Comics for the week of 03/13/2013

I'm going to do something a little different this week. Instead of  posting my thoughts on the books now I'm going to try and do some mini-reviews of them on Thursday or Friday. I'll see how that works out and that may be the format moving forward.

DARK HORSE COMICS

STAR WARS #3

DC COMICS

BATMAN #18

IMAGE COMICS

THE END TIMES OF BRAM & BEN #3
MANHATTAN PROJECTS #10
NOWHERE MEN #4

MARVEL COMICS

AGE OF ULTRON #2
THOR: GOD OF THUNDER #6
UNCANNY X-MEN #3

And everything else.

DARK HORSE COMICS

BLACK BEETLE #1 NO WAY OUT (2ND PTG) $3.99
BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL TP VOL 26 BLIZZARD (MR) $19.99
BTVS SEASON 8 LIBRARY HC VOL 04 $29.99
BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #19 JEANTY VAR CVR $2.99
BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #19 NOTO CVR $2.99
BUDDY COPS ONE SHOT $2.99
CHRONICLES OF CONAN TP VOL 23 WELL OF SOULS $18.99
CRIME DOES NOT PAY ARCHIVES HC VOL 04 $49.99
DOMO QEE SERIES 5 DISPLAY CASE $134.85
EMILY & THE STRANGERS #2 MAIN CVR $3.99
EMILY & THE STRANGERS #2 SMITH VAR CVR $3.99
GHOST #4 $2.99
RIPD CITY O/T DAMNED #4 $3.50
SLEDGEHAMMER 44 #1 $3.50
STAR WARS #3 $2.99
STAR WARS CLONE WARS TP DEFENDERS LOST TEMPLE $7.99
TOKYO BABYLON GN VOL 01 $19.99

DC COMICS

ALL NEW BATMAN BRAVE AND BOLD SMALL MIRACLES TP $12.99
BATGIRL #18 $2.99
BATMAN #18 $3.99
BATMAN #18 BLACK & WHITE VAR ED $3.99
BATMAN #18 COMBO PACK $4.99
BATMAN #18 VAR ED $3.99
BATMAN AND ROBIN #18 $2.99
BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED #12 $3.99
BEFORE WATCHMEN OZYMANDIAS #6 (MR) $3.99
BEFORE WATCHMEN OZYMANDIAS #6 COMBO PACK (MR) $4.99
BEFORE WATCHMEN OZYMANDIAS #6 VAR ED (MR) $3.99
DEATHSTROKE #18 $2.99
DEMON KNIGHTS #18 $2.99
EARTH 2 HC VOL 01 THE GATHERING (N52) $22.99
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #18 (WRATH) $2.99
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #18 VAR ED (WRATH) $2.99
GREEN LANTERN THE ANIMATED SERIES #12 $2.99
I VAMPIRE TP VOL 02 RISE OF THE VAMPIRES (N52) $16.99
INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #1 2ND PTG $3.99
KATANA #2 $2.99
KATANA #2 VAR ED $2.99
RAVAGERS #10 $2.99
SAUCER COUNTRY #13 (MR) $2.99
SUICIDE SQUAD #18 $2.99
SUPERBOY #18 $2.99
TEAM 7 #6 $2.99
THRESHOLD #3 $3.99
THRESHOLD #3 VAR ED $3.99

IDW PUBLISHING

CROW DEATH AND REBIRTH HC $24.99
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS #1 $3.99
FEVER RIDGE MACARTHUR JUNGLE WAR #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
GHOSTBUSTERS #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
GHOSTBUSTERS ONGOING TP VOL 04 WHO YA GONNA CALL $17.99
GI JOE DISAVOWED TP VOL 07 $19.99
HIGH WAYS #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MARS ATTACKS #8 [DIG/P+] $3.99
POUND TP VOL 02 GHOULS NIGHT OUT $19.99
ROCKETEER HOLLYWOOD HORROR #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
STAR TREK ONGOING TP VOL 04 $17.99
TMNT COLOR CLASSICS MICRO SERIES DONATELLO $3.99
TRANSFORMERS REGENERATION ONE #89 [DIG/P+] $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

