SHIPPING LIST: MARCH 31, 2010
Disclaimer: 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.

The Independents...
DEC090972 2000 AD PACK FEB 2010 $18.00
JAN100732 BETTY #185 $2.50
JAN100806 DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP #10 (OF 24) $3.99
DEC090733 DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP HC VOL 02 (OF 6) $24.99
JAN100962 DRAGON AGE #1 $3.99
JAN100959 HEAVY METAL MAY 2010 (MR) $6.95
OCT090422 GODLAND #31 $2.99
FEB100327 IMAGE FIRSTS WALKING DEAD #1 (MR) $1.00
FEB100326 IMAGE FIRSTS YOUNGBLOOD #1 $1.00
JAN100814 INCORRUPTIBLE #4 $3.99
NOV083737 JOHNNY THE HOMICIDAL MANIAC HC NEW PTG (MR) $44.95
FEB100666 LITTLEST ZOMBIE #1 $3.50
DEC090774 RASL #7 (MR) $3.50
JAN101172 TEZUKAS BLACK JACK TP VOL 10 $16.95
JAN100139 USAGI YOJIMBO #127 SWORD OF NARUKAMI $3.50

The Corporates...
JAN100255 ADVENTURE COMICS #9 $3.99
JAN100319 BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #14 $2.50
JAN100594 PUNISHER #15 $2.99
JAN100564 PUNISHER MAX MGC #1 (MR) $1.00
JAN100606 REALM OF KINGS INHUMANS #5 (OF 5) $3.99
JAN100522 SHE-HULK SENSATIONAL #1 $4.99
JAN100290 WONDER WOMAN #42 $2.99

The Spotlight...
- JAN100557 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #627 $2.99
The intrigue of The Gauntlet deepens as the Juggernaut steps into the spotlight, but is he the villain, or the victim? A three-part story entitled Something Can Stop the Juggernaut is interesting enough, but taking place in Amazing Spider-man over an X-Men book is all the more interesting! Of course, the appearance isn't without precedent. The joy of The Gauntlet has largely been it's ability to recapture the glory days of the seventies and eighties, not just by using classic villains, but by lining up a list of guest villains and heroes that make full use of the flowing fluidity of monthly (or in this case, weekly) comic books!

Given that Amazing #625 unleashed a merciless Rhino whose super-durable hide was hardened further by the death of his recently taken wife -- one wonders if it might be he who has taken down the unstoppable Juggernaut. Then again, with the legacy of Kraven the Hunter looming on the horizon, perhaps it's the daughter of one of Spidey's most deadly foes who's exercising her powers before hunting the web-slinger himself! I've got no idea -- and not knowing is half the fun!

- JAN100231 BLACKEST NIGHT #8 (OF 8) $3.99
This is it! After what was a jam-packed year of Blackest Night saga, the end is finally here! Sinestro has inherited the powers of all life in existence, making him the powerful White Lantern who leads the other New Guardians of the spectrum of light into battle! If you caught Green Lantern #52 you know just how big a deal the S-Man has become, surviving bifurcation to rally the personified entities of each light-type [Ion, Parallax, etc] in their final battle with Nekron!

It's almost impossible to imagine exactly what lies ahead for the heroes (and villains) of the DC Universe, but for the occasional moment of stagnancy, I'd have to say it's been another triumph for the company as a whole. Geoff Johns earns his role as architectural grand pubah of the DCU, since defined as some sort of Editorial position. With the Brightest Day lying ahead, I'm rather pleased to see characters like Atrocitus and Larfleeze still lurking around our humble sector of space, beautifully justified with trademark ease by the reveal that Earth is indeed the secret centre of the universe. At this point, I think the uncertainty of the future is actually more exciting than the final chapter of the Blackest Night!

- JAN100569 CLOAK AND DAGGER #1 $3.99
Hey, check it out! I'm completely ignorant about this, a new one-shot from Marvel, but I'm pretty pleased to see it show up on the shipping list! Fans of the early nineties Spidey event, Maximum Carnage, will no doubt remember Cloak and Dagger fondly, but that's hardly their only claim to fame as a duo. Along with a string of solo adventures throughout the eighties and nineties, the pair recently showed up as covert operative within the Dark X-Men, not to mention their role as underground fighters during Civil War!

It becomes all too easy to criticize Marvel (and DC) of not making full use of their properties, so it's wonderful to see the initiative being taken here. Granted, it hasn't been a hasty transition from Dark X-Men to spin-off, and it's only a one-shot, but you take what you can get. I have an affection for these characters, if only for nostalgic reasons. Not sure what they'll be up against, but here's hoping it's strong enough to see them find their way back into regular rotation!

- JAN100245 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #10 $2.99
Despite rather enjoying the first half-dozen issues, I have to confess to having fallen out of the Gotham City Sirens loop. I find there's a vague sense of meandering at play as the title drifts from the novelty of the Batman: Reborn relaunches, to occupy a strange space of uncertain relevance. Paul Dini, whenever present, is bound to be a lure, particularly as The Riddler's age as an altruistic private investigator type continues to be explored. Looking over previous incarnations of the riddling former-villain, it dawned on me just how significant a change the recast has been, but also how perfectly it positions a character that had to compete with the zany gimmick antics of more immediately threatening Bat-villains, like the Joker and Two-Face. Which isn't to detract from the significance of the titular heroines, whose roles aren't nearly as marginalized as the hyper-sexualized artwork of Gotham City Sirens covers might suggest. Glamour model-esque artworks aside, it's clear that Catwoman remains the firm foundation of GCS, despite struggling to maintain a central role to the depth of the solo series this book replaced. One wonders if there isn't a better way to have cake and eat it too, but then, as I said, I'm rather out of the loop. Finances willing, I'll probably take the fifth-week opportunity to pick this issue up and reacquaint myself with the book, hopefully without finding a Riddler reverted to sub-standard villainy.

- JAN100281 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #43 $3.99
It doesn't seem productive to labour on the point, but I don't think it can be overstated how truly, utterly, disgracefully terrible Justice League: Cry for Justice was. That said -- based on the "Rise" and "Fall" issues that have followed the conclusion of James Robinson's bizarrely awful mini-series, the event that it birthed might actually managed to be worth it, inspite of it's origins. I, of course, refer to the exile of Green Arrow as an outlaw who killed Prometheus and is on the run from the JLA, which runs concurrent to the rebirth of a one-armed Red Arrow. It's still a bloated concept that has a long way to go before it justifies the destruction of Star City (along with more acceptable deaths of superfluous children), but at least we've seen the concept from a perspective that was character-driven and coherrent.

