Pick Of My Pile for the week of 6-3.

Hello Chums,

I'm continuing to get caught up on my reading since I'm back from vacation. Check out this week's purchases.

Marvel:

Agents of Atlas #6. Issue #5 just came out two weeks ago. Should I be happy it's on time or mad I bought another issue of this - this month? Great art though.

The Mighty Avengers #25. Now officially on my death watch. I should do a post featuring the books I drop.

New Avengers - The Reunion #4 (of 4). Not quite the ending I expected with the Hawkeye/Ronin and Mockingbird story, but I can live with it.

Punisher - Naked Kill (one-shot). Nicely drawn story of the Punisher bringing down a porn/snuff flick ring.

Ultimatum #4 (of 5). End this already. Nuff said.

Universal War One - The Patriarch #3 (of 3) (Soliel). Quite possibly my favorite limited series (in some time anyway). I can't say enough about this series. Story-awesome. Art-awesome. Coloring-awesome. I wish they would collect the whole thing into one massive hardcover with a lot of extras.

New Mutants #2. Nice second issue. This story is starting to move along well now. Off my death watch for now.

DC:

The Warlord #3. This book continues to be strong. I hope it continues to move along with Grell writing and doing covers for quite a long time.

Batman and Robin (Batman Reborn) #1. Morrison story-good. Quitely art-great. Another big winner from this team.

What The? Two (great) DC books in the same week? Unheard of.

Image:

Jersey Gods #5. Death of the Jersey Gods. I gave it an arc, but I'm done.

IDW:

Star Trek - Crew #4. John Byrne continues his early years Trek tales-good stuff!

Wildstorm:

Astro City - The Dark Age - Book 3 #2. Okay, I know. The last issue I wasn't really on board with, but with this issue I'm back on board with Charles and Royal Williams. I just hope the next six issues (of their story) come out in a timely fashion. And then how about some more super hero stories? That is what made this book so great in the first place.

The Pick Of My Pile this week is: What? A DC book? Unbelievable that it's not The Warlord. But it is Batman and Robin (Batman Reborn) #1. From the awesome cover image on - this book is great! Check out the art - great. But check out the story also. New Batman and new Robin also. Very cool.

K.R.C.

D.L.

Pick Of My Pile for the week of 5-28.

Hello Chums,



I've been reading a crap load of comics since my return from my vacation. Let's get right to it.



Marvel:



Avengers / Invaders #11. Soon this series will wrap up with issue #12. I'm not going to miss it, but it has been an alright read. The Alex Ross covers didn't hurt either.



Uncanny X-Men #510. I have not been on board with this title since Brubaker left, but this issue was very good in an old school X-Men sort of way. PS: It looks like Phoenix is coming back next issue. We'll see. This is another book that will be dropped when Fraction leaves.



The Immortal Iron Fist #26. The book is on my death watch.



The New Avengers #54. I absolutely hate the comic book sorcery/occult stories set in the main stream world. They just turn me off. This story line involving Dr. Strange is just about enough to make me drop this book.



The Stand - American Nightmares #3 (of 5). Another winner of an issue with Larry Underwood and Rita Blakemoor leaving the Big Apple through the Lincoln Tunnel. A very scary 1.5 miles in the dark.



Ultimate Wolverine VS. Hulk #6 (of 6). What happened to this Limited series? Lost boss Damon Lindelof started out with a bang with the first two issues. He then took 3+ years off before giving us this very weak story. Did someone else ghost write these last four issues? Total Suckatude!



Wolverine #72. The continuation of Old Man Logan. Okay, so I'm (of course) not real happy with the waits on this story arc (the fact that issue #73 arrived before #72 is ridiculous), however this issue is by far the best yet. This story is to be concluded in Wolverine Old Man Logan Giant-Sized. I can't wait.



Spider-Man and The Human Torch in Bahia de los Muertos! (oneshot). Okay, so this story has been out for a while now - March? However my copy was in Spanish. When I was in Syracuse, New York I went to Cloud City Comics. There I found an English language copy. Why the hoopla to own this book in Spanish or even English? Because it's written by one of my favorite creators Tom Beland. This is another very nice story which takes place in Puerto Rico much like his previous story featuring Ben Grimm and his creator owned title True Story Swear To God. Check them out.



Image:



Back To Brooklyn #5 (of 5). The final twisted ending!



Dark Horse:



The Amazon 1-3. This limited series, drawn by one of my favorites Tim Sale, is about one man's fight to save the Amazon rain forest. Originally published in '89 by Comico. Now it's back from Dark Horse comics re-colored by Matt Hollingsworth.



