HC VOL 01 LTD ED NAME OF THE GAME (MR) $29.99
AUG090798 BOYS HEROGASM #6 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
JUN090798 BP COMICS REVIVAL PX 3 PAK #1 (MR) $11.95
SEP090026 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #30 ADAM HUGHES CVR $2.99
SEP090027 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #30 JEANTY CVR $2.99
JUL091031 CAMILLA DERRICO BURN GN $9.99
AUG090418 CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #4 (OF 6) $3.99
SEP090224 CINDERELLA FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE #1 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
AUG091096 CLAYMORE TP VOL 15 $9.99
SEP090655 CODE GEASS LELOUCH OF THE REBELLION GN VOL 06 $10.99
JUN098429 CODE GEASS LELOUCH OF THE REBELLION GN VOL 06 (PP #880) $10.99
AUG090014 CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #15 $2.99
JUN090068 CREEPY FAN CLUB EMBROIDERED PATCH $4.99
 - JUN090605 CRIMINAL DELUXE EDITION HC
Icon/Marvel Comics
$49.99
The first three volumes of CRIMINAL are here for a deluxe edition that is likely heavy enough to kill a man. Not that they’d condone that or anything. It’s great crime noir stories from Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips that continue to break hearts.AUG091097 D GRAY MAN GN VOL 15 (MR) $9.99
AUG098082 DARK AVENGERS #9 2ND PTG VAR (PP #888) $3.99
SEP090468 DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #899 $2.99
SEP090422 DEATHLOK #1 (OF 7) $3.99
SEP090424 DOCTOR VOODOO AVENGER OF SUPERNATURAL #2 $2.99
SEP090896 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #12 $3.99
AUG090742 DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #347 $2.99
.jpg) - SEP090105 DOOM PATROL #4
DC Comics
$3.99
DOOM PATROL
has been awesome and now “Blackest Night” has reached the trio and Oolong Island. Oh, and free Sinestro Ring!SEP090021 END LEAGUE #9 (OF 9) $3.99
AUG090025 ESCAPISTS TP $14.95
SEP090529 EXILES POINT OF NO RETURN TP $19.99
SEP090549 FANTASTIC FOUR VISIONARIES WALTER SIMONSON TP VOL 03 $19.99
JUN090709 FATHOM #9 CLARK CVR $2.99
JUN090710 FATHOM #9 GARZA CVR $2.99
JUN090786 FINDING NEMO REEF RESCUE #4 (OF 4) $2.99
AUG090249 FIRE INVESTIGATOR NANASE VOL 03 $9.99
SEP090901 FROM THE ASHES #6 $3.99
AUG091106 FUSHIGI YUGI GENBU KAIDEN TP VOL 09 $9.99
JUN090243 GEARS OF WAR #10 (MR) $3.99
SEP090546 GHOST RIDER DANNY KETCH TP VOL 01 $29.99
SEP090421 GHOST RIDERS HEAVENS ON FIRE #4 (OF 6) $3.99
SEP090899 GHOSTBUSTERS DISPLACED AGGRESSION #3 $3.99
SEP090863 GI JOE #11 $3.99
AUG091115 GIN TAMA TP VOL 15 $9.99
 - SEP090144 GREAT TEN #1 (OF 10)
DC Comics
$2.99
I feel bad for the poor GREAT TEN - the timing of their series is almost as bad as Batwoman’s and they don’t even get the benefit of J. H. Williams III. Tony Bedard and Scott McDaniel will lend their talents to showcasing China’s superpowered protectors and I have a feeling that sales are going to be horrible.
SEP090218 GREEK STREET #5
Vertigo/DC Comics
$2.99
Ooo, GREEK STREET. After last issue, the plot’s starting to come together. The art by Davide Gianfelice is great and Milligan has twisted off the “weird/fucked up” button off of the machine.SEP090889 GRIMJACK MANX CAT #4 $3.99
AUG098183 HAUNT #1 2ND PTG (PP #890) $2.99
SEP090273 HAUNT #1 FOIL CVR COLLECTORS ED $10.00
- SEP090271 HAUNT #2
Image Comics
$2.99
I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago: the Robert Kirkman/Todd McFarlane/Greg Capullo/Ryan Ottley experiment isn’t all that bad but I don’t think I’ll be following it up anytime soon. It didn’t totally work for me.