After the truly horrendous Cry for Justice, it's difficult to have faith in James Robinson, even if the storylines he initiated have found some justification. In announcing his take on the JLA, the point of "revealing" Prometheus to have been replaced by an incompetent double, one that would absorb responsibility for a string of defeats in order to reboot the reputation of the original, was heavily laboured upon. What we've wound up with, instead, is a Prometheus of even less value than the previous, killed-off with a simple arrow to the head. It's the antithesis of what was described as one of the key objectives of the series, and a mistake that won't be soon forgiven. Not by me, at least. The Rise and Fall might be worth a look, but under Robinson, I'll be unlikely to investigate too thoroughly, or forget the sins of the past too soon.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
JAN100681 CAPTAIN AMERICA WINTER SOLDIER ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP $24.99
OCT090244 CREEPER BY STEVE DITKO HC $39.99
DEC090733 DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP HC VOL 02 (OF 6) $24.99
JAN100691 ESSENTIAL RAMPAGING HULK TP VOL 02 $19.99
DEC090580 IRON MAN EXTREMIS HC $24.99
NOV083737 JOHNNY THE HOMICIDAL MANIAC HC NEW PTG (MR) $44.95
AUG090177 ROBIN ARCHIVES HC VOL 02 $59.99
DEC090610 SPIDER-MAN COMPLETE CLONE SAGA EPIC TP BOOK 01 $34.99
JAN101172 TEZUKAS BLACK JACK TP VOL 10 $16.95
DEC090223 WONDER WOMAN ENDS OF THE EARTH TP $14.99

Hero of the Week 2010 #12: Captain America

CAPTAIN AMERICA (Marvel) (2009) 
Real Name: Steve Rogers
First Appearance: Captain America Comics #1 (March, 1941)
Group Affiliation: Secret Avengers, Invaders (former)
Gaming Credentials: Spider-man & Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge (1989); Captain America and the Avengers (1991); Maximum Carnage (1994); Marvel Super Heroes (1995); Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems (1996); Marvel vs Capcom 2 (2000); Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (2005); Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006); Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (2009); Marvel Super Hero Squad (2009); The First Avenger: Captain America (TBA)
Infinite Wars Cumulative Ranking: #7

By now, it almost certainly can't have escaped your attention that Chris Evans (Not Another Teen Movie, Cellular, Push) -- also known as the live-action Fantastic Four's Human Torch -- has been cast as yet another of Marvel Comics' most enduring characters, Captain America.

Cap; well known to fans of comics and video games as the leader of the Avengers; is slated to make his debut in 2011 in a solo film set during the Second World War, The First Avenger: Captain America. This allows the Marvel film franchises to dovetail into an all-in all-star Avengers film, set to also feature Robert Downey Jr's immensely popular Iron Man, along with other heroes from the Marvel Films, such as Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), and possibly Hulk cast members, William Hurt (Gen. Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross) and Edward Norton (Bruce Banner).

Like so many of comics' greatest heroes, Captain America owes his origins to the 1940s comics of the Golden Age, emerging as one of the earliest characters to eventually become part of the Marvel superhero pantheon. The Captain has been responsible for decking Hitler with a cross hook, all the way up to fighting for civil liberties of vigilantes in the 2006 comic book epic, Civil War, which spun out of post-9/11 political climates and security in the United States. The character is equal parts superhero power fantasy and aspirational icon, often representing the ideals of what America stands for, whilst standing against the harsh realities of the modern world power.

There's an interesting dichotomy to the character of Captain America that's immediately captured by the cast of Chris Evans. While the shorthand of comic book imagery depicts this revered hero with the stature of a battle-hardened and mature warrior, the timeline of the fiction actually makes him much younger than you might otherwise realise.

Captain America's origins lie in an experimental serum used during World War II to transform a frail youngman into a Super-Soldier at the peak of human physical excellence. Early issues of the WWII inspired comic place Steve Rogers somewhere around the age of twenty-four when he undergoes the experiment that transforms him into America's sentinel of liberty, allowing for only a year or two before the character was frozen in ice, his physical form placed in effective suspended animation to be thawed out in the "modern age" of the 1960s (by the Avengers).

So, while Chris Evans lacks the immediate cartoon authority of the character he is set to portray, there's a somewhat literal accuracy to the youthful twenty-eight year old actor stepping into the red, white, and blue. Whether or not that's something that will clash when he's placed opposite matured icons like Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man), and possibly Hugo Weaving (Red Skull), remains to be seen. Criticism of the decision is certainly not misplaced or without logical grounding.

Evans remains particularly well known for his portrayal of Johnny Storm (aka; the Human Torch) in the infamous 2005 Fantastic Four and it's 2007 sequel. While the films themselves were artistically mediocre, Evans was memorable as the traditionally exuberant youngster of the group, raising the fair question of whether or not actors should double-up on roles sourced from the same material group. Others have already taken multiple comic book roles -- ie; Jessica Alba (Fantastic Four, Sin City), Jon Favreau (Daredevil, Iron Man) -- but this is the first time such a significant clash has occurred with two characters from the same stable. It's fair to say that any actor carries a certain amount of baggage with them based upon the roles they play, and given that the prominent Human Torch is similar to many other roles in Evans' body of work, and poses such a stark contrast to Captain America, is reason enough to have doubts. Certainly moreso than any reservations that might have been expressed about Heath Ledger's Joker, or even Christian Bale's Batman, both of which were never likely to ruin what happily turned out to be master works.

The scrutiny already surrounding Captain America's casting speaks to the weight of the role, which not only furthers Marvel's share of the cinematic landscape, but also continues efforts to elevate certain properties to a higher standing. It's fair to say that not too many years ago, Captain America had fallen into some degree of obscurity, far less noteworthy than cartoon favourites like Iron Man and Fantastic Four, who themselves have received a boost in the cultural mainstream through movies.

On the comics side of things, Captain America gained widespread coverage in 2007 for the story telling of his apparent death. Last year's HOTW featured the announcement of Cap's return, which has long since occurred, returning the iconic hero to the thick of the action with Marvel's Avengers properties and their Siege event. Captain America himself reprises the role of catalyst in dethroning villainous overlord, Norman Osborn, who jockeyed his way into power during Cap's absence which itself was a catalytic role, bleeding out from the 2006 Marvel Civil War. It was the latter event that also inspired the video game sequel, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, building upon the Captain America brand that was established through the Marvel vs Capcom series, and previous Ultimate Alliance.

