Wednesday, May 21, 2008

IN STORES: MAY 21, 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.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC

Thin and Crispy...
MAR080139 BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #7 $2.99
MAR080163 BIRDS OF PREY #118 $2.99
MAR082063 BOMB QUEEN V #1 (OF 6) (MR) $3.50
MAR082173 CAPTAIN AMERICA #38 $2.99
FEB080182 COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY #8 (OF 8) $3.99
FEB082151 DYNAMO 5 #13 $3.50
MAR082175 FANTASTIC FOUR #557 $2.99
MAR080030 GRENDEL BEHOLD THE DEVIL #7 (OF 8) $3.50
MAR080024 INDIANA JONES & KINGDOM O/T CRYSTAL SKULL #1 FLEMING CVR $5.99
MAR080025 INDIANA JONES & KINGDOM O/T CRYSTAL SKULL #1 STRUZAN CVR $5.99
FEB082124 INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE PRIMER #1 $5.99
MAR080172 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #21 $2.99
FEB080227 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #15 $2.99
MAR082207 MIGHTY AVENGERS #14 SI $2.99
MAR080214 PROGRAMME #11 (OF 12) $2.99
MAR080159 SUPERMAN BATMAN #48 $2.99
MAR080126 TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN #3 (OF 12) $2.99
MAR082155 ULTIMATE X-MEN #94 $2.99
MAR082240 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #25 $3.99

The Deep Dish...
- MAR080164 BRAVE AND THE BOLD #13 $2.99
A title seemingly designed for cancellation, I struggled to get much farther than the first issue of DC's Silver Age nostalgia reboot of Brave and the Bold. Mark Waid delivers the quaint with a hint of contemporary character, but does so without enough oomph or event self-awareness to really make for an enjoyable read.
If I were buying strictly to represent modern combat, the lure of a Batman/Flash team-up against an android samurai is pretty enticing, but on any other day, I wouldn't mention it. Waid truly feels lost in todays market, and I really don't understand why, and I get the impression, neither does he.

- MAR080152 CATWOMAN #79 $2.99
After tying very specifically into the recent Salvation Run crossover, I'm hoping this will be a much needed breath of fresh air for the Catwoman title. Not unlike a lot of titles under Ed Brubaker's guard, I felt the title was started to become somewhat bogged down by the rigmarole of storyarcs feeding into storyarcs. I suspect the structure shall remain the same, but it'll be nice to get away from stalwarts like Hammer and Sickle, to rekindle some of the sassy urban chic that made the title such a joy under Darwyn Cooke and, rather ironically, Ed Brubaker!

- MAR080165 CHECKMATE #26 $2.99
There's a question engulfing this title even bigger than the fictional mysteries detailed in the pages within: Is there life in the old girl after Rucka? Though a fan of the title, I actually like to think it can get better from here. As solid as Rucka was in managing and introducing the elements now associated with Checkmate, I don't think he was nearly as smart or complicated as some thought. That's not necessarily a bad thing, quite the contrary really! I imagine it shouldn't be too hard for Bruce Jones to pick up the title cleanly, while infusing his own minutia and style. Here's hoping the title gets enough grace to survive a disaster, just incase.

- MAR080137 DC WILDSTORM DREAMWAR #2 (OF 6) $2.99
We've been talking a lot lately about DC's pending video game collision with Mortal Kombat.
As bizarre as the announcement might have seemed, it's fair to say DC aren't exactly strangers to the crossover, logical or otherwise. Here we see what is presumably promotional filler to try to boost Wildstorm's lagging numbers amidst editorial conundrums and terminal delays. Described as Universes Colliding, one hopes it's a sign of things to come for a comic tie-in for the game.

- MAR080170 FLASH #240 $2.99
It's bizarre to think just a few years ago Flash was a must-read buzz title finding strong characterization under Mark Waid, and ebbing pathos and significance under Geoff Johns. Oh, how the mighty fall!
The Flash seems has been suffering speed wobble since being shunted aside during the end of Infinite Crisis. A prolonged absence was bungled when Bart Allen filled the boots briefly before being killed off, along with his starring title and it's former TV-series writers, in favour of a belated return of the 'real deal' - Wally West!

The previously mentioned troubles Mark Waid's been experiencing have been front and centre in the Flash. After seemingly removing himself from the title dismayed, it feels like damage control as Flash matters become resolved and ignored both here, and in the Justice League title. Hopefully a clash with Gorilla Grodd can be just the kind of return to superhero normalcy the Flash needs to balance back out, because it'd be nice to have some footing before speeding head-first into Final Crisis and the possible return of Barry Allen!

- MAR082211 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #117 SI $2.99
Hanging on the fringe of the Marvel Universe, Incredible Hercules has managed to be the sleeper hit of 2008! Diversity and superhero smackdowns have been the key to this road trip through the Marvel landscape. A scuffle with the Eternals will provide the first pit-stop for Herc since World War Hulk, as he forms a pantheon of new gods to counter the Skrull gods playing a part in Secret Invasion.
I'm almost disappointed to see the title get caught up in the latest headline crossover, but the book's sure to present a unique perspective of the invasion.


Know Your Trade...
FEB080249 BATMAN VS TWO FACE TP $19.99
DEC070065 GRENDEL DEVIL CHILD HC $14.95
OCT070037 GRENDEL HC DEVIL QUEST $14.95
JAN080088 HELLBOY COMPANION TP (RES) $14.95
JAN080090 HELLBOY TP VOL 08 DARKNESS CALLS $19.95
MAR082273 HULK VISIONARIES JOHN BYRNE TP VOL 01 $24.99
MAR082266 HULK WWH TP INCREDIBLE HERC $14.99
MAR082252 MMW MIGHTY THOR HC VOL 07 $54.99
FEB080257 SHOWCASE PRESENTS GREEN LANTERN TP VOL 03 $16.99
JAN080204 SUPERMAN ESCAPE FROM BIZARRO WORLD HC $24.99
OCT071973 TIM SALE BLACK & WHITE HC $39.99






Site Update...
Is it just me, or has May been in hyper-time?...
Because the traffic demands it, we'll be taking another ranked look back at the Mortal Kombat comics. Time has made it difficult to maintain the balance, but you can count on some more Iron Man making it's way to the site, as well as future entries into the Smash Hits. Be sure to spread the word about the site if we're touching on anything of relevance, and be sure to take full advantage of specials and already low prices in the Gift Shoppe, and also the $1.99 price tag on my own twenty-two page black and white comic, The Kirby Martin Inquest!

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