 AUG090230 HELLBLAZER: SCAB TPB
Vertigo/DC Comics
$14.99
I haven’t read any of Peter Milligan’s HELLBLAZER up to this point and I hope it’s good. The only run in recent days I didn’t like was Denise Mina’s – it’s gotta be better than that, rught?AUG091117 HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT GN VOL 12 $9.99
AUG091098 HIKARU NO GO TP VOL 17 $9.99
AUG091118 HONEY HUNT TP VOL 03 $9.99
MAY090272 HOT TOYS TERMINATOR SALVATION T-600 1/6 SCALE FIG $225.00
SEP090428 HOUSE OF M MASTERS OF EVIL #4 (OF 4) $3.99
SEP090220 HOUSE OF MYSTERY #19 (MR) $2.99
AUG090470 IMMORTAL WEAPONS #4 (OF 5) $3.99
SEP090440 IRON MAN ARMOR WARS #4 (OF 4) $2.99
JUL090774 JACK THE LANTERN TP HALLOWEEN ED (MR) $17.95
JUN091067 JAMES BOND OMNIBUS $14.95
SEP090142 JONAH HEX #49 $2.99
AUG090815 JUNGLE GIRL HC VOL 02 OVERSIZED $19.99
AUG091119 KAZE HIKARU GN VOL 15 $9.99
SEP090693 KILL AUDIO #2 (OF 6) $3.99
AUG090250 KING OF CARDS VOL 08 $9.99
JUL090983 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #155 $4.99
JUL090816 KURASHINA SENSEIS PASSION GN VOL 01 (OF 3) (RES) $12.95
AUG091121 KUROHIME TP VOL 14 $9.99
JUN090899 LIKE A DOG HC $22.99
SEP090145 LOBO HIGHWAY TO HELL #1 (OF 2) $6.99
SEP090191 LOONEY TUNES #180 $2.50
AUG091122 LOVE COM TP VOL 15 $9.99
JUN090753 LUCKY STAR GN VOL 02 $10.99
JUL090821 LUDWIG II GN VOL 02 (OF 2) $14.95
 - SEP090150 MAGOG #3
DC Comics
$2.99
Another Keith Giffen DCU book that is good that has every right not to be. MAGOG is a nice blend of superheroics and military stories. We’re seeing the pro-active hero minus a lot of the posturing you see him doing in other books. Howard Porter art is nice, too.SEP090541 MARVEL ZOMBIES 3 TP $15.99
AUG090490 MARVEL ZOMBIES EVIL EVOLUTION $4.99
AUG098083 MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN #3 2ND PTG VAR (PP #888) $3.99
SEP090381 MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ #1 (OF 8) $3.99
SEP090153 MIGHTY #10 $2.99
JUN090862 MINIMA GN VOL 04 $11.99
SEP090961 MONSTERS GN (A) $18.00
AUG091103 NANA TP VOL 19 (MR) $9.99
AUG091006 NANCY DREW BOX SET VOL 13-16 $29.95
SEP090199 NORTH 40 #5 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP090451 NOVA #31 $2.99
SEP090534 NOVA TP VOL 05 WAR OF KINGS $16.99
SEP090427 OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #11 $3.99
AUG091124 OTOMEN GN VOL 04 $9.99
AUG091107 OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB TP VOL 13 $9.99
AUG090648 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #136 $3.99
AUG090996 PHANTOM GHOST WHO WALKS #6 $3.99
AUG091125 POKEMON GIRATINA & THE SKY WARRIOR ANI-MANGA $11.99
AUG091129 PRINCE OF TENNIS GN VOL 34 $9.99
AUG090792 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS CHAPTER TWO #4 $2.99
AUG090794 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS MEET THE BAD GUYS #3 (OF 4) $2.99
SEP090483 PSYLOCKE #1 (OF 4) $3.99
SEP090151 RED TORNADO #3 (OF 6) $2.99
AUG091126 SA GN VOL 13 $9.99
SEP090341 SAVAGE DRAGON #154 $3.50
JUN090697 SECRET HISTORY BOOK 06 (OF 7) (RES) (MR) $5.95
SEP090154 SECRET SIX #15 $2.99
AUG091099 SHAMAN KING TP VOL 25 $9.99
SEP090908 SHERLOCK HOLMES HC VOL 01 $16.99
AUG090803 SHERLOCK HOLMES HC VOL 01 TRIAL OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (MR) $24.99
AUG091101 SHONEN JUMP DECEMBER 09 $4.99
AUG090363 SKY PIRATES OF NEO TERRA #2 $2.99
AUG090649 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #206 $2.50
SEP090882 STAR TREK ROMULANS SCHISM #3 $3.99
SEP090036 STAR WARS INVASION #5 (OF 5) $2.99
SEP090493 STARR THE SLAYER #3 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
SEP090904 STARSTRUCK #3 $3.99
SEP090455 STRANGE TALES #3 (OF 3) (MR) $4.99
JUL091087 STREET FIGHTER II TURBO #9 A CVR CRUZ $3.95
JUL091088 STREET FIGHTER II TURBO #9 B CVR VRIENS $3.95
 - AUG091027 STUMPTOWN #1
Oni Press
$3.99
I feel like I’ve been waiting on Greg Rucka’s private eye book for years. VERY EXCITED.
