Pick Of My Pile for the weeks of 8-19 and 8-26.

Hello Chums,

Besides my usual large amounts of comics that I read each week, I also try to fit in as many trades as I can. This two week period I was able to fit in three trades. The first was Tom Strong's Terrific Tales vol. 2. This nice hardcover featured the last 6 issues of the series. Good stories and art by Art Adams and Bruce Timm among others. The others trades were Powers vol. 10 Cosimic (Cosmic) and vol. 11 Secret Identity. I love the Powers series. The story arcs and art work were both very good. I can't wait to read the next one.

Week of 8-19:

Marvel:

Daredevil #500. This massive issue features a 42 page story by Brubaker and Lark, an 8 page Dark Reign primer, a 13 page story by Nocenti and Aja, 10 pages of pin-ups (featuring Geof Darrow and Rafael Grandpa), the complete issue #191 "Roulette" by Frank Miller and the 500 covers gallery. Wow, what an issue!

Punisher Noir #1. 30's era Punisher with gritty art and muted color pallet.

Stephen King The Stand: American Nightmares # 5 (of 5). This series remains very good. I look forward to the next arc.

Ultimate Avengers #1. Very good opening issue (story and art).

All Winners #1. I was looking forward to this 70th anniversary issue. And boy was I disappointed.

Punisher #8. The Punisher takes on the Avengers (and knocks out Thor with one punch.) Is this really the Avengers?

Mighty Avengers #28. I was ready to drop this book. However, I'm hanging in there for awhile longer as I like their current story arc.

IDW:

Star Trek Spock Reflections #2. More Spock solo movie tie-in.

DC:

Jack of Fables (Vertigo) #37. I haven't started to continue this book since the Fables cross-over. When I do get back to Fables and Jack I'm going to have a chunk to read.

Wednesday Comics #7. This continues to be very good but I look forward to Kamandi most of all.

Boom:

Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? What can I say about this book? Well, it's very wordy but it does have the text by Dick.

The Pick Of My Pile this week was a no-brainer. Daredevil #500 was far and away the best book this week. Check out the sweet Darrow variant cover. I got one.

Week of 8-26:

Marvel:

Halo Helljumper #2 (of 5). As the Human - Covenant war rages on, the Helljumpers are dropped on the planet Ariel. Action ensues!

Deadpool Merc With A Mouth #1. I liked issue two so much, I picked up one to see what was going on. I think this book is pretty good, but I don't need to add another monthly book.

New Avengers #56. A very nice action packed issue with the Wrecking Crew.

Beta Ray Bill Godhunter #3 (of 3). A nice conclusion to this mini-series and good value too. Each issue has a full issue reprint back-up feature. And only 4 adds! Why can't all issues be like this?

New Mutants #4. The conclusion to the opening Legion arc. Next issue: Warlock! Isn't he dead?

Dark Avengers #8 - Utopia p.5. This mini-event has actually been pretty good. Next issue the conclusion.

Stephen King - The Dark Tower: Fall of Gilead #4 (of 6). Dark Tower: heh. The Stand: Awesome.

IDW:

Doctor Who - The Time Machination (one-shot). The Doctor and H.G. Wells dodging The Torchwood Institute.

DC:

The Flash Rebirth #4. Initially I liked this series, but this issue was very dull.

Batman and Robin #3. Batman driving a (Batmaned) atv: cool. Young Robin being a tough little bastard: cool. Fighting Professor Pyg: Heh.

Wednesday Comics #8. More comic goodness continues.

The Pick Of My Pile this week was not as easy as the previous week. There were some good books, but no really great books. Dark Avengers and Beta Ray Bill were good, but my pick this week is New Avengers #56. There were some nice scenes in this issue especially the battle with the Wrecking Crew.

K.R.C.

D.L.

Pick Of My Pile for the weeks of 8-05 and 8-12.

Hello Chums,

I'm finally caught up on my comic reading since the Comic-con. And I have managed to get in three more trades.

The first trade is The Exterminators vol. 5 Bug Brothers Forever (the final book). Although I initially liked The Exterminators, I think the last two trades were very weak in the series. It's too bad that the series ended so abruptly and weakly.

My second read was The King by Rich Koslowski, which I bought from him at Comic-con. This story is kind of a what if Elvis came out of hiding and started singing again. Well there would surely be an investigation into his authenticity, wouldn't there?

The third book I read this week is Funny Misshapen Body by Jeffrey Brown. Brown, one of my favorite creators, has created his best work to date. This book labeled "A Memoir" contains many personal stories ranging from youthful health issues to life in college and grad school. Not to be missed. My highest recommendation.

On to my picks.

Week of 8-05:

Marvel:

Agents of Atlas #9. This book has kind of ran it's course with me.

Captain America Reborn #2 (of 5). Continuing the return of Captain America by Brubaker and Hitch.

