Computer problems bring this week's Previews to you a little late, but there's some really good books here, including the #0 issue of the new Batwoman series and the start of Scott Snyder's run on Detective Comics. Read on for that and more.
Achewood Volume 3: Home for Scared People (HC
Picking up where they left off, Achewood and Dark Horse Comics present the third volume of strips from the massive Achewood archive. As with the previous collections, author Chris Onstad includes extensive character backstories, thorough strip annotations, the celebrated alt texts, and many print-only extras in the classic Achewood style. Time magazine named back-to-back Ignatz Award winner Achewood its 2007 Graphic Novel of the Year, and legions of devoted fans consistently report that it makes them feel the way Bloom County and Calvin and Hobbes did when they were young.
I was recently able to pick up the first two volumes of Achewood, which I've been enjoying online for years. They are entirely worth owning. Interestingly, it's the second volume that has the first strips (the first comprises of the more recent, and lengthy, story, The Great Outdoor Fight) but it's even more worth it for his prose pieces, telling the origins, of sorts, of some of the characters. I'll have to wait until another time to afford this one, but as soon as I can I will buy it.
Amazing Spider-Man #649
THE HOBGOBLIN'S BACK! You wanted him, you got him! And he's ready to hit the BIG TIME too…with a whole new bag of tricks! Who's under the mask this time? Is it Roderick Kingsley, Jason Macendale, or somebody else? Ready for another long, unfolding mystery with months of clues, red herrings, and shocking twists? Well tough! We're showing you who he is in THIS ISSUE! Plus: What's wrong with Mac Gargan? More trouble for Norah Winters. And Peter Parker makes good on a promise that goes back to AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1! Guest-starring the BLACK CAT!
I'm starting to feel like I'm going to have to make room for at least a few issues of Big Time. The first issue's had good reviews and from the few pages I've seen looked pretty good to me, too. I think I'm going to be torn, though, between making room for two Spidey books and getting two other, worthy books.
Batman and Robin #17
From the pages of the best-selling BRIGHTEST DAY and GREEN LANTERN CORPS comes the new regular creative team of writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Patrick Gleason! Kicking off the action is "Dark Knight, White Knight" part 1 of 3, as Bruce Wayne returns from the dead, and Gotham City finds itself locked in the grip of chaos! Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne come face-to-face with what could possibly be the strangest Bat Villain yet. Who is the White Knight, and why is he hell-bent on making Gotham City into Heaven on Earth?
I was going to consider this, as the solicit interests me, but looking at the February solicits, it looks like this story's been pushed back three months. So, what's going to be in this issue (and the next two)?
Batwoman #0
"I suspect that Batwoman is socialite Kate Kane. I intend to prove it beyond a shadow. I need to know if she can be trusted, what her motivations are. I'm going undercover." – Batman: Mission Log Entry 2756
Featuring a unique story composition that combines the art of Eisner Award-winner J.H. Williams III (DETECTIVE COMICS, PROMETHEA) and Amy Reeder (MADAME XANADU), this special #0 issue acts as a new introduction into the life of Batwoman! Things pick up roughly where the BATWOMAN: ELEGY HC left off, and this issue acts as a primer for the upcoming new series featuring multiple award-winning creators!
I'm very excited about this book. I loved Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III's Batwoman run on Detective Comics. I only wish that Rucka was writing this, but William's art coupled with my love for the character is enough to get me to check this out.
Chaos War: Alpha Flight #1
CHAOS WAR tie-in! ALPHA FLIGHT IS BACK! Original members Guardian, Vindicator, Shaman and Marina are back from the great beyond to join their team in battle larger than life or death! As CHAOS KING and his army cut a path of destruction across the Marvel Universe, the return of Alpha Flight may just be what the heroes need to turn the tide. So why does one team member want to put Alpha Flight back in the grave?
I really don't know which Chaos War tie-ins I'll buy, if any. This deserves a look for Reilly Brown's art (loved him on Incredible Hercules) and Alpha Flight (besides the old X-Men nostalgia, I've enjoyed Snowbird in this Hercules saga).
Detective Comics #871
Up-and-coming writer Scott Snyder (AMERICAN VAMPIRE) and acclaimed artist Jock (THE LOSERS) make their debut as the new ONGOING creative team of DETECTIVE COMICS!
In "The Black Mirror" part 1 of 3, a series of brutal murders pushes Batman's detective skills to the limit and forces him to confront one of Gotham City's oldest evils.
Plus, in the start of a COMMISSIONER GORDON second feature also written by Scott Snyder, when a figure from the past returns to Gotham, Jim Gordon must face some of his darkest demons. Featuring; Art by Francesco Francavilla (GARRISON).
I didn't think this was out this early, but I'm not complaining. I'm pretty excited about Scott Snyder taking over on this book. Up until the fifth issue (after which I dropped it), I was really enjoying American Vampire, and the story he has planned here looks very interesting. Plus, with art by Jock, this should be good.
Fantastic Four #585
World's apart from each other, the Fantastic Four embark on their individual journeys with one destined to end in tragedy and change the face of Marvel's first family. It's THREE, part 3:'The Last Kings of Atlantis'!
I think this is the shortest solicit I've seen for Fantastic Four. They're usually pretty long and more detailed. Just an observation. Anyone who's been reading this blog knows that I've been loving Jonathan Hickman's run on this book, and now with things about to get really intense, I'm even more excited for every issue.
Magdalena #4
Patience, the latest in a long line of The Magdalena, bearer of the Spear of Destiny, and Kristof, her mentor and Knight of Malta, continue to race around Europe hunting a demonic cult intent on bringing about the era of the Anti-Christ. With Patience doubting whether she will be able to fulfill her duty or not, the Church moves to ensure that their servant will do its will… even if that servant is not Patience.
Wow, until I saw this in the listing for this week's new releases I had actually forgotten about it. This was originally solicited for August; the last issue came out September 1 — it's almost three months later now, and what little interest I had left (after the reeeally slow pacing) is gone now. I wanted to at least finish out the opening arc, but I don't think I will. I liked the concept, but the delays and dragged-out plotting has killed my interest in this book.
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