Suffice to say, Captain America is a character to watch in 2010 and beyond!
As part of the reunited trio of classic Avengers, along with Thor and Iron Man, Cap will be part of instituting Marvel's Heroic Age, bursting out of the events of Siege and New Avengers! As always, you'll find more information on those titles at Marvel.com!

<< Hero of the Week 04/04: Martian Manhunter       [Home]       Hero of the Week 03/21: Spider-man >>

Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9025297

SHIPPING LIST: MARCH 24, 2010
Additional Note: Back for another week of slightly more elaborate solicitations that these shipping lists used to be. I figure I'll see how long I can keep these up, at the very least, while traditional Infinite Wars updates continue somewhere below. Keep your eyes peeled for changes in the "Recent Battles" index for those. Also be sure to vote in the poll, which all of you thousands of people passing are allowed to do, but never seem to. Also be sure to enjoy the archive of material on the site and take advantage of Amazon links, while you're at it! It helps the site! Cheers!

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.

The Independents...
JAN100727 ARCHIE #607 $2.50
JAN100731 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #207 $3.99
JAN100726 ARCHIE WEDDING TP ARCHIE IN WILL YOU MARRY ME $14.95
JAN100876 BLACK TERROR #9 $3.50
JAN100950 COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 13 1975-1976 $28.99
DEC090421 DARKNESS #83 (MR) $2.99
APR090418 DARKNESS ORIGINS TP VOL 01 $12.99
JAN100700 GLAMOURPUSS #12 $3.00
JAN100415 HAUNT #6 $2.99
JAN100416 HAUNT TP VOL 01 $9.99
NOV090385 KING CITY #6 (MR) $2.99
AUG090997 PHANTOM CHECKMATE TP $15.95 [learn more @ChronicleChamber]
JUL090998 PHANTOM LEGACY & LAW TP $18.95
JUL091000 PHANTOM MAN WHO CANNOT DIE TP $20.95
OCT090378 PHONOGRAM TP VOL 02 SINGLES CLUB $14.99
JAN100885 ROBOCOP #3 (MR) $3.50
JAN100420 SHUDDERTOWN #1 (MR) $3.50
JAN101051 TALES OF TMNT #68 $3.25

The Corporates...
JAN100556 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #626 $2.99
JAN100242 BATMAN STREETS OF GOTHAM #10 $3.99
JAN100318 BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #15 $2.50
JAN100279 JUSTICE LEAGUE THE RISE OF ARSENAL #1 (OF 4) $3.99
JAN100595 MARVELS PROJECT #7 (OF 8) $3.99
JAN100258 SUPERMAN #698 $2.99
JAN100612 X-MEN ORIGINS NIGHTCRAWLER #1 $3.99

The Spotlight...
- JAN100510 AVENGERS INITIATIVE #34 SIEGE $2.99
- JAN100508 NEW AVENGERS #63 SIEGE $3.99
- JAN100514 THUNDERBOLTS #142 SIEGE $2.99
It's interesting to compare tie-in issues from Siege and the now closing Blackest Night. I feel there's a very frustrating inconsistency to the development of Marvel's editorial decision making, which is starting to look regularly behind the ball and influenced by DC.
This itself wouldn't be a terrible thing, but the perception of what has made DC comics events acceptable and successful is completely askew. It's a complaint I've probably had for quite a while now, going all the way back to Avengers Disassembled, and the farcical dismay some Marvel representatives expressed in reference to their attempts to give fans what they want. The good news is: I'm pretty sure there's some fine reading in the pages of Avengers: The Initiative, which is a great series sadly not long for this world. However, in the grander context, like other tie-in titles, the book's relationship with the plodding core mini-series presents a much less social and creatively motivated direction than DC's efforts of the past five years. Marvel's offerings present significant inconsistencies and a shallow story spread far too thin. The decade started pretty spectacularly, but on the whole, I couldn't say it's been a good time to be a Marvel comics fan.

- JAN100543 DEADPOOL CORPS RANK AND FOUL #1 $3.99
Speaking of reasons to feel jaded and disinterested in Marvel's output; there's a new wave of Deadpool comics to criticize! Countdown to the Deadpool Corps, or some other parodying nonsense, has already been wheeling out regularly for a little while now. Rank and Foul promises to be a quirky Official Handbook to the Deadpool Corps, of sorts, wrapping up some of the key canon that's been built up around the character. Ordinarily I'd leave this to a dull roar of disapproval, but there might be a bit of fun behind this cover, due in no small part to references back to the glory days of Joe Kelly's work on Deadpool. These days, the character really isn't worth bothering with, and I think that's sad. For reasons I can only imagine, Marvel stumbled onto something pretty darn good in 1997, but by 2007 seemed intent on stomping it into the ground. Then again, if you weren't born until '97, you probably don't know what good comedy looks like, and will be content to indulge the navel lint of memes on offer.

- JAN100234 GREEN LANTERN #52 (BLACKEST NIGHT) $2.99
It's been a sweeping epic that seized much of the DC Universe, and is responsible for finally asserting the company in the monthly top ten sales figures, but all things end and this too must pass.
As Blackest Night draws nearer to it's conclusion, I think you'd have to give the event credit for being a very well managed affair, even if you're feeling a little on the fatigued side. It's fair to say the hysteria has maybe left you at times over the past year or more, but writer Geoff Johns has maintained a vital throughline of intrigue right until the end, hitting significantly with the shock transformation of Sinestro into the long anticipated White Lantern! We all knew it was coming, but I certainly didn't expect it to go down like this!

Some may have complaints about the required reading status of Green Lantern, but like the previous event, Final Crisis, I think this has been a "crossover" event that's done well to justify itself. You could make the argument that these more meaty deviations (ie; Sinestro as White Lantern) would've been well served as portions of a longer Blackest Night mini-series, but at the end of the day, this is a very natural association of arbitrary titles. If you haven't been reading Green Lantern all along, then you've probably been missing a lot of great second feature storytelling! To return to the Final Crisis comparison, I think a lot of the spin-offs and tie-ins were equally well justified, if much less thoroughly engrossing than the 2008 event.