AUG090181 SUPERMAN/BATMAN: SEARCH FOR KRYPTONITE TPB
DC Comics
$12.99
I read this in the issues and it’s excellent. Shane Davis is a top artist who needs more work. His Superman and Batman are powerful and dynamic. He’s the next best thing if you can’t get Jim Lee himself. The story is pretty cool too, with Superman enlisting Batman to collect up all of the rogue Kryptonite fragments around the world. Spoilers: There are A Lot Of Them.
SEP090134 SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #9 (OF 12)
DC Comics
$2.99
We’re getting to the end here, and it’s been a nice read all the way through. I’m curious when “WoNK” is going to reference the events of BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #3 – maybe here?
SEP090227 SWEET TOOTH #3
Vertigo/DC Comics
$2.99
Golly, Gus is adorable, isn’t he? I’m digging this book a lot. Thank you, Jeff Lemire.AUG091008 TALES FROM THE CRYPT GN VOL 08 STINKY DEAD KID $7.95
AUG090553 TIMESTORM 2009-2099 HC $24.99
JUL090675 TITANIUM RAIN DOUBLE-SIZED #3 & #4 (MR) $4.99
SEP090460 TORCH #3 (OF 8) $3.99
SEP090855 TRANSFORMERS BEST O/T UK PREY #4 (OF 5) $3.99
SEP090787 TSUBASA GN VOL 24 $10.99
JUL090075 TUROK SON OF STONE ARCHIVES HC VOL 04 $49.95
AUG090358 TYRESE GIBSONS MAYHEM #3 (OF 3) $2.99
AUG098081 ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #2 2ND PTG VAR (PP #888) $3.99
SEP090400 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #4 $3.99
AUG091131 ULTIMATE MUSCLE GN VOL 24 $9.99
 - AUG090740 THE UNKNOWN: DEVIL MADE FLESH #2
Boom! Studios
$3.99
I just read the first two issues of “Devil Made Flesh” and as good as the first one was, this is WAY better. Mark Waid does the “observant” detective and starts off the new arc with a familiar face and immediately raises about a dozen new questions. The end of #1 is a real shocker and it only gets compounded in #2. It’s fantastic. And the art is a lot better this time around as well. Artist Minck Oosterveer does a great rendition of Tim Sale and Andres Lozano’s colors are the ideal compliment. I thought that the first volume was a little too purple and grey but this works perfectly.JUL090054 USAGI YOJIMBO HC YOKAI $14.95
AUG091104 VAMPIRE KNIGHT TP VOL 08 $9.99
SEP090576 VAMPIRELLA SECOND COMING #3 FRANCHESCO CVR $1.99
SEP090574 VAMPIRELLA SECOND COMING #3 JUSKO CVR $1.99
SEP090575 VAMPIRELLA SECOND COMING #3 STEGMAN CVR $1.99
SEP090573 VAMPIRELLA SECOND COMING #3 SUYDAM CVR $1.99
AUG090652 VERONICA #197 $2.50
AUG091100 WAQ WAQ GN VOL 02 $9.99
SEP090158 WARLORD #8 $2.99
AUG091132 WE WERE THERE GN VOL 07 $9.99
SEP090029 WITCHFINDER IN THE SERVICE OF ANGELS #5 (OF 5) $2.99
 - JUL090244 WONDER WOMAN RISE OF THE OLYMPIAN HC $24.99
JUL090245 WONDER WOMAN: RISE OF THE OLYMPIAN TPB
DC Comics
$14.99
It’s weird to see a book released as a hardcover and a tpb the same day. I need to ask the LCS retailer how they decided what to order. Were it me, I’d go right for the tpbs. As for this, it’s the next bunch of issues from Gail Simone’s run, #20-27.SEP090482 X-MEN ORIGINS ICEMAN $3.99
SEP090486 X-MEN VS AGENTS OF ATLAS #2 (OF 2) $3.99
JUN090813 ZOMBIES THAT ATE THE WORLD #6 (OF 8) (MR) $3.50
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 me on Twitter @bdomingos
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