A rainy Sunday meant that I had time to haul out all the issues of Fantastic Four that I had piled up to read leading into the end of the current run. W-Jonathan Hickman tied up the big Celestial story and then did some single issue adventures that I found entertaining. The “what if Reed was a Nazi” re-telling of the origin was a nice departure.
AVX Consequences #1 - The Avengers versus X-Men crew did a good enough job telling that story to make me want to read this follow-up 5-issue weekly mini. W-Kieron Gillen and A-Tom Raney tell us what happened to Scott Summers/Cyclops and some of the rest of the gang of five that had the Phoenix Force throughout AVX. I liked Wolverine's reaction to the whole debacle.
Ame-Comi Girls: Wonder Woman #1 - I figure I bought the figures, so I might as well read the comics based on them. Ws-Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray feature Wonder Woman in the Ame-Comi U venturing into man's world for the first time. It's a fun story with pretty art by Amanda Conner, Tony Akins and Walden Wong.
Point of Impact #1 - This 4-issue black and white mini by W-Jay Faerber and A-Koray Kuranel hits you hard right from the cover through to the last page. It's a murder mystery and I love murder mysteries.
Marvel Universe vs. the Avengers #1 - Nerts, I got bamboozled. I thought this would be a kind of “what if” story where the Avengers were being persecuted like mutants. It's actually a Marvel Zombies-like story where Manhattan is infected by something that turns people into cannibals. W-Jonathan Maberry and A-Leandro Fernandez did a great job of showing the carnage but I'm just not into zombie stories.
Phantom Stranger #1 - This issue introduces Raven with the empathic powers and her demon father Trigon. Will she be a hero or a villain in the New 52? That question isn't answered here but W-Dan Didio and A-Brent Anderson raise enough other questions to make me want to read the next issue.
MacGyver #1 - You'll like this comic book if you're nostalgic for the eighties TV show which starred Richard Dean Anderson. Show creator Lee David Zlotoff is joined by W-Tony Lee and A-Will Sliney to bring you this action-packed 5-issue mini called "The Fugitive Gauntlet". Hitmen are after MacGyver and he's after a miracle seed that could feed the world. Once the action starts it's only interrupted by Mac explaining how he's using materials on hand to get out of difficult situations. Don't try these things at home kids.
Red She-Hulk #1 - Last I saw, Betty Ross/Red She-Hulk was hanging with the Defenders. Now she's got her own book by W-Jeff Parker and As-Carlo Pagulayan and Wellinton Alves. Here she's trying to stop a new Super Soldier program but we don't know why. I want to find out why.
Batgirl #13 - It's been a year hasn't it? The Joker's been gone that long from the racks, yes indeed. Well, he's coming back big time and it all starts here. W-Gail Simone and A-Ed Benes finish off the Batgirl vs. Knightfall story before teasing you with the start of the Joker's return and what he's got planned for the Batman and his family. This big story isn't called "Death of the Family" for nothing.
Batman #13 - I forgot about the Joker's face being left behind the last time we saw him a year ago. W-Scott Snyder and A-Greg Capullo made his getting it back a shocking and intense moment. You'll find out what's with the belt around the Joker's head in the promos for "Death of the Family". I was wondering about that myself. This Joker is the deadliest ever. I really hope Harley doesn't become a victim.
Halloween Eve - I'm a big fan of Amy Reeder's art and this one-shot is a great example of how much fun her comic books are. W-Brandon Montclare wrote a nice fantasy story about working in retail that made me glad that I don't work in a costume shop.
Uncanny Avengers #1 - I didn't see THAT coming. DO NOT LOOK at the last page or you'll spoil a terrific shock. So this book is one of the spawn of AVX. W-Rick Remender and A-John Cassaday present a new Avengers team that is a mix of mutants and non-mutants. I expect to see a Mighty X-Men on the racks soon. The art in here is amazing and the story rolls along quite nicely to the aforementioned unexpected ending. Zombies have nothing on this villain.
Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #2 - Woweewowow, what an amazing issue. W-Michael Straczynski and A-Adam Hughes explain Schrodinger's Cat in case you missed that episode of The Big Bang Theory and connect it to the “Dr. Manhattan can travel back and forth in time” paradox. They did such a great job that my head didn't even hurt.
Zorro Rides Again #12 - This is some old school bull poop of an ending. The fight between Zorro, Lady Zorro and El Galgo was so full of it that I couldn't believe Matt Wagner wrote this. Lady Zorro riding off into the sunset was a little too happily ever after for me considering all the men she killed.
Morning Glories #22 - This is the last straw. I have put up with trying to keep track of all the characters and time travel but now I feel ripped off when there's 3 pages of dialogue in foreign languages that are not translated. I'm outta here.
The Creep #2 - I like this private investigator. I hope the bullies suffer some karmic justice.
Conan #9 - Belit really shows what she's made of in this issue and Conan clears his name. W-Brian Wood and A-Valilis Lolos made the harsh Cimmerian landscape come alive.
Archer & Armstrong #3 - This is the only Valiant title that I read because it's so much fun.
Punk Rock Jesus #4 - Holy smokes, this was an amazing read. Christians are crazy man. W&A-Sean Murphy would be thrown in jail in some places for what he's done in this book. We've got all four issues in stock at the Snail for those fans looking for a thought provoking story.
Buffy Season 9 #14 - W-Jane Espenson, P-Karl Moline and I-Andy Owens introduce Billy, the zompire slayer. No special powers, no vagina, no problem, this boy's gay. I liked the budding bromance between Billy and cute-Devon, his high school classmate with the slayer knowledge. I find this is more accessible for non-Buffy fans like me since these are all new characters.
Creator-Owned Heroes #5 - Two new stories start this issue. "Killswitch" stars a contract killer by Ws-Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray with art by Jerry Lando. "Black Sparrow" is about a psychopath in the late nineteenth century by Ws-Steve Niles and Jay Russell with art by Andrew Richie. Both were good enough to make me pick up the next issue.
Wolverine #314 - W-Cullen Bunn, P-Paul Pelletier and I-David Meikis start a new story called "Covenant". Wolverine must rescue the "Dreaming Maiden" from being killed or worse. I used to read this title religiously but now it's the art that makes me take a look at this book. The last story by A-Simone Bianchi didn't wow me and this one didn't either. I'm going to take a break from reading this book now.
Secret Service #3 - I really like this "My Fair MI-5 Spy" story. By Jove, I think he's got it.
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