- JAN100633 NEMESIS #1 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99
If you aren't at least a little bit excited about Mark Millar's latest creator-owned series, then you're as insane as the criminals you bring in and must be stopped! The high concept pitch is a simple one: what if a man as skilled, determined, and industrious as Batman decided to become The Joker? DC may've taken legal action to stop this Marvel: Icon book being sold on the merits of it's properties, but the concept remains fully intact and appreciable. We've seen a string of these sorts of books with Irredeemable and The Mighty coming to mind for their take on an evil Superman, but there's an independent mania that comes with a Mark Millar high concept, sure to be dazzling and cinematic enough to have already garnered the attentions of mediocre film makers. An idea like this makes it all the more frustrating that DC and Mark Millar remain at arms length, particularly given his passion for Superman and concepts like that explored in Nemesis. I don't know that DC would be adventurous enough to have indulged this project, but if these were the days of Frank Miller's DKR, it's hard to see Millar anywhere else.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
JAN100726 ARCHIE WEDDING TP ARCHIE IN WILL YOU MARRY ME $14.95
JAN100660 AVENGERS INITIATIVE PREM HC DREAMS & NIGHTMARES $19.99
JAN100652 CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN PREM HC $24.99
JAN100950 COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 13 1975-1976 $28.99
APR090418 DARKNESS ORIGINS TP VOL 01 $12.99
JAN100685 DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS TP $19.99
DEC090208 HARDWARE THE MAN IN THE MACHINE TP $19.99
JAN100416 HAUNT TP VOL 01 $9.99
JAN100638 IRON MAN OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE GN TP $19.99
OCT090592 MMW ATLAS ERA TALES TO ASTONISH HC VOL 03 $59.99
JAN100643 MMW INVINCIBLE IRON MAN TP VOL 01 $24.99
OCT090590 MMW X-MEN HC VOL 08 $54.99
DEC090224 NIGHT OWLS TP VOL 01 $14.99
AUG090997 PHANTOM CHECKMATE TP $15.95
JUL090998 PHANTOM LEGACY & LAW TP $18.95
JUL091000 PHANTOM MAN WHO CANNOT DIE TP $20.95
OCT090378 PHONOGRAM TP VOL 02 SINGLES CLUB $14.99
OCT090601 THOR TALES OF ASGARD BY LEE & KIRBY KIRBY CVR HC $29.99
JAN100656 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN PREM HC WORLD ACCORDING $24.99
JAN100689 X-MEN PRELUDE TO ONSLAUGHT TP $29.99

Hero of the Week 2010 #11: Spider-man

SPIDER-MAN (Marvel) (2009) 
Real Name: Peter Parker
First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy #15 (August, 1962)
Group Affiliation: Secret Avengers
Gaming Credentials: Questprobe #2 Spider-man (1978); Spider-man (1982); Spider-man & Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge (1989); The Revenge of Shinobi (1989); The Amazing Spider-man (1990); Amazing Spider-man vs Kingpin (1990); Spider-man: The Video Game (1991); Punisher: The Ultimate Payback (1991); Spider-man: Return of the Sinister Six (1992); Spider-man & X-Men: Arcade's Revenge (1992); Spider-man & Venom: Maximum Carnage (1994); Amazing Spider-man: Lethal Foes (1994); Spider-man (1995); Spider-man & Venom: Separation Anxiety (1995); Marvel Super Heroes (1995); Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems (1996); Spider-man: Web of Fire (1996); Marvel vs Capcom (1998); Spider-man (2000); Marvel vs Capcom 2 (2000); Spider-man: Mysterio's Menace (2001); Spider-man 2: The Sinister Six (2001); Spider-man 2: Enter Electro (2001); Spider-man (2002); Spider-man 2 (2004); Ultimate Spider-man (2005); Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (2005); Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (2006); Spider-man: Battle for New York (2006); Spider-man 3 (2007); Spider-man: Friend or Foe (2007); Spider-man: Web of Shadows (2008); Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 (2009); Marvel Super Hero Squad (2009); Spider-man: Shattered Dimensions (TBA)
Infinite Wars Cumulative Ranking: #2

As you can gather from the long list of video game titles above, you've had ample opportunity to know exactly what it is that a Spider-man does. It's a crucial part of what's made Spider-man one of the most enduring figures in pop culture and one of the three most iconic and recognised comic book superheroes, along with Batman and Superman, in the world. Spider-man fosters a sense of familiarity in even the most casual of fans, arguably more so than his iconic DC counterparts, due in no small part to the routine licensing of the character to cartoons (since the sixties) and video games (since the seventies, particularly in the nineties). Ponder your experiences with the character prior to the release of the feature films, and I'm sure you'll know what I'm talking about.

Unfortunately, time hasn't been kind to the Spider-man license in video games.
With the revolution of three-dimensional polygon graphics, the character lept into a new world more demanding and potentially reflective of a real-world Spider-man. 2000's Spider-man stripped levels down to rooftops and scaffolding, developing 3D space unfamiliar to Spidey's iconic web-swinging in previous releases, slowly building up to a fully realised city in 2004's Spider-man 2. 2007 saw a third film-based game elaborate on the interactive elements of the city further, opening up sewers and more in-door arenas, but with much less fanfare than the definitive stages included in it's precursor.

It was recently reported by 1up (via MTV) that the next game from the Activision/Marvel license deal will be Spider-man: Shattered Dimensions, a game that is supposedly set to include a greater degree of "web-slinging," as ordered by Activision CEO Bob Kotick, in an effort to restore a certain amount of intrigue the series has lost. It marks the latest in a long line of sub-titled entries that included Friend or Foe and Web of Shadows, and another deviation from the film license that took over from the comic-centric titles of 2001-02. A cunning strategy to reinvigorate a franchise that's seen by many as stagnant and over produced? I think not...

Spidey and Venom battle Doctor Octopus in the movie-inspired team-up game, Friend Or Foe.

By today's standards, it's admittedly a tad rote to lay out a list of classic villains and have players battle through them, each getting successively harder. Yet, it's been so long since such a simple concept has been applied to Spider-man, one wonders if that isn't exactly the remedy the character needs to regain relevance on the video game platform.