CHANGE #4 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
CHEW OMNIVORE ED HC VOL 03 (MR) $34.99
DARKNESS #111 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
END TIMES OF BRAM & BEN #3 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
HOAX HUNTERS #8 [DIG] $2.99
MANHATTAN PROJECTS #10 [DIG] $3.50
MIND THE GAP #8 CVR A ESQUEJO [DIG] $2.99
MIND THE GAP #8 CVR B OBACK $2.99
NOWHERE MEN #2 3RD PTG $2.99
NOWHERE MEN #4 [DIG] $2.99
PETER PANZERFAUST #10 [DIG] $3.50
PETER PANZERFAUST #9 2ND PTG $3.50
SNAPSHOT #1 2ND PTG $2.99
SPAWN #229 $2.99
SPAWN #229 25 COPY MCFARLANE B&W INCV $2.99
TODD THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH #3 [DIG] $2.99
TRIGGERGIRL 6 #1 [DIG] $5.99
WALKING DEAD #108 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
WHERE IS JAKE ELLIS #3 [DIG] $3.50
WITCHBLADE #161 STORE EXCLUSIVE VAR CVR CHRISTOPHER $10.00

MARVEL COMICS

AGE OF ULTRON #2 $3.99
AGE OF ULTRON #2 ULTRON VAR $3.99
AGE OF ULTRON #2 VAR $3.99
ALL NEW X-MEN #2 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99
ALL NEW X-MEN #3 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99
ALL NEW X-MEN #4 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99
ALL NEW X-MEN #5 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99
ALL NEW X-MEN #7 2ND PTG MARQUEZ VAR NOW $3.99
ALPHA BIG TIME #2 $2.99
AVENGERS #4 2ND PTG KUBERT VAR NOW2 $3.99
AVENGERS ARENA #6 MOLINA VAR NOW $2.99
AVENGERS ARENA #6 NOW $2.99
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #13 IN HYUK LEE VAR NOW2 $3.99
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #13 NOW2 $3.99
AVENGERS SEASON ONE PREM HC $24.99
AVENGERS VS X-MEN TP AVENGERS ACADEMY $24.99
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #18 $3.99
CABLE AND X-FORCE #5 YU VAR NOW $3.99
ESSENTIAL CAPTAIN MARVEL TP VOL 02 $19.99
FANTASTIC FOUR #5 NOW $2.99
FEARLESS DEFENDERS #2 MARTIN VAR NOW $2.99
FEARLESS DEFENDERS #2 NOW $2.99
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #1 POSTCARDS (BUNDLE OF 100) $5.00
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TP VOL 02 TOMORROWS AVENGERS $39.99
HAWKEYE TP VOL 01 MY LIFE AS WEAPON NOW $16.99
MARVEL NOW X-MEN POSTER $8.99
MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS EARTHS HEROES #12 $2.99
NEW AVENGERS #2 2ND PTG JOCK VAR NOW $3.99
NEW AVENGERS #3 2ND PTG JOCK VAR NOW $3.99
SECRET AVENGERS #2 DEODATO VAR NOW $3.99
SECRET AVENGERS #2 NOW $3.99
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1 3RD PTG STEGMAN VAR NOW $3.99
THOR GOD OF THUNDER #6 NOW2 $3.99
THUNDERBOLTS #6 NOW $2.99
ULTIMATE COMICS WOLVERINE #1 $3.99
ULTIMATE COMICS WOLVERINE #1 TORVENIUS VAR $3.99
ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #24 $3.99
UNCANNY AVENGERS #3 2ND PTG CASSADAY VAR NOW $3.99
UNCANNY X-MEN #3 NOTO VAR NOW $3.99
UNCANNY X-MEN #3 NOW $3.99
WOLVERINE #1 BLANK VAR NOW $3.99
WOLVERINE #1 COIPEL VAR NOW $3.99
WOLVERINE #1 DAVIS SKETCH NOW $3.99
WOLVERINE #1 NOW $3.99
WOLVERINE #1 YOUNG VAR NOW $3.99
WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #26 $3.99
WOLVERINE ROT TP $19.99
X-FACTOR TP VOL 19 SHORT STORIES $15.99
X-MEN LEGACY #7 NOW2 $2.99
X-TERMINATION BY LARROCA POSTER $8.99
X-TREME X-MEN #12 XT $2.99

AC COMICS

FEMFORCE #162 30TH ANNIV SPECIAL $9.95

ANTARCTIC PRESS

BAD KIDS GO TO HELL VOL 2 #1 $5.99
GEARHEARTS STEAMPUNK GLAMOR REVUE #6 $3.99

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS

ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #25 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #190 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MEGA MAN #23 [DIG/P+] $2.99
SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH MAGIC WITHIN TP VOL 01 $10.99