Deadpool: Merc with a mouth #2. I bought this because I really liked the cover and decided to give it a shot. The story and art weren't half bad.

IDW:

Star Trek: Alien Spotlight: Q. A nice Captain Picard vs. Q story.

Blacklist Studios (who are they?):

R13 #1. Colossus! What is it? How about a skeletal diver/robot vs. a ship sinking squid. All with Mike Mignola stylized art!

Dark Horse:

Sir Edward Grey Witchfinder #2 (of 5). More sir Edward in the service of angels.

Image:

Jersey Gods #6. Zoe and her god boyfriend Barock look for a house to settle in, in New Jersey. Probably the best issue since the first.

DC:

Warlord #5. The Warlord leaves Skartaris looking for some real firepower. Meanwhile the rest of the gang is reading for the big battle.

Astro City: The Dark Age: Book Three #4. (Wildstorm) The final issue of this arc. Now bring on the one-shots.

Wednesday Comics #5 (of 16). This newspaper continues to be a real winner.

The Pick Of My Pile this week is Star Trek: Alien Spotlight: Q. I miss the Picard/Q episodes of The Next Generation. That was one thing that series (and this) done right.

Week of 8-12:

Marvel:

Uncanny X-Men #514. Utopia p.4. Continuing with Norman Osborn's Dark Avengers and Dark X-Men vs. Uncanny X-Men lead Scott Summers.

Captain America: Theater Of War: To Soldier On #1 (one-shot). A modern day tale of the price of war in Iraq.

Thor: Tales Of Asgard #4 (of 6). More Thor early tales by Smilin' Stan Lee and Jack "King" Kirby. very good with nice new coloring.

The Marvels Project #1 (of 8). The start of the Marvel universe by Brubaker and Epting. Maybe too early to say, but this looks good.

Dark Horse:

Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #5 (of 8). Finally this story is back! I hope it finishes as well as it started.

B.P.R.D.: 1947 #2. Early B.P.R.D. story featuring a different team. And art by the brothers Ba' and Moon.

IDW:

Hero Comics: A Hero Initiative Benefit Book. A very nice book benefiting creators in need with work by Howard Chaykin, David Lloyd, Gene Colan and Arthur Adams among others. This book also features Marvel characters. Where's the love DC?

Star Trek: Nero #1. A prequel of sorts to the new Trek movie. Very good start.

Starstruck #1. This first issue reminded me of Skydoll (but not in a good way).

Radical (my first Radical purchase):

Hercules: The Knives of Kush #1 (of 5). Jim Steranko cover. But the art, coloring and story are impressive. I'll be back for more.

DC:

Wednesday Comics #6 (of 16). The sixth part of these great comics. Highlights include: Batman, Kamandi, Superman, Metamorpho and Strange Adventures.

The Pick Of My Pile this week came down to a few books, including: Hercules, Star Trek : Nero, and B.P.R.D. But the pick is Captain America: Theater Of War. This book had a moving story that really hit on all cylinders. Check it out.

Keep Reading Comics.

D.L.

Pick Of My Pile for the weeks of 7-22 and 7-29.

Hello Chums,

Now that I'm back from the Comic-Con, I've been reading a steady stream of books. I'm finally starting to get caught up on my weekly reading. Here are two weeks worth of books.

Week of 7-22:

Marvel:

The Incredible Hulk #600. Even though I'm not currently reading The Hulk, I could not resist this milestone issue with the Ross cover. This thick, 100 page monster is filled with a lot of Hulk goodness: New stories by Loeb and McGuinness, Stan Lee and Van Lente. This issue also features part 1 of Loeb and Sale's Hulk Gray. And of course the 600 covers gallery. Nice!

the Amazing Spider-Man #600. What? Another issue #600 milestone book the same week? Yes, and with another Ross cover! This issue has a 60 page story by Dan Slott with art by John Romita Jr. Great story. The issue also features stories by Stan Lee, Mark Waid, Bob Gale and Marc Guggenheim with art by Mitch Breitweiser, all good. What I don't understand is why they featured fake covers instead of the 600 issue cover gallery. That's not cool.

Immortal Weapons #1 Fat Cobra. The break out star from The Immortal Iron Fist, Fat Cobra, gets an origin story! Good stuff. Written by new Marvel superstar Jason Aaron.

Halo: Helljumper #1 (of 5). This issue, written by Peter David, is off to a good start. Let's hope it's better than Bendis' Halo tale.

NEC:

The Mangalicious Tick #1 (of 4). The Tick in some Manga feudal Japan story. One word: Terrible!

Dark Horse:

Dethklok versus The Goon (one-shot). A rock band named Dethklok is (magically?) transported to The Goon's world. Let the madness begin.

IDW:

Star Trek: Spock Reflections #1. This mini-series follows Spock after the events of the new Star Trek movie.