Spider-man has one of the very best lists of "Lethal Foes" when it comes to comic book villains.
For the last twenty-five issues of Amazing Spider-man, Marvel Comics have been taking advantage of this fact, rolling out and reinventing classics like; Doc Ock, Electro, The Mad Thinker, Sandman, Mysterio, Rhino, Vulture, and Scorpion, with Juggernaut and The Lizard on the horizon, and a string of guest spots by Daredevil, Deadpool, Black Cat, and Morbius. The Gauntlet has been part of a conceited effort to freshen up the web-slinger in comics, and with just a slice of these characters utilized, it's a compelling argument for video games, too!

2009's award winning Batman: Arkham Asylum set a new standard for what makes a great comic book video game. It combined the necessary elements of design and mechanics to finally get the experience of being The Dark Knight Detective adequately realised in gameplay, but also gained monumental kudos for utilizing established cartoon and comics writer, Paul Dini, to help create what was a heavily story-driven experience. Web-slinging and wall-crawling hasn't been much of a problem for a pixelated Spidey since the 16-bit age, and has been a developing art as technology has been able to further embellish the depiction of spider-powers, to a peak in Spider-man 2, which simulated new movie-inspired ways to web-swing. All very good for the Spider-man game legacy, but not so much for players rendered bored and frustrated by unnecessary incremental changes to the games, and gimmick hooks increasingly removed from the license and disruptive in the face of anything resembling a good story.

Web of Shadows -- Guest-stars aplenty become obscured by an overwrought plot about alien costumes.

Spider-man 2 -- named such after the film it was based on -- is worthy of recognition for developing not only gameplay mechanics of it's predecessors, but also the notion of playing as Spider-man in a real-time New York City environment. Though plotlines centred around embellishments to the movie sequel's story, the game offered up the first example of a fully realised city, complete with random spontaneous encounters and other achievement-based objectives. Though widely derided for it's repetitious fascination with runaway balloons and angry drivers, the game remains one of the most loved entries in the series for it's promising open-ended experience.

I believe a strong central storyline is a must for any game, but as The Gauntlet demonstrates in many of it's issues, the life of Spider-man revolves heavily around the city and chance encounters with danger that might arise. Area and time based triggers are perhaps the simplest, most effective way to capture the city-spirit of the character, whilst also extending play, and there's no reason the reviled mini-quests of Spider-man 2 couldn't be replaced with character-driven villain encounters, and chapters into new sagas. The possibility of downloadable additions that could be inserted into the random chance of encounters (or triggered specifically) also present promising avenues of extention.

As a Spider-man fan and reasonably enthusiastic gamer -- all I can really ask for is a chance to be Spider-man. To clash with a list of recognisable villains, maybe team-up with some classic running buddies, and just generally feel engaged by that experience of being the character from the comics.

It remains to be seen what Shattered Dimensions actually means.
The name may conjure images of Spidey's less characteristic sci-fi exploits, but there's every chance the title refers to developments in the way players are able to interact with the space of the game; a character-driven epic of more pedestrian origins; or a reference to attempts to take Spider-man off the page and flesh sequential storytelling out in the digital domain.

A science-fiction alternate universe hopping adventure, while not inherently displeasing, seems like the exact opposite to the refreshment the character needs. While there's plenty of precedent for strange adventures in the comics, we saw how precedent could go awry in 2008's Web of Shadows, which took video games' obsession with Symbiote characters and completely obscured what makes the character attractive. Namely; more urban superheroics with the occasional twist.

The Gauntlet has been a true revelation since beginning in late 2009!
Amazing Spider-man, for the time being at least, remains an absolute must-read, and is available weekly from Marvel Comics! As always, you can find more information by checking out the Marvel website. Spidey's also a part of the New Avengers and Marvel's Early '09 event, Siege. The Gauntlet and versions of Avengers are all subject to change, though, so do your research!

<< Hero of the Week 03/28: Captain America      [Home]       Hero of the Week 03/14: Atom >>

Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9024484

SHIPPING LIST: MARCH 17, 2010
Additional Note: Back for another week of slightly more elaborate solicitations that these shipping lists used to be. I figure I'll see how long I can keep these up, at the very least, while traditional Infinite Wars updates continue somewhere below. Keep your eyes peeled for changes in the "Recent Battles" index for those. Also be sure to vote in the poll, which all of you thousands of people passing are allowed to do, but never seem to. Also be sure to enjoy the archive of material on the site and take advantage of Amazon links, while you're at it! It helps the site! Cheers!

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.

The Independents...
DEC090725 28 DAYS LATER #8 $3.99
JAN100734 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #179 $3.99
JAN100458 CHOKER #2 (MR) $3.99
JAN100412 DEAD AT 17 WITCH QUEEN #1 Of(4) $2.99
JAN101019 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 3 #1 $3.99
JAN101017 DOCTOR WHO ONGOING #9 $3.99
JAN100419 FADE TO BLACK #1 (OF 5) $3.50
JAN100884 GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS #4 (OF 9) FIREFLY PART 1 (MR) $3.50
FEB100809 GREEN HORNET YEAR ONE #1 $3.99
SEP090286 I KILL GIANTS TITAN ED HC VOL 01 $39.99
JAN100735 JUGHEAD #200 $2.50
DEC090971 TICK GOLDEN AGE COMPLETE WORKS TP $10.95

The Corporates...
DEC098499 BLACKEST NIGHT #5 (OF 8) 2ND PTG $3.99
JAN100507 DARK AVENGERS #15 $3.99
JAN100571 DOOMWAR #2 (OF 6) $3.99
JAN100277 GREEN ARROW #31 $2.99
JAN100236 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #46 (BLACKEST NIGHT) $3.99
JAN100573 HERCULES FALL OF AN AVENGER #1 (OF 2) $3.99
JAN100578 HULK #21 FOH $3.99
JAN100518 WOMEN OF MARVEL CELEBRATING SEVEN DECADES #1 $9.99

The Spotlight...
- JAN100555 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #625 $2.99
It was back in #617 that we learnt Aleksei Sytsevich, aka; Rhino, has moved on with his life after a string of less-than-impressive appearances in the comics, which included a drunken encounter with Black Cat. Now Rhino's a changed man with a changed name and someone to love -- too bad things don't just go away that easy when you're part of the super-human criminal underworld!

It's time for Round 2 as the original Rhino is forced to suit-up again and face his obsessed would-be successor! It's a good thing he's back in the game, too, because little does Spidey know that this new Rhino is all part of an assembly co-ordinated by the living heirs of Kraven the Hunter! After a couple of lulls, it looks like The Gauntlet is heating up again! Let's hope it isn't just a last hurrah for the series that's become one of Marvel's monthly best!