ASPEN

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS VOL 3 #3 CVR A LEI [DIG] $3.99
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS VOL 3 #3 CVR B QUALANO $3.99
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS VOL 3 #3 CVR C TORQUE VAR $5.00
SHRUGGED VOL 2 #1 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $1.00
SHRUGGED VOL 2 #1 DIRECT MARKET CVR $1.00

AVATAR PRESS INC

CROSSED BADLANDS #25 (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 BURN BABY BURN CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 CHOPPER CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 DIE CUT CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 FOXY CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 LIP SNIP CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 RED CROSSED ORDER INCV CVR (MR) $3.80
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 RETAILER BONUS ORDER INCV CVR (MR $3.80
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #5 (MR) $3.99
NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #5 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99
NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #5 TERROR ORD INCV CVR $3.80
NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #5 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

BONGO COMICS

MYLO XYLOTO #2 $3.99

BOOM! STUDIOS

ADVENTURE TIME MATHEMATICAL ED HC VOL 01 $34.99
ALIENS VS PARKER #1 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
BRAVEST WARRIORS #6 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
GARFIELD #11 [DIG] $3.99
SUPURBIA ONGOING #5 [DIG] $3.99

D. E.

BIONIC MAN ANNUAL #1 $4.99
DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN OF MARS #2 (MR) $3.99
DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN OF MARS #2 ANACLETO SUB VAR $3.99
GAME OF THRONES #13 (MR) $3.99
GARTH ENNIS JENNIFER BLOOD TP VOL 03 (MR) $19.99
JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES GHOUL GOBLIN #3 $3.99
PETER CANNON THUNDERBOLT #7 $3.99
ROBERT JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #33 $3.99
SHADOW #10 $3.99
VOLTRON YEAR ONE TP $19.99

DYNAMIC FORCES

DF ADVENTURE TIME #12 EXC CVR $19.99
DF DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN #1 RISQUE ANACLETO CVR $19.99
DF MY LITTLE PONY #2 EXC CVR $19.83
DF MY LITTLE PONY #3 EXC CVR $19.83
DF SHADOW YEAR ONE #1 EXC B&W CVR $50.00
DF WARLORD OF MARS #23 EXC RISQUE CVR $14.99

EUREKA PRODUCTIONS

GRAPHIC CLASSICS GN VOL 24 NATIVE AMER CLASSICS $17.95

HERMES PRESS

MICKEY SPILLANE FROM FILES OF MIKE HAMMER VOL 01 $49.99

PANTHEON BOOKS

HAND DRYING IN AMERICA HC $29.95

RED 5 COMICS

MOON GIRL TP $14.95

SELFMADEHERO

HAIRSHIRT HC GN (MR) $24.95

SUBLIME

HIS FAVORITE GN VOL 03 $12.99

UNITED PLANKTON PICTURES

SPONGEBOB COMICS #18 $2.99

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC

ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (NEW) #8 20 COPY INCV FOWLER CVR $3.99
ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (NEW) #8 REG LUPACCHINO CVR $3.99
BLOODSHOT (ONGOING) #9 20 COPY INCV ANDRASOFSZKY CVR $3.99
BLOODSHOT (ONGOING) #9 REG HENRY CVR $3.99
HARBINGER (ONGOING) #1 150 COPY INCV GOLD ED $3.99

VERTICAL INC

PARADISE KISS TP VERTICAL INC ED VOL 03 $19.95

VIZ MEDIA LLC

07 GHOST GN VOL 03 $9.99
ARATA THE LEGEND TP VOL 13 $9.99
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST 3-IN-1 ED TP VOL 04 $14.99
NAOKI URASAWA 21ST CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 02 $12.99
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION 3-IN-1 ED TP VOL 02 $19.99
RIN-NE GN VOL 11 $9.99
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC
GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS TP VOL 05 $19.99
GFT ST PATRICKS DAY SPEC A CVR CAFARO (MR) $5.99
GFT ST PATRICKS DAY SPEC B CVR SEJIC (MR) $5.99
GRIMM UNIVERSE #4 A CVR SPAY (MR) $3.99
GRIMM UNIVERSE #4 B CVR MYCHAELS (MR) $3.99
GRIMM UNIVERSE #4 C CVR RUFFINO (MR) $3.99

Comics for the week of 01/30/2013

DC Comics

All Star Western #16 - Jonah Hex against Mr. Hyde. This sounds like a terrible comic. It did give us Dr. Arkham dancing on a table and trying to get a woman, so its not all bad. I'm looking for The Black Diamond story to be over soon.

