SHIPPING LIST: APRIL 7, 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...
JAN100729 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #142 $2.50
DEC090402 ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #22 (RES) $2.99
JAN100733 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #203 $2.69
FEB100830 BOYS #41 (MR) $2.99
FEB100989 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 3 #2 $3.99
JAN101022 GHOSTBUSTERS DISPLACED AGGRESSION TP VOL 01 $17.99
JAN100437 GODLAND TP VOL 05 FAR BEYOND THE BANG $14.99
FEB100329 IMAGE FIRSTS CHEW #1 (MR) $1.00
FEB100328 IMAGE FIRSTS SPAWN #1 (MR) $1.00
DEC090364 INVINCIBLE RETURNS #1 $3.99
JAN101083 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #295 $10.99
DEC090411 KING CITY #7 (MR) $2.99
OCT091023 PHANTOM GENERATIONS #10 $3.99 [learn more @ChronicleChamber.com]
DEC090786 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS CHAPTER TWO #8 $2.99
DEC091021 STREET FIGHTER II TURBO #12 (OF 12) A CVR RYU $3.95
JAN100424 TANK GIRL DIRTY HELMETS (ONE SHOT) (MR) $3.99

The Corporates...
FEB100202 BATMAN AND ROBIN #1 NEW PTG $1.00
FEB100456 ELECTRIC ANT #1 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
FEB100163 GREAT TEN #6 (OF 10) $2.99
FEB100259 GREEK STREET #10 (MR) $2.99
FEB100495 NEW AVENGERS LUKE CAGE #1 (OF 3) $3.99
FEB100140 RED ROBIN #11 $2.99
FEB100539 SHIELD #1 (MARVEL) $3.99
FEB100143 SUPERMAN LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON #2 (OF 3) $3.99
JAN100251 SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN #5 (OF 6) (RES) $3.99
FEB100542 VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT #7 $2.99

The Spotlight...
- FEB100130 BATMAN AND ROBIN #11 $2.99
The pieces of the puzzle are certainly shifting in Grant Morrison's Batman and Robin, even if, as we come to the end of the first year's worth of story, they haven't quite begun to form an image we can all clearly understand. That's been half the fun of the ride in this series, which has done well to juggle arc-centric interests with the overall mystery of characters surrounding El Penitente, Oberon Sexton, and the so-called Domino Killer. How these mysteries will overlap with the Return of Bruce Wayne remains to be seen, and I'm greatly relieved just to know Morrison's sticking around for more than the originally announced twelve issue cut-off. I'll be immensely disappointed when this all comes to an end, but will at least take solace in the fact that I was silly enough to overlook much of the writer's initial run on the singular Batman. [Morrison] has the qualities of a perpetual storyteller, one that I would have every faith in if the book were to go weekly for several more years. If only he could be bottled that long!

- FEB100500 CAPTAIN AMERICA BLACK PANTHER FLAGS OF FATHERS #1 (OF 4) $3.99
Presumably this series will capitalize on brief flashback sequences seen early in Reginald Hudlin's revamp of the Black Panther [in Who is the Black Panther?], offering a more elaborate look at a WWII adventure that saw Captain America attempt to enter Wakanda in pursuit of Nazi criminals, only to be bested in combat by T'Chaka -- the then Black Panther! Despite a few misgivings about the writer's balance of a none-too-subtle agenda and his story, I'm quite a big fan of that initial arc, and will hope for a worthy follow-up to the history between these two heroes who occupy such big, mythological ideaspaces. One that offers a bit more texture than the two-dimensional drum beating of the flashback.

- JAN100266 FLASH SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS 2010 #1 $3.99
It's probably been about a year, maybe more, since we last had an on-going regular series called Flash. You'd have to have been living under a rock to know that part of that is due to the return of one of comics' most legendary heroes -- Barry Allen; the Silver Age Flash! Readers have had ample opportunity to better acquaint themselves with this Flash thanks to starring roles in the eploratory Rebirth mini-series, and throughout Blackest Night, where Flash briefly became a Blue Lantern of hope! If for some reason you still feel the need for an introduction, the Secret Files are for you. Traditionally more factoids than storylines, don't expect this to act as any more than a primer for the new series that kicks off with Geoff Johns and Francis Manapaul later in the month. Fun, but not a must-read.

- FEB100506 MARVEL ZOMBIES 5 #1 (OF 5) $3.99
Last year's Marvel Zombies 4 made me a believer -- not just with respect to what had been a fairly thinly spread high concept in the Marvel Zombies brand -- but rather a believer in the remarkable writing talents of Fred Van Lente! He returns to post-apocalyptic Earth-2149 where Machine Man was last seen taking the fight to the zombies, back in MZ3. I love the way the zombie high concept has been folded into the significance of the core Marvel Universe and really enjoy the way that's allowed it to become a platform for neglected heroes, like Morbius and Werewolf by Night in MZ4. Here's hoping that refreshing perspective can continue to be at play moving forward!

- DEC091021 STREET FIGHTER II TURBO #12 (OF 12) A CVR RYU $3.95
When UDON's loose adaptation of the Street Fighter mythos was to relaunch as Turbo in order to refocus on the tournament itself, I had my reservations. As a comic and adaptation, the series remains easy to criticize, but on the whole, I think these twelve issues on the whole have at least benefitted from the motivation of the beginning of the elimination bracket. With their final issue in this chapter, UDON will canonize the games