Vertigo:



Fables - The Literals #2. Continuing The Great Fables crossover.

The Pick Of My Pile this week was a very challenging pick. With strong contenders from The Stand, Spider-man and The Human Torch and The Amazon, the pick wasn't easy. But my pick is Wolverine #72. This Old Man Logan issue was fantastic. Check out the art- it's great. And finally something happened. Check out the Red Skull's trophy room. Yes this idea was already used in The Hulk Future Imperfect but it is still cool anyway.

K.R.C.

D.L.

Pick Of My Pile for the week of 5-20.

Hey Chums,



I'm now back from vacation (New York and Niagara Falls Canada) and I'm really behind on my comic reading. So here is a pick from a few weeks ago.



Marvel:



Captain America #50. The many Birthday's of Bucky Barnes.



Fantastic Four #566. This nice run from Millar and Hitch continues.



Agents of Atlas #5. I'm really planning on dropping this book. So why haven't I did it yet?



Punisher #5. I'm really liking this new Punisher title. It will not be dropped.



IDW:



Star Trek - Alien Spotlight: Romulans. A slow moving story with a nice (Romulan) ending.






Vertigo:



Jack Of Fables #34. Part 5 of The Great Fables Crossover.



The Pick Of My Pile this week is Punisher #5. This is a good title, however Frank backed his way into the #1 spot because of all the weak competition.



K.R.C.



D.L.

Pick Of My Pile for the week of 5-13.

Hello Chums,

I've been reading some trades lately including: Strangers In Paradise vol.1 (I'm not sure I'm on board with this title), Scott Pilgrim 2-4 (like them) and Absolute Kingdom Come (good, but not Marvels good).

How about some picks.

Marvel:

Dark Tower - The Fall Of Gilend #1. More from King's seven book series.

Howling Commandos #1. Story from former Heroes producer Jesse Alexander - alright. Art from John Paul Leon - very good.

Marvel Reading Chronology - Free. A nice grouping of several solo characters and groups books and the order to read them. But with no X-Men listings can a second reading list be far off?

Thor - Tales From Asgard #1. Original Thor tales from the sixties by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby but, recolored with modern techniques.

Wolverine #73. Even though Old Man Logan isn't finished, Issues 73 and 74 aren't just filler stories awaiting it's conclusion. These issues feature two stories running in both issues.

Dark Horse:

B.P.R.D. - Black Goddess #5. The conclusion to this story arc. Guy Davis art!

Image:

Elephantmen #19. More amazing Marian Churchland art.

DC / Vertigo:

Fables #84. The great Fables Crossover p.4.

Top Shelf:

League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen vol.3 #1 1910. Too Loooong and boring. Decent art.

IDW:

Star Trek - Missions End #3. This very odd Trek tales continues on.

The Pick Of My Pile this week is Wolverine #73. I wasn't going to buy this book initially, but I'm glad I did. I flipped through this book and realized it had two separate stories. My favorite of the two is written by Jason Aaron and is drawn by Adam Kubert and answers the question: How does Wolverine have so many solo and team adventures?

K.R.C.

D.L.

Pick Of My Pile for the week of 5-6.

Hello Chums,

How about a week of picks?


Week of 5-6:


Marvel:


Agents Of Atlas #4. A story from two time periods with two artists. The art from the 1950's by Gabriel Hardman really shines.



New Mutants #1. The New Mutants back together again! I'll give it a little while and see how it goes.


New Avengers: The Reunion #3 (of 4). More of agent Mockingbird. Good Stuff!


Universal War One: Revelations #2 (of 3). (Soliel) More Sci-fi goodness by Denis Bajram.


DDP:



The Zombies That Ate The World #3 (of 8). More zombie goodness -no greatness from Guy Davis.


IDW:


Angel: Blood and Trenches #3. John Byrne continues to knock this penciled book out of the park. Maybe his best work in years.


Star Trek: Crew #3. Nice early Trek tale by John Byrne.


Image:



Jersey Gods #4. I'm still on the fence with this Gods, Sci-fi, fashion and relationship book.


DC:


The Flash Rebirth #2. Check out the last page of this Dead Run issue.





The Warlord #2. Very nice covers and story by Mike Grell. Probably my favorite DC book in a loooong time.


Power Girl #1. Nice cover but extremely lame story. Definitely my last issue.



Astro City: The Dark Age - Book 3 #1. More of the life of Charles and Royal Williams. Okay stuff, but I wish we could get back to the Superhero stories that made this book so good (years ago).

Some decent books this week including: The Warlord, New Avengers: The Reunion, Angel, and Star Trek. But the Pick Of My Pile is Universal War One Revelations. This book is awesome. I highly recommend it!