Talon #4 - The sooner this comic gets back to Gotham the better. Snyder's The Court of Owls has a uniquely Gotham feel to it so operating in New York feels wrong. I'm not sure who's running things in New York but I can't see them letting an organization like The Court stick around. It'd be too much competition.

Image Comics

Invincible #100 - Soooooo... How about that preview. From the looks of it The Death of Everyone might be looking to live up to its name. We've got a good chunk of the Earth's populous getting killed or about to be killed and Mark getting ripped in half. Long ways. Knowing the manipulative manner that comics are marketed in I really doubt that'll be the last we see of Mark Grayson, I just don't want Zandale taking over as the lead. He's been a background character with zero development until the last 8 or so issues. I don't have the time invested with him and I don't look to put it in.

Nowhere Men #3 - My previous post HERE had a lot of my feelings on the first issues of Nowhere Men. If we can stay more towards the science and business aspects and less towards a Fantastic Four clone I'll be happy.

Marvel Comics 

Avengers #4 - After the somewhat disappointing end of the first arc I'm glad we're getting some Done in One spotlight issues. Hickman has a pretty large cast to juggle and like lots of other readers I'm not familiar with some of them. This week we find out who this version of Hyperion is. Hyperion has always been a one note character, basically what if Superman was a Dick. We haven't seen enough of this one to see if thats still the case.

Hawkeye #7 - I'm new to the party on Hawkguy but I'm not new to the Fraction/Aja team. I didn't start getting the comic when it came out because it was during my pre-now Marvel embargo. I've since caught up and the art in this book is fantastic. I like a dense comic (More 9 panel grids!) and the sheer number of panels that Aja fits onto a page is staggering. The fact that he does it while everything is crisp and readable is even more impressive. When you combine that with a character that Fraction obviously gets you have a fantastic comic. Now this issue has Steve Lieber and Jesse Hamm as guest artists, but we won't hold it against them that they're not Aja.

The Superior Spider-Man #2 - DOLTS! Doctor Octopus isn't Spider-Man! He's not even very good at pretending to be Peter Parker. But that's where the fun of this comic comes from. Pretty soon the supporting cast is going to realize that Peter isn't just in a mood and its going to come back on him in a great way.

Oni Press Inc 

The Sixth Gun #28 - One of the story ideas I've wanted to write has always been a horror western mashup. The idea of the kind of hard person that lives in a western setting having to deal with the supernatural seemed like it was full of potential. Well Cullen Bunn has put together a comic that is better than anything I might have done. I'm hoping that the pilot that NBC has commissioned gets a full series order because I would love to see this brought to life.

Nowhere Men and The Fantastic Four

The first issue of Nowhere Men, written by Image publisher Erik Stephenson and with Nate Bellegarde and Jordie Bellaire on art, was something different to come out at the end of a year of different comics released by Image. At least the first issue was.

The first issue is one of the most information rich comics I've read in a long time. It has article excerpts to introduce us to the 4 heads of World Corp. It has an interview with the most erratic of the founders. In the 4 pages that they cover you get a full breakdown of the four most important cast members and you get to see exactly why three of them couldn't keep the fourth on. And that's without getting into the coal gorilla or the space virus.

The second issue does just as much. In fact it does too much. In it we find out that this is all set up for yet another independent take on The Fantastic Four. Let me run this by you and see if any of it sounds familiar  A group of scientists are in space and no one knows that they've left the earth. While there they're exposed to something that makes radical changes in their physical make up. On turns to vapor. One grows thick callouses all over his skin but keeps his good disposition  One begins shooting a ray from himself with destructive powers. We got three of the four in the second issue. And they're all super geniuses which is Reed Richards real power anyway.

And its all so disappointing. The first issue had so much more potential than just being a Fantastic Four clone. And it could still be. Stephenson might have plans beyond Marvel's First Family and its just me reading too much into the powers shown in the second issue. After all there's more than 4 people with the transformative virus. Here's hoping issue 3 brings something else to the table. Because I want this one to be something different.