- JAN100240 BATMAN #697 $2.99
I have to admit, I haven't been paying a lot of attention to Batman during the Reborn relaunch in large part to an unflattering opinion of Tony Daniel's work. For all intents and purposes, it's certainly been a great way to get some extra mileage out of Dick Grayson's reign as Batman -- something that will no doubt be cut short soon when The Return of Bruce Wayne wraps up mid-year.

Longterm, I'm really looking forward to how this period of Dick Grayson's crime-fighting career will influence his future.
In some ways, by becoming Batman, it's given the Grayson character a mainstream opportunity to escape the shadow that typically rendered him second-class to Batman. Before Reborn, there was some effort to attach Two-Face as an arch-nemesis for Nightwing, and I'll be interested to see if his run as Batman will carry through to continue the effort to establish Nightwing as a solo hero. A new Black Mask -- one introduced as a Gotham mastermind akin to the original, in Battle for the Cowl -- would be a very natural piece of transferrable mythology. Which means any longterm fans might want to check out this week's Batman as we grow ever closer to discovering the true identity behind this mysterious replacement.

- JAN100816 IRREDEEMABLE #12 $3.99
As a budding independent writer/publisher, I often feel deeply conflicted about maintaining a website almost exclusively focused on comics from DC and Marvel -- the two biggest publishers in the industry. I haven't had a chance to discuss or read much of Irredeemable, but it seems worth a mention, if nothing else, because it looks to be a very good spin on the big ideas that DC and Marvel represent. For those who don't know, it's essentially a What if... Superman got sick of humans? tale, published by BOOM! and written by Mark Waid, who has all but restored his status between this and his recent work on Amazing Spider-man. Hardly the first of it's kind, but well worth a look, excelling in the all-important field of execution!

- JAN100502 SIEGE #3 (OF 4) $3.99
Siege limps along to a third issue and frankly, I think Marvel should feel a little bit embarassed. Not just by the solicitation which reads "MARVEL BLOCKBUSTER OF THE YEAR!!" but also by pre-hype claims that this would be the series that gets straight to the point -- something most of Marvel's recent efforts have failed to do.

Unfortunately, all a four-issue series has meant for Siege is less opportunity to make up for the plodding and navel-gazing irrelevance. Brian Bendis certainly has strengths as a writer, but after a string of mediocre company event books, I really think lynchpinning isn't one of them! A favourite Macbeth quote comes to mind, "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
Specific references to Mark Millar's efforts with Civil War in 2006 only make it feel all the more insulting, reminding us how well similar conventions worked in a superior series. If redemption lies in the back-half of the series, a blessing will be that we're already there. I can't help but feel skeptical about the value of my dollar when picking this one up, though. Not terrible, but not at all impressive.

- JAN100626 X-FACTOR FOREVER #1 $3.99
If ever there were a concept that sounded like a bad idea -- it's a series exclusively dedicated to indulging X-Men fans!

To their credit, X-fans have every reason to feel nostalgic, with Grant Morrison's New X-Men among the few and far between bright sparks to come in the last decade. Returning home to the glory days of the eighties and early nineties has garnered truly bizarre results in Chris Claremont's X-Men Forever, but based on early previews, I actually think the original X-Factor line-up might have better luck of it! This optemism is due, in no small part, to the artwork of Dan Panosian, who offers a visual contrast to the more conventional trappings of the time period he and legacy writer, Louise Simonson, are revisiting. $3.99 is a big ask for casual fans, but as it's probably carefully targetted fan service for an already obsessive readership, it's probably not all together surprising. Approach with caution, even if departures from canon and sanity are unlikely to be as broad as Claremont's.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
DEC090203 BATMAN INTERNATIONAL TP $17.99
SEP090286 I KILL GIANTS TITAN ED HC VOL 01 $39.99
JAN100639 IRON MAN ARMOR WARS PROLOGUE TP $29.99
JAN100642 IRON MAN END TP $16.99
OCT090606 IRON MAN IRON MONGER PREM HC $29.99
DEC090247 MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE TP $17.99
DEC090215 SHOWCASE PRESENTS WORLDS FINEST TP VOL 03 $17.99
DEC090971 TICK GOLDEN AGE COMPLETE WORKS TP $10.95
DEC090222 WONDER WOMAN CHRONICLES TP VOL 01 $17.99

Hero of the Week 2010 #10: Atom

ATOM (DC)
Real Name: Dr. Ray Palmer
First Appearance: Showcase #34 (September, 1961)
Group Affiliation: Justice League, Indigo Tribe, New Guardians
Gaming Credentials: DC Universe Online (TBR/2010); Batman: Brave and the Bold (TBA/2010)
Infinite Wars Ranking: #73


Since experiencing a boom period of mainstream relevance in the eighties and nineties, comic books and video games have shared a similar fate -- an aging population. There may still be people who associate these mediums with children, but the fact is, both have veered ever closer to an adult market as fans from previous decades have maintained their interests.

Video games have arguably done a much better job of staying in touch with the young'ns, so it makes plenty of sense that DC Comics and Warner Brothers would bring their successful cartoon take on the Dark Knight Detective over to the kid-friendly Nintendo Wii and DS!

It was just a couple of weeks ago now that 1UP reported announcement of Batman: The Brave and the Bold exclusive to the Nintendo platforms. Like Super Hero Squad before it, the game taps in to the brightly coloured mythology of a cartoon-based-on-a-comic, giving players of all ages the chance to co-op their way through the villains in a variety of team-up formations. Among the heroes that will no doubt find their way into the game is Atom -- a shrinking scientist who appeared on the show to not only save Batman from a deadly virus, but also teamed-up with Aquaman to do so!

Neo Classic: Brave and the Bold borrows it's distinct visual style in part from 1950s comic artists like Dick Sprang.

When it comes to Batman, I'm a fan of the super-serious Dark Knight like most others, but Brave and The Bold proves a refreshing take on the DC Universe, borrowing brilliantly from a variety of sources as diverse as the cringe-worthy post-Comics Code stories of the 1950s, the equally dismal 1960s live-action Adam West Batman, the 1990s feature films, and comics ranging from the original late '30s right up to present day. All of which makes for a whimsical and creatively intelligent depature from the confused continuity of other recent animated efforts, like the much-loved Bruce Timm-attribute series' of Justice League cartoons.