DC:

Wednesday Comics #3 (of 16). Continuing on with part 3 of the featured 16 strips. Mandatory reading.

Jack of Fables #36 (Vertigo). I'm still not caught up on Jack after The Great Fables Crossover.

The Pick Of My Pile this week is Spider-Man #600. Yeah, there wasn't a cover gallery ( almost unforgivable), but the Slott / Jr. Jr. story was very good. It really felt like an anniversary story.

Week of 7-29:

Marvel:

Stephen King: The Dark Tower: Fall Of Gilead #3 (of 6). It's really amazing that Richard Isanove's art work looks so much like Jae Lee's. Now why couldn't Lee do it?

The New Avengers #55. Finally, no Doctor Strange mystic non-sense. Now it "appears" that a real story arc has started. We'll see.

Ultimatum #5 (of 5). Finally the end of this non-sense. I did like the nice Finch art on Wolverine melting down and Dr. Doom and Magneto's end. Very cool panels. It's too bad the story was terrible.

Fantastic Four #569. The last of the Millar and Hitch run. Unfortunately the arc ended with a mild let down. I do think that over all their run was pretty good.

Dark X-Men #1. This first issue shows how Norman Osborn gets Namor, Mimic and Dark Beast to join his team.

Dark X-Men #2. This issue features Norman recruiting Cloak and Dagger, Weapon Omega and Daken (Wolverine's son) to the team.

IDW:

Star Trek: Mission's End #5 (of 5). The end of this very weird story arc with intelligent spiders and centipedes. This is Kirk's last mission aboard the Enterprise as captain. Now he's off to be Admiral Kirk.

DC:

Wednesday Comics #4 (of 16). These strips have all been good. My stand out favorites are: Kamandi, Strange Adventures, Superman, Metamorpho and Batman.

The Pick Of My Pile this week is Dark X-Men #1. Check out my sweet San Diego Comic-Con variant. I enjoyed the 3 individual stories especially the Namor and Mimic stories.

K.R.C.

D.L.

Pick Of My Pile for the weeks of 7-8 and 7-15.

Hello Chums,

With Comic-con now behind me it's time to get caught up on my reading. Here are some recent picks.

Week of 7-8:

Marvel:

Thor: Tales of Asgard #3(of 6). These are very nice tales by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby with new re-coloring.

Stephen King: The Stand America Nightmares #4 (of 5). Continuing on with the retelling of King's best book.

Dark Avengers / Uncanny X-Men Utopia #1. Basically Norman Osborn's team vs. Scott Summers' team. With Emma Frost somewhere in the middle.

Dark Horse:

B.P.R.D. 1947 #1. A Professor Trevor Broom story by Mignola, Ba and Moon.

Image:

Elephantmen: War Toys: Dangerous Liaisons: Yvette #0 (of 8). A stand alone story of Yvette pre-War Toys.

DDP:

I Am Legion #4 (of 6). More 1940's occult action. With art by John Cassaday.

The Zombies That Ate The World #4 (of 8). More twisted zombie action from Guy Davis.

DC:

The Warlord #4. Written by Mike Grell, this series continues to impress.

Wednesday Comics #1 (of 16). This "newspaper" is the size of a comic -quartered. When unfolded twice the pages are 14 x 20 inches. The artwork is not just big - it's bold. Each issue features 16 different on-going stories.

The Pick Of My Pile This Week is Wednesday Comics #1. It's a fantastic idea and DC is doing it well.

Week of 7-15:

Marvel:

The Mighty Avengers #27. Just when I was thinking of dropping this book it started to get better. Death watch is now on hold.

Punisher #7. I like these stories by Remender but what happened to the very great art by O'pena?

Captain America #601. A very special flashback issue by Brubaker and Colan.

New Mutants #3. Okay this isn't getting any better. Finish this lame Legion arc already.

Dark Avengers #7 Utopia. A very good issue featuring Scott against Norman.

Agents of Atlas #8. An okay issue. But what happened to Hardman's art?

Beta Ray Bill Godhunter #2 (of 3). An excellent issue with Bill against the Silver Surfer. This issue also has Thor #338 (origin of Beta Ray Bill) in it's entirety.

All Select Comics #1. (Timely) This issue features a new Blonde Phantom story by Marc Guggenheim and some old Marvex The Super Robot reprints.

Incognito #5 (of 6). (Icon). The penultimate issue of this arc.

Dark Horse:

Creepy #1. 48 fear filled pages with new and old tales. Black and white goodness!

IDW:

Star Trek Crew #5 (of 5 or 6?). More old Trek tales with the original #1 and Pike.

DC:

Wednesday Comics #2 (of 16). Continuing DC's newspaper sized comics action.

The Pick Of My Pile this week is Beta Ray Bill Godhunter. It's a good story with a full issue length backup. That's great value.

Keep Reading Comics.

D.L.