By Miles Baker
The advance solicitations for books from Wildstorm, Vertigo, DC and Marvel are out now. Here’s most of what I’ll be buying that month.
From DC/Wildstorm/Vertigo:
WEDNESDAY COMICS #5-8
This still looks really impressive. Huge talent and a unique format. I hope it’s good because my expectations are high.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #3
I’ve promised some good friends I will at least try this opening arc. I’m excited for it.
DETECTIVE COMICS #856
Man, the cover for this looks so awesome. I’m so pumped for this series.
THE SPIRIT BOOK TWO TPB
Actually, I already have this in hardcover, but if I didn’t I’d be totally buying this. If you want to see how The Spirit should have been adapted for the big screen you should read Darwyn Cooke’s take on the character, which wrapped up last year.
SLEEPER SEASON TWO TPB
I’m so pumped for this to come out. Sleeper is one of my favourite comics of all time. It’s about a spy in deep cover named Holden Carver. He’s infiltrated a super-villain crime syndicate, getting pretty high up, when his handler — the only one who knows he’s an undercover operative — gets shot and is put in a coma. Carver is left out in the cold and desperately wants back. It basically asks whether a good guy who does terrible things in the name of good still gets to be a good guy. This volume concludes the Sleeper story and it’s one helluva ending.
AIR #12
I’m thinking of bumping this from a “wait for the trade” to a monthly pick up. Hmm… undetermined.
THE UNWRITTEN #4
The first issue of this came out last week and it was good as I was hoping it would be. This could be the start of Vertigo’s new flagship title.
YOUNG LIARS #18
Tear. This is the last issue of Vertigo’s craziest series. Rock, alien spiders, transvestites, post-modernism: what’s not to love?
From Marvel:
DARK X-MEN: THE BEGINNING #3 (of 3)
I’ll make the final call on this purchase after I’ve seen some previews, but I really like that Jae Lee cover.
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #1
Ultimate Spider-Man was a consistently great title, and this new re-start could prove to be as great. From what I’ve seen, I also really like David LaFuente’s art. I’ll give at least this first issue a shot.
UNCANNY X-MEN #514 and DARK AVENGERS #8
Matt Fraction’s Utopia crossover interests me even if it will probably result in the current Uncanny storyline (which I am enjoying quite a bit) being disrupted.
X-FACTOR #47
I’m so glad I stuck with this series through the rough times, because Peter David has hit his stride again. A great balance of misery and humour, and I’m excited to see how this “Cortex” storyline wraps up.
X-FORCE #18
I’ll buy this as long as Mike Choi does the art for it. It has good writing, but the regular series artist really turns me off.
X-MEN LEGACY #227
Mike Carey didn’t let me down with the first year of X-Men Legacy, so I don’t know why he’d start doing it now.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA OMNIBUS HC
Killing Captain America was the best thing Captain America ever did.
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE TPB
The team behind Preacher takes on Marvel’s most gun-happy character. And there are a lot of gun-happy characters in the Marvel U. This is a purchase based entirely on who is making it rather than what is in it.
REBORN #2 (of 5)
Secret project of mystery is still being written by Ed Brubaker, so I’m still going to buy it.
THE MARVELS PROJECT #1 (of 8)
Yeah, I have a deep man-love for Brubaker, and considering this re-teams him with Steve Epting, I can’t wait.
THUNDERBOLTS #135
I don’t usually buy Thunderbolts, but Nick Fury is on the cover of this comic and I really like Nick Fury. So… yeah… I’m weak.
DAREDEVIL #500
It seems like only a year ago that Daredevil was celebrating #100 — oh, wait, that was only a year ago. I’m not a big fan of this combining new and original numbering to manufacture an anniversary issue. However, I am a big fan of Daredevil and this looks like it will conclude the amazing “Return of the King” storyline.
RUNAWAYS #13
I’m so happy that I’ll be back to buying Runaways again. I met Kathryn Immonen briefly at TCAF and got the feeling she’s really excited about the book.
SECRET WARRIORS #7
This title gets better with every issue. Marvel was right to hype Jonathan Hickman as their new star.
MIGHTY AVENGERS #28
“Guest-starring the YOUNG AVENGERS!” Yay! I love those kids.
NEW AVENGERS #56
Just when I think I’m out, they pull be back in with a far superior interior artist.
DARK REIGN: THE HOOD #4 (of 5)
If this series is half as good as the original Brian K. Vaughan series, then it will still be pretty damn good.
DARK REIGN: MISTER NEGATIVE #3 (of 3)
Damn those attractive Jae Lee covers!
MYSTIC COMICS #1 70
This is written and drawn by David Lapham so it’s pretty much a no brainer that I’ll pick this one up.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #601-3
Even though issue 601 has a gross cover by J. Scott Campbell, I’m really excited for the return of Mary Jane in the Amazing Spider-Man comics. They’ve been teasing her arrival for over a year now and I’m curious to see what the payoff will be.
