Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Weekly Previews for May 11, 2011

I'm a bit late this week, so I'll be brief. It's a good week for comics. Let's not overlook all the great books that aren't Flashpoint this week.

Amazing Spider-Man #660

  • Written by Dan Slott
  • Pencils & Cover by Stefano Caselli

“Parental Supervision Required”

THIS ISSUE IS PACKED!!! The SINISTER SIX versus SPIDER-MAN and the FF… and by FF, we mean ALL of the Future Foundation! Know what’s not a good place for children, even super powered kids? A full-scale battle with the world’s deadliest super villains! It’s not “Bring Your Kids To Work” Day, not a field trip, and it’s definitely not a game! This is a high stakes battle and there’s no way it will end well….

You also get part 3 of the death-defying team up of Spider-Man and Ghost Rider by Rob Williams and Lee Garbett. And also this issue…our 2nd in a series of “Infested” preludes leading to this summer’s top secret Spidey event! Phew!

I picked up the first two parts of this at the shop on Saturday (which was Free Comic Book Day). I haven't had a chance to read them, but looking them over and from what I've seen online, it'll be a fun ride. I'm looking forward to this, as well.

Status: Buying It.

Batgirl #21

  • Written by Bryan Q. Miller
  • Art by Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs
  • Cover by Dustin Nguyen

When the Grey Ghost puts himself in harm's way to save Gotham City from the Reaper's sound-wielding Harmony, it's up to Batgirl to save the day. If Batgirl has her way, her first team-up with the Grey Ghost will be her last with the Grey Ghost – assuming they both make it out alive.

Like Amazing Spider-Man, Batgirl is one of those books I can't quite fit into my regular take but will pick up here and there because I generally enjoy them and/or the character. This one probably isn't the best occasional issue to pick up (I think it's in the middle of a story) but that cover's so pretty it makes me want to take a look.

Status: Of Interest.

Batman Incorporated #6

  • Written by Grant Morrison
  • Art & Cover by Chris Burnham
  • Variant Cover by Frazer Irving

Wayne Enterprises’ latest press conference is interrupted by a strange new gang led by a villain calling himself “Emoticon-Man” - and Red Robin is appointed as the leader of the Batman Inc. stealth team (better known as The Outsiders) in the next chapter of Grant Morrison’s globe-spanning Batman epic.

I haven't been keeping up: does this have a different artist (and story) because Yanick Paquette was falling behind or what's going on? No matter, it should be fun. I've really been liking this series.

Status: Buying It.

Birds of Prey #12

  • Written by Gail Simone
  • Art & Cover by Jesus Saiz

They've had the growing pains, the split-ups and the reunions. Now it's time to see the Birds of Prey do the dirty jobs no one else can. When a mysterious yet familiar villain threatens to organize all East Coast criminal activity, from loan sharking to illegal arms trading, Oracle is forced to test the limits of the Batman Incorporated strategy, using her own operatives as pawns in a battle for the soul of Gotham City!

I list this only because DC says it has the Question in it (with Huntress). And that makes it worth a look.

Status: Of Interest.

FF #3

  • Written by Jonathan Hickman
  • Pencils by Steve Epting
  • Cover by Daniel Acuña

What has become of the surviving members of the Council, loosed upon our world by Valeria? That's what Reed Richards and the new FF must now discover!

No disappointments from Jonathan Hickman so far, and this follows a plot thread that's really interesting. I've been waiting for this ever since Valeria rescued / let loose the “other” Reed Richardses at the beginning of “Three.”

Status: Buying It.

Flashpoint #1

  • Written by Geoff Johns
  • Art & Cover by Andy Kubert
  • Variant Cover by Ivan Reis & George Pérez

Not a dream, not an imaginary story, not an elseworld. This is Flash Fact: When Barry Allen wakes at his desk, he discovers the world has changed. Family is alive, loved ones are strangers, and close friends are different, gone or worse. It's a world on the brink of a cataclysmic war – but where are Earth's Greatest Heroes to stop it? It's a place where America's last hope is Cyborg, who hopes to gather the forces of The Outsider, The Secret 7, S!H!A!Z!A!M!, Citizen Cold and other new and familiar-yet-altered faces! It's a world that could be running out of time, if The Flash can't find the villain who altered the time line!

I'm not that interested in Flashpoint, really. My interest goes as far as my casual interests in Cyborg and Booster Gold — and that Time Masters: Vanishing Point ended up ramming right into this event. So, I'll see what the hubbub is about and maybe get a tie-in or two that look worthwhile.

Status: Of Interest.

Mega Man #1

  • Written by Ian Flynn
  • Art by Patrick “Spaz” Spaziante, John Workman & Matt Herms
  • Cover by Patrick “Spaz” Spaziante
  • Sketch Variant Cover by Chad Thomas

“Let the Games Begin!” Part One: The future looks bright when brilliant and benevolent Dr. Light unveils his latest creations: the Robot Masters! But when the nefarious Dr. Wily steals them for his own sinister purposes, there is no one left to stop him. No one – except Mega Man! Don’t miss the first issue of this brand new ongoing series!

I have a long-standing love for Mega Man. Mega Man 2 was one of the first Nintendo games I played (and got hooked on) and I will always have a comfy room set up in my heart for all things Mega Man. So, even though this is aimed at kids, I'm going to have a hard time not forcing this into my purchases each month. Or at least hint strongly to one of the kids to get it.

Special note on this one: the writer, Ian Flynn — who's also writing the Sonic the Hedgehog book right now — is a local creator for me. Which is another excuse reason for picking this up.

Status: In Consideration.

Red Robin #23

  • Written by Fabian Nicieza
  • Art & Cover by Marcus To & Ray McCarthy

The "7 Days of Death" begin with assassination attempts on Bruce Wayne and Lucius Fox by the international assassin Scarab – but isn't she in jail? To find the killer, Red Robin may have to spring the real Scarab from prison! Is this an assault on Wayne Enterprises, or do the first two days of death signal the start of a deeper conspiracy?

Red Robin has never let me down. The crossover issues have been more hit-or-miss, though, so I'm glad to be back to just the main title for a while.

Status: Buying It.

The Unwritten #25

  • Written by Mike Carey
  • Art by Peter Gross
  • Cover by Yuko Shimizu
"Citizen Taylor," part 1 of 2! Back in the real world at last, Tom follows Lizzie and Savoy to New York and to the auction house of Christian Bolinbroke. Lots #1 to 200? The worldly goods of Wilson Taylor. And the only thing more dangerous than the other bidders is the auctioneer himself.

Another book that never disappoints. There is some really smart writing going on here and this mini-arc looks to be more of the same. Which is a good thing.

Status: Buying It.

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