Wednesday, April 02, 2008

IN STORES: April 02, 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.

The Infinite Wars now has a gift shop!
Now you'll find Amazon purchase links to hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and other collections, not only on regular entries -- but also new releases at the bottom of the Shipping List, and now a whole catalogue of potential purchases via the Infinite Wars: Amazonian Gift Shop. [Men are also welcome!] By shopping with Amazon via our purchase links, you not only find yourself a great deal, but also sponsor future entries on the Infinite Wars.


Thin and Crispy...
FEB080104 ABE SAPIEN THE DROWNING #3 (OF 5) $2.99
FEB082123 ARCHIBALD SAVES EASTER (ONE SHOT) $3.50
FEB080230 COUNTDOWN SPECIAL KAMANDI 80 PAGE GIANT $4.99
FEB082150 DEAD SPACE #2 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB080206 DETECTIVE COMICS #843 $2.99
JAN082078 JACK STAFF #15 $3.50
JAN082198 KICK ASS #2 (MR) $2.99
FEB082269 LOGAN #2 $3.99
FEB082235 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #38 $2.99
FEB080207 NIGHTWING #143 $2.99
FEB082159 OVERMAN #5 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
FEB082209 SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #8 $4.99
JAN080191 TRIALS OF SHAZAM #12 (OF 12) $3.50
FEB080307 VINYL UNDERGROUND #7 (MR) $2.99

The Deep Dish...
- JAN080169 ACTION COMICS #863 $2.99

Few brandings direct my attentions elsewhere faster than the Legion of Superheroes. I think it just seems to be one of those concepts that you either do, or you don't. So, when Geoff Johns says he wants to do for the Legion what he did for Green Lantern, I can't help but regard that feat with some scepticism. While I might not be about to run out and buy-up on Legion issues; Johns proves exactly why he's the #1 ranked creator. Gary Frank is a long overdue collaborator with a strong contemporary visual, although, the roughness of inks by Jon Sibal leaves him looking like a sobre Leinil Yu. Would've liked more solid inks to go with Franks' indie fashioned boggle eyes, and a stronger graphic colour palette. Still, very solid!

- FEB082267 CABLE #2 DWS $2.99
We're a website about superhero fights.
Now, I'm far from any kind of X-phile, but my spidey-senses can't help but tingle when I see a comic apparently built around the concept of time travelling mutants with cybernetic arms. There's some other stuff in there revelant to the state of the X-Universe, but frankly, that's become one of the most disposable corners of mainstream comics, so I couldn't care less. With Ariel Olivetti bringing his over-rendered art to the series, it's all a little bit plastic, but it's worth it, because Rich tells me these days Bishop's packing cybernetic tentacles... Bizarre!

- FEB080177 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 4 $2.99
Forty-eight weeks later I find myself regarding this series with envious eyes. I haven't read a single issue of Countdown, and I really do wonder if it's as bad as some people wish to have me believe. I mean, as an ill-informed outsider, I see a series that's detailed some very interesting fringe events, while also fulfilling the promise to touch on the spine of the DCU. Okay, so maybe it wasn't always as crucial a series as promised, but hey... Superman-Prime's in the mix; Rayner/Troy/Todd as the Challengers is awesome; and a half-OMAC Karate Kid apparently fought Equus. [No. The guy from the team I don't like. Not Ralph Macchio...]

And hey, if you've got an issue with a guy commenting without reading the series, bow before my ominous credentials as noted by the Fortress Keeper. I don't cry non-stop like a little girl, or wear a dorky green cape and pantaloon combo, but I do occasionally notice colours.

- FEB080262 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #44 $2.25
It's another shipping list, which invariably means it's time to talk about the kids comics again! This time it's a spotlight on headlining Flash rogue, the Mirror Master! Serving up a variety of heroes and villains without the depressing stoicism of a modern crossover, the price really is right at $2.25. I can't personally vouch for the book, but I'd love to hear any and all comments!

- FEB082231 MARVEL SPOTLIGHT IRON MAN MOVIE $2.99
Forty-eight pages of reprint tot and nonsense - yep, it's movie season!
Iron Man starts the triple threat with his big screen debut next month and Marvel marketing has got it covered. Actually, if these things can get shilled out at cinemas, it might be the kind of thing that helps bring a few people to the comic stands. That, or everyone groans about getting homework on their way to the carpark. Hey, chin up, fanboy! The movie spotlight includes a word from comics legend - David Michelinie! Nice!

- FEB082253 PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #18 $2.99
Hot off the heels of the 'Tigra incident(s)'; Jigsaw makes his return to the pages of a Punisher comic! It's not easy for a guy like Frank Castle to maintain any kind of arch-nemesis, mostly because they usually wind up dead pretty quick. By the power of his resillient face, Jigsaw is rivalled only by Kingpin for the covetted villain spot, and should be an exciting inclusion in PWJ. The jury's still out on whether or not Matt Fraction proves a factor in the equation of a good comic, but he's certainly a lot more enticing when he's putting a name-guest in the book!

- FEB082240 SECRET INVASION #1 (OF 8) $3.99
Vaccuum the rug, polish the silverware, put on your Sunday best! The Skrulls are coming to dinner! You'd have to have been incarcerated in the Negative Zone to have missed the hype surrounding Marvel's next line-wide event which poses the question -- who do you trust? Brian Bendis probably isn't at the top of that list; not after the equally unoriginal efforts of House of M, which retread fresh ground laid by the sequential double of Age of Apocalypse and Heroes Reborn.

Secret Invasion promises to be an equally familiar crossover, if not, a whole lot better than HoM! Multi-tasking hasn't proved to be Bendis' strong point, but if he can steer close to the hi-concept, he should be fine. There's also the fact that crossovers as involving as these tend to leave the core writer in a fair amount of bondage, so unless Quesada's goldenboy is running commando, he should be protected from himself!

And hey, it isn't all bad! [Mighty Avengers #10]

Know Your Trade...
AUG070128 BATMAN GRENDEL NEW PTG TP $19.95
FEB082312 ESSENTIAL IRON MAN TP VOL 03 $16.99
FEB082297 SECRET INVASION TP INFILTRATION $19.99
DEC070251 SHAZAM THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD TP $24.99


No comments: