Wednesday, January 23, 2008

IN STORES: January 23, 2008
You can probably find complete shipping list updates on most major comics sites. Consider this an opportunity to either do all your info-shopping in the one place, or get a speculative perspective on what might be worth checking out. These are untested reads. Secret Wars on Infinite Earths can offer no guarantee or endorsement of quality. These are simply titles that may be of potential interest. Some items may ship late.

Thin and Crispy...
NOV070173 COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY #5 (OF 8) $3.99
OCT070225 GON VOL 03$5.99
NOV070182 GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #4 (OF 9) $2.99
NOV072147 IRON MAN #25 $3.99
OCT071981 MADMAN TP VOL 03$17.99
NOV072162 MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 #4 (OF 5) $2.99
NOV072195 PUNISHER #54 (MR) $2.99
NOV070197 SUPERMAN BATMAN #45 $2.99
NOV070199 SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #11 $2.99
NOV072123 ULTIMATES 3 #2 (OF 5) $2.99
NOV072191 X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #8 (OF 8) $2.99

The Deep Dish...
- NOV072210 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST HC BOOK 1 $29.99
I'm far from a big trade guy, but for an extravagant way to catch up on Marvel's 2007 sequuel to the cosmic reneissance, look no further than the Annihilation Conquest Hardcover!
Marvel have just announced a brand new Guardians of the Galaxy series, using an old name for the new purpose of capitalizing on properties funded by Conquest! We haven't dedicated much time to talking about it on the Infinite Wars, but I think it's been a long time coming, and am glad enough people have been on board to sponsor this move forward. I feel the team book is almost the logical step forward in keeping these characters and properties alive, and yet, I still managed to be surprised and delighted. Again, to use a comparison that's going to become exhausted over the next few months, this is everything the Spider-Offices aren't doing. Bravo!

- NOV070167 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 14 $2.99
I haven't been reading Countdown to this point, but as things continue to ramp up in the title, I really wish I was! What kinda credibility does a guy need to get review copies from DC?
Having just read Countdown: Arena, and gleefully initiated the peculiarly enjoyable Superman-Prime into the Infinite Ranks, part of me is just a little extra charged for the war we're being promised in Countdown. Whether or not it can live up to the hype and successfully wrap up to segue into the related weekly Final Crisis title, remains to be seen!

- NOV070174 CRIME BIBLE THE FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD #4 (OF 5) $2.99
Pockets of resistance [ie; iFanboy] can be seen putting a lot of effort into rectifying the promotions bungle of the worst series title in 2007. Set to be appropriately redubbed THE QUESTION: Five Lessons of Blood, it may be worth jumping into recent back issues to pick this up on the cheap, and dazzle your friends. While not interested at first, I have to admit, talks with Greg Rucka (conducted on WordBalloon) have helped sell me!

- NOV072015 JACK STAFF SPECIAL #1 $3.50
Y'know, loitering around the big two like we do, you'd be forgiven for being blissfully aware of my reading habits. Sure, we're running a ship built on superheroes fighting, and sure that typcially equates to Batman and Wolverine fights, but there's much more to comics than that, and we're well aware of it!
Paul Grist's quirky self-contained series, (based loosely on a failed Union Jack pitch), brings together a lot of characters and lore directly inspired by British sci-fi/fantasy heroes from the seventies, many which have inspired me through childhood reading. I'm well behind on picking up these issues from Image, boasting skillfully applied colours, but encourage others to take heed! Heck, here's where your Spider-man dollars could be going, in lieu of Spider-Boycott: 2008; the stand against bad storytelling!

- NOV072171 ORDER #7 $2.99
The Order has been an Initiative spin-off with a decent hook, but an otherwise utterly uncompelling exterior. I have serious doubts that this issue would change my mind, but for anyone whose glance is easily seduced by the appearance of a favourite character, look no further than the cover of Order #7 to produce promise of the Sub-Mariner!
Hey, it isn't all flim-flam! This seventh issue gives the series opportunity to test it's legs in the domain of the Marvel Universe, meshing a new and isolated concept ARTWORK: Chuck Austenwith one of the longest standing conventions of Marvel comics, in Namor. Could be interesting!

- NOV072120 ULTIMATE IRON MAN II #2 (OF 4) $2.99
Then again, you can take everything I said about the Order, and chuck it.
As origins go, I felt the last Ultimate Iron Man meandered beyond any series' right. I don't know if I should expect violence, and lord knows the issue may struggle to live up to the superb Pasqual Ferry cover, but... War Machine!!!
Teeheeheeheehee!!!

1 comment:

Mike Haseloff said...

Way to tell me it's 2008, guys!