Monday, December 27, 2010

Weekly Previews for December 22, 2010

Previews time! Okay, so they're more like Postviews this week (last week?). Christmas preparations have caused the delay in this week's Previews, but they're still here, and there are (were) some good comics out this (past) week, including Batman, Inc. and the penultimate issue of “Three” in Fantastic Four.

Also out this week are three more Chaos War tie-ins — Chaos War: Ares #1, Chaos War: Dead Avengers #2 and Incredible Hulks #619 — which I'll mention here because I'm following Chaos War. I'm not putting them in the list below because I don't have enough interest in the tie-ins (too many other books I'd rather get) to put in the work of writing them up below.

And the debut of yet another Thor mini comes this week. (It's called Thor: Wolves North for anyone interested.) I'm starting to get tired of these shameless movie promotions, but I suppose we'll have to sit through them for a while longer.

Now, on to the Previews!

The Weekly Previews are my chance to showcase the newly released books (single issues and collections) that catch my eye each week. Some are from my pull-list, some look interesting enough to check out, and some are just notable from one reason or another. Enjoy.

Angel: Illyria #2

  • Written by Scott Tipton & Mariah Huehner
  • Art by Elena Casagrande
  • Cover by Jenny Frison

Illyria must complete a task before she can access the way to The Deeper Well, and she needs Spike’s help to do it. What sort of trinket could a demon possibly need, and what will she find when she goes back “home”?

I flipped through the first issue of this four-part mini in the shop. It looked pretty good, but I just can't fit so many titles into my budget, so I'll have to get this one after the trade comes out.

Status: Trade Waiting.

Atomic Robo: The Deadly Art of Science #2

  • Written by Brian Clevinger
  • Art by Scott Wegener

JACK TAROT, Scourge of the Chicago Crime Syndicate, stalks the mean streets of New York City hunting down the truth behind a baffling series of high-tech robberies! Though if he knew that’d involve mentoring ATOMIC ROBO, he’d have stayed home. Hey, what’s Jack hiding behind that mask? And how does he shoot with it on anyway, I don’t see no eye-holes! Also starring Jack’s beautiful organic daughter! And a man with two skulls! And Tesla! And vampires! Again! But only a little. Every issue brings us one step closer to uncovering the secrets of THE DEADLY ART OF SCIENCE!

Atomic Robo is one of those titles that I've never picked up but really need to. It also feels like a good one to have trades of — I don't know why, but it does. So shall it be.

Status: Trade Waiting.

Batman Annual #28

  • Written by David Hine
  • Art by Agustin Padilla
  • Cover by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau

This year’s Batman annuals collide in a 2-part story involving both Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson as Batman! In this second part of the story, when a Batman, Inc. recruitment trip to Paris, France leads to a murder mystery, the heroes deduce that the assassinations are connected to a strange cult leader. But will this religious figure take them one step closer to solving the bizarre murders? Or are The Question, Bruce and Dick getting one step closer to becoming the next victims?

Continued from this month’s DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #12!

I didn't pick up Detective Comics Annual #12 (which holds the first part of this story) but I'm still considering getting both that and this. I haven't been too enamored with David Hine's writing on Detective Comics, but this is still in the running based solely on my love for The Question. I fell in love with Rene Montoya reading Greg Rucka's backups in Detective Comics and also reading 52. Is that enough for me to spend ten bucks (about the same as a trade or three other comics)?

Status: In Consideration.

Batman, Inc. #2

  • Written by Grant Morrison
  • Art & Cover by Yanick Paquette & Michael Lacombe
  • Variant Cover by Andy Kubert

The dynamic new era of Batman continues! The Dark Knight and Mr. Unknown – the Batman of Japan – go up against Lord Death Man. It’s going to be a fight to the end that could see the failure of Batman, Inc. before it’s even begun!

I can't say how much I loved the first issue of Batman, Inc. It was pure fun. It let you know it's taking no prisoners right from the start then took you on a ride full of mad scientists' inventions, super-bad villains, butt-kicking heroes and a death trap that comes straight out of an Adam West-Batman T.V. series that actually took itself seriously. Oh, and there's some sexiness, humor, and intrigue thrown in for good measure. I can't wait for this next issue.

Status: Buying It.

Fantastic Four #586

  • Written by Jonathan Hickman
  • Penciled by Steve Epting
  • Cover by Alan Davis

"THREE" - Part 3

As the army of the Anti-priest begins an invasion of the Baxter Building, and the Invisible Woman is caught in between the warring factions of New and Old Atlantis, Reed Richards must decide the fate of the Earth amidst the chaos of Galactus devouring Nu-World.

Don't let the solicit fool you — this is actually Part 4, otherwise known as the issue before someone dies. But if that were the only reason to read this, there wouldn't be a reason to read this — you could just read the news sites next month. Luckily, Jonathan Hickman's entire run has been well worth reading, and this arc has lived up to the hype. It's not nonstop action, but the tension is building up to the breaking point and has broken in some places — as evidenced by the end of the previous issue. More breakage is coming in this issue, and it looks like everything's about to fall apart — with our heroes separated (or powerless), of course. This has been a great ride so far, and this arc is only the midpoint or so of Hickman's overall story.

Status: Buying It.

Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special #1

  • Written by Geoff Johns
  • Art by Brett Booth
  • Cover by Gene Ha

It’s BRIGHTEST (CHRISTMAS) DAY! What do you want for Christmas? Orange Lantern Larfleeze wants everything – including Santa Claus himself! And nothing, not even the heroes of the DC Universe can to stop the Orange Lantern from getting what he wants! Plus, you won’t want to miss the strange holiday season shenanigans starring the rest of the Orange Lantern Corps! Superstar writer Geoff Johns and artist Brett Booth team up for an unbelievable sleigh ride adventure!

I have never read a Green Lantern book. The closest I've come are the few (somewhat recent) event titles I've read that include some of the Lanterns and Time Masters: Vanishing Point which has Hal Jordan in it. But I do keep up with general news, and I have seen some excerpts from various Green Lantern books. And I've found Larfleeze to be both extremely interesting and extremely hilarious — and this looks like the perfect book for him.

Status: In Consideration.

War is Boring (GN)

  • Written by David Axe
  • Art by Matt Bors

For four years, war was life for David Axe. He was alternately bored out of his mind and completely terrified. As a correspondent for The Washington Times and BBC Radio, Axe flew from conflict to conflict, reveling in death, danger, and destruction abroad while back in D.C. his apartment gathered dust, his plants died, and his relationships withered. Loosely based on the web comic of the same name, War Is Boring takes us to Lebanon and Somalia; to arms bazaars across the United States; to Detroit, as David tries to reconnect with his family; and to Chad, as David attempts to bring attention to the Darfur genocide.

This could be an interesting book. What's reported and what actually happens never completely jibe. It's always good to see different perspectives, so I'd like to see what life has been like for this war correspondent.

Status: Of Interest.

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