K.R.C.

D.L.

Free Comic Book Day '09

Hello Chums,

How was your Free Comic Book Day? Mine was great again this year. Free comics at three local stores. No fourth store like last year - Dragonfyre comics has sadly gone out of business. But once again free books, sales and costumed people. Cool.

Check out my free swag:

Cartoona Palooza #2 - Ape Entertainment - featuring a White Picket Fences story!

Worlds of Aspen #4. - Aspen - Michael Turner cover! How many more can there be?

Melvin Monster / Nancy - Drawn and Quarterly

Savage Dragon #148- Image

Resurrection #0 - ONI -the start of the second arc!

William Shatner Presents - Bluewater Productions

Love and Capes - Maerkle Press

FCHS - AdHouse books

Aliens / Predator - Dark Horse

Impact University #5 - F+W Media

The Avengers - Marvel (one-shot) - stand alone story by Bendis and Cheung

Wolverine - Marvel - origin of an X-Men

Buck Rogers #0 - Dynamite

Blackest Night #0 - DC

Owly and Friends - Top Shelf

Atomic Robo - Red 5 Comics

Comics Festival! - Toronto Comics - two Jellaby stories!

Love and Rockets - Fantagraphics Books

Attack of the Alterna Zombies - Alterna comics

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 - Mirage Publishing - 25th anniversary of the first issue! The complete 40 page story with wrap around cover!

20. That's a lot of free comics.

At 3 AM I got out of bed to do it all again. New World comics was having a 24 hour sale. From 4 to 5 AM (Sunday) the deals were real. When I arrived I was amazed by the amount of cars in the parking lot. The store was full of people. The turnout HUGE. The graphic novel selection looked noticeably thinner than when I was there at 10 AM. I picked up numerous books and comics at very steep discounts. Now that's a great end to Free Comic Book Day!

It's time to start reading.

K.R.C.

D.L.

Pick Of My Pile for the weeks of 4-22 and 4-29.

Hello Chums,



On to my purchases.



Week of 4-22:



Marvel:



Marvels: Eye Of The Camera #5 (of 6). This has been a well written and drawn limited series. I'm going to hate to see it (and Phil Sheldon) go.



The Mighty Avengers #24. I keep saying this but, I need to drop this title - eventually. I might after this arc.




The New Avengers #52. Okay, I haven't said this yet but, this book is officially on the chopping block now. It's just not doing it for me right now. Can it be saved?




The Immortal Iron Fist #25. This book has lost some steam since Brubaker and Fraction have left. I hear it's set to be canceled. Wanting to drop books, I guess that's okay with me.



Astonishing X-Men #29. This book is not "ASTONISHING" anymore. The title should have been placed on the back-burner ready to go if Whedon and Cassaday should ever return. Similarly, The Ultimates should have been reserved for the return of Millar and Hitch.




Kick Ass #6 (ICON). The Secret Origin of Big Daddy and Hit Girl. Nice story and art. I will gladly continue to buy this.



DC:



Jack of Fables #33. I'm going to hold off and read all nine parts of this Great Fables Crossover all at once. I hope it is great. If not chopping block!




Detective Comics #853. The conclusion to "Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader?". This story was crap! I don't need or want stories like this.




DDP:



I am Legion #3 (of 6). Just when I think I know what's going on, this issue proves me wrong. That's the difference between a 4 issue and a 6 issue limited series. More (and confusing) twists and turns with the plot.



Image:





Elephantmen #18. Nice story. But very nice markered(?) art by Marian Churchland. Her art fit the story perfectly. I hope she stays and does a few more issues.




Even though Marvels: Eye Of The Camera was very strong this week, The Pick Of My Pile is Elephantmen #18. Check out the variant sketch cover by J Scott Campbell. I got one.




Week of 4-29:



Marvel:



Dark Reign: The Cabal (one-shot). Five stories revolving around The Cabal.



Uncanny X-Men #509. The return of Psylocke should be cause for my approval, but I find this arc (and direction) booooring. Come on Fraction!



Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk #5 (of 6). Only a slightly better issue than last month.




Captain America: Theater Of War - A Brother In Arms (one-shot). A very nice W.W.2 Cap story.





Avengers / Invaders #10 (of 12). Even though I don't care for this story being in current continuity, this is still a good story that keeps getting better with each issue.




The Pick Of My Pile this week is Avengers / Invaders #10. W.W.2, Union Jack, Spitfire, The Red Skull and the Cosmic Cube - Nuff Said! Oh Yeah, Captain America telling Iron Man that fighting friends (in The Civil War for your Nation) was difficult but the right thing to do.



K.R.C.



D.L.