One of the most admirable qualities of Brave and the Bold is the way it reflects the traditions of it's classic comic book namesake, drawing upon not just familiar characters, but every unlikely ally to co-exist with Batman in the DC Universe. It's a quality that seems sure to create a new generation of readers who are less intimidated by the perception of volume that monthly comics present, helping create the kind of familiarity that four decades of Spider-man cartoons created for Marvel.

Among the long list of allies that could potentially find their way into the game, many for the first time, are: Aquaman, Red Tornado, Jonah Hex, Kamandi, The Demon, Green Arrow, Huntress, Adam Strange, Wildcat, and Blue Beetle [all pictured above].

Of course, there's much more to this week's HOTW than shrinking and appearing as a guest-star on a cartoon! Those comics, which have indeed loitered in slightly more adult subjects, have taken what was once a straight forward hero with the ability to shrink to the size of an atom, and made him an emotionally complex creature.

Over in the comics; Atom spent time in obscurity after his ex-wife was featured as an imbalanced killer in the much publicized 2004 story by novelist Brad Meltzer, Identity Crisis. He got back into the action recently, however, battling against the menace of rising dead that has swept across the entire DC Universe in the biggest story of 2009: Blackest Night!

Like previous featured heroes; Atom has taken possession of one of the power rings borne of the energies of the cosmic emotional spectrum. In other words, he's now an Indigo Lantern, powered by the light of compassion which was brought about as a result of encounters with those who suffered at the hand of his estranged wife, and indeed, the risen corpse of the mentally unstable woman herself. An event which has been used to redefine the moxxy of Atom as a hero, who not only uses the science of dwarf stars to travel in light particles and strike with the focused power of his natural size (in miniature), but also glows with the spirit of a super-human!

For more on the expansion of Lanterns, check out these previous HOTWs: Black Hand (black), Wonder Woman (violet), The Flash (blue), Lex Luthor (orange), Sinestro (yellow/white). The energies manifested from the various lanterns make up the white light of life and create an entire spectrum of emotion and would-be ring barers: Yellow (fear), Orange (avarice), Red (rage), Violet (love), Blue (hope), Indigo (compassion). A fact I'm sure you aren't sick of hearing about!

If you ask me, Atom is the superhero who just about has the greatest potential for innovation in a video game experience. Afterall, imagine what it would mean to gaming to not only battle alongside fellow heroes against villains in a fully developed overworld, but what if you could shrink to atomic size and reevaluate that space on a whole new level? It's a concept that exists, to some degree, in the zooming/rendering technologies that have come about in other games, like World of Warcraft, or Spider-man 2 (to use a superhero example). I can't wait to see what Brave and the Bold does with it -- but that might be a topic for another, less garbled blog, eh?

For those interested, you'll find Atom and the New Guardians battling Nekron and the Black Lanterns in the last couple of issues of Blackest Night, from DC Comics. Atom is also likely to feature regularly in the recently relaunched Justice League of America, and might put in a guest spot in the kid-friendly Johnny DC comic based on the cartoon, Batman: Brave and the Bold. You can find more information on these and other comics at DCcomics.com. Atom will also likely appear in the upcoming action MMO, DC Universe Online.

<< Hero of the Week 03/21: Spider-man       [Home]       Hero of the Week 03/07: Green Arrow >>

Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9023554

SHIPPING LIST: MARCH 10, 2010
Special Note: Things have been quiet on the Infinite Wars front over the past few months. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I'm going to find the necessary time and energy to keep the machine moving the way it used to. To get a bit more life in the place, however, I thought I might at least start looking at the shipping list from week to week, especially while I'm still actively reading! Be sure to enjoy the archive of material on the site and take advantage of Amazon links, while you're at it! Cheers!

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.

The Independents...
JAN100801 ANCHOR #6 $3.99
JAN100728 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #141 $2.50
JAN100730 ARCHIE DIGEST #262 $2.69
JAN100870 BOYS TP VOL 06 SELF-PRESERVATION SOCIETY (MR) $19.99
JAN100190 BPRD KING OF FEAR #3 (OF 5) $2.99
JAN101021 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS TP VOL 05 $17.99
JAN101020 DOCTOR WHO ONGOING TP VOL 01 FUGITIVE $19.99
NOV090380 ELEPHANTMEN #24 $3.50
DEC090946 GRIMJACK OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 $24.99
DEC090410 JERSEY GODS #11 $3.50
DEC090952 PHANTOM GHOST WHO WALKS #8 $3.99 [learn more @Chronicle Chamber]
JAN100466 SAVAGE DRAGON #158 $3.50
JAN100124 SOLOMON KANE DEATHS BLACK RIDERS #3 (OF 4) $3.50
DEC090991 TANK GIRL SKIDMARKS #4 (OF 4) $3.99
OCT091038 TICK COLOR SERIES COMPLETE WORKS TP VOL 02 $34.95
JAN101098 WWE HEROES #1 $3.99

The Corporates...
DEC090243 EX MACHINA #48 (MR) $2.99
JAN100577 HULK LET BATTLE BEGIN #1 $3.99
JAN100587 MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #21 $2.99
JAN100630 PUNISHERMAX #5 (MR) $3.99
JAN100247 RED ROBIN #10 $2.99
JAN100288 SECRET SIX #19 $2.99
JAN101129 STREET FIGHTER LEGENDS IBUKI #1 (OF 4) A CVR DOGAN $3.95
JAN100249 SUPERMAN LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON #1 (OF 3) $3.99
JAN100551 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #8 $3.99
JAN100365 UNWRITTEN #11 (MR) $2.99
JAN100623 WOLVERINE MR X #1 $3.99

The Spotlight...
- JAN100554 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #624 $2.99
The Gauntlet has been one of the highlights of the last six months, but alas, all good things must come to an end. With the most recent few issues, it feels as if the quality of storytelling has petered out, or is that just my indifference to Peter Parker's next gen supporting cast talking? The tour through villains both classic and new has been a lot of fun, and with certain reinventions and twists on the formula, it's almost as if Marvel are investing in some longterm thinking. I'm a traditionalist at heart when it comes to Spidey, but I've also made a habit of accepting invested change (part of what made OMD/BND such an insult). I'll be keen to learn more about this new Vulture, even if I'm a little sad to see the likes of Adrian Toomes, Rhino, and to some extent, Doc Ock, slipping towards retirement. What I'm not sad about is reading and loving Spider-man. With great characters, writing, and a subdued trendy art direction that isn't quite obnoxious, must come great responsibility. Keep up the quality, Marvel! Don't sell the book on the back of less-than-funny memes, like Spidey getting fired, or meddlesome returns to the Brand New Day fiasco.

- JAN100238 BATMAN AND ROBIN #10 $2.99
For me, the excitement I'm feeling toward this book has been relative to the number of issues printed. As he has done in the past, Grant Morrison delivers a story that benefits from being enjoyable on multiple levels. The superhero action remains a constant of each bite-sized three-issue arc, but one cannot escape the constant sense of sub-text, and the growing legend of what appears to be a singular massive saga built out of the entirety of Morrison's contributions to the character. A mystery is unfolding, and I'm quite enjoying being stuck in the limbo of being smart enough to know I don't know what's going on. Run-off from the last few years of Morrison's Bruce Wayne-Batman work might be a frustration, but each arc has something to offer, along with the multitude of subtle references. The last arc's trip to the UK (completed with Knight and Squire), and battle with a Final Crisis Batman clone, were utter fun. Here's looking forward to what promises to be a meaty finish to a year's worth of Batman and Robin. If only it were set to maintain the fortnightly schedule!

- JAN100190 BPRD KING OF FEAR #3 (OF 5) $2.99
In the recent past, there have been times when I've felt somewhat let down by the BPRD or Hellboy offerings and their typically sombre stillness. King of Fear has managed to strike a wonderful balance, maintaining the quiet tone that makes the comics so much better than their movie adaptations, but not at the price of reader nutrition. Pulp-hero Lobster Johnson is always a welcome party, but for all the sentimental pleasures of his spectral visit, this isn't really his story. Dr. Kate Corrigan is an ironic curiosity, rendered out-of-place by her physical normality, which is an enjoyable co-subject of examination in King of Fear. Exactly what the title refers to remains to be seen, but I suspect on the basis of the last issue's key developments, an eerie and delicious answer awaits in the next chapter for our BPRD heroes! Namely a disappearing Liz Sherman, who wandered away from the pack last issue, and is starting to feel a little bit too much like her movie counterpart, if you ask me.

- JAN100275 JUSTICE LEAGUE RISE AND FALL SPECIAL #1 $3.99
To buy, or not to buy, is the big question concerning this DC one-shot that sets up some of the goings on for the JLA. I don't think it's an overstatement to say James Robinson put in one of the worst efforts of the year with his seven-issues of Justice League: Cry For Justice. In the end, the series managed to inflict lasting change on Green Arrow -- who is apparently responsible for executing series villain Prometheus, in retaliation for his blowing up Star City and severing the arm of Red Arrow. It's almost an interesting premise, but reminds all too much of the mistakes made in the mid-nineties with restored cashcow, Green Lantern. Like the promise that Cry For Justice would restore Prometheus to his former glory -- a notion I suspected prior to the series' release to be an uncashable cheque for a villain of this sort -- it seems any positive change coming from this new initiative is highly unlikely. We'll see.

- JAN100589 THE MYSTIC HANDS OF DR STRANGE #1 $3.99
The good doctor might not be Earth's Sorcerer Supreme in the pages of Avengers anymore, but that doesn't mean Brother Voodoo gets to have all the fun! Following on from the seventies-inspired black-and-white Shang-Chi special from October last year, The Mystic Hands of Dr. Strange promises another anthological helping of retro action! One buys into such a project with the knowledge that it's bound to be a mixed bag of differing styles and opinions, but at a super-sized scale, it'll be worth it for anyone with a taste for modern-retro magic and old time superhero fun, I'm sure. The recent adjectiveless Strange mini-series, which followed a post-retirement Stephen Strange on a stand-alone adventure in magic, was a bit of a bust. So, if nothing else, this will be a traditionalist's return to what makes the character great.

- JAN101129 STREET FIGHTER LEGENDS IBUKI #1 (OF 4) A CVR DOGAN $3.95
The last character to join the updated cast of Super Street Fighter IV was just announced today, so there's still a Street Fighter buzz in the air. Unfortunately, there's a significant gap between the culture of American comic books, and the fan service UDON have focused their comic book efforts on. After Legends series focusing on Sakura and a young Chun-Li; I would've liked to have seen a different approach. Not necessarily a male character, just something a little less cutesy and shallow. The story of UDON's run with the trademark, eh?

- JAN101098 WWE HEROES #1 $3.99
I'm a pro wrestling fan and former writer on prowrestling.com. I'm pretty okay with that, even if you aren't. It's logical that pro wrestling, with it's costumed burly men and trademark fighting techniques, would attract comic book readers. While they were far from masterpieces of the medium, I thought Chaos! got a bit of mileage out of creative wrestlers like The Undertaker with their WWF comics in the late nineties/early double-ohs, but this... does not look promising. This will almost certainly not win you over to the pseudo-sport of WWE, who are themselves in less than stellar shape, these days. One of the biggest complaints I have is about a very real reason the comics probably won't do too well -- the distinct lack of interesting characters. Love or hate it, wrestling used to have a bit of imagination, but no longer. WWE Heroes looks sure to be another log of infamy on the comics blogging fire, where stories of missed opportunities (ie; The Hurricane) will no doubt be told.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
DEC090202 BATMAN HEART OF HUSH TP $14.99
JAN100870 BOYS TP VOL 06 SELF-PRESERVATION SOCIETY (MR) $19.99
JAN101021 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS TP VOL 05 $17.99
JAN101020 DOCTOR WHO ONGOING TP VOL 01 FUGITIVE $19.99
DEC090273 GREEK STREET TP VOL 01 BLOOD CALLS FOR BLOOD (MR) $9.99
DEC090946 GRIMJACK OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 $24.99
NOV090045 HELLBOY TP VOL 09 WILD HUNT $19.99
APR090361 KABUKI TP VOL 01 CIRCLE OF BLOOD (NEW PTG) $19.99
DEC090251 PROTOTYPE TP (MR) $19.99
JAN100670 SUPER HERO SQUAD TP GET YER HERO ON DIGEST $9.99
NOV090178 SUPERMAN NEW KRYPTON HC VOL 03 $24.99
OCT091038 TICK COLOR SERIES COMPLETE WORKS TP VOL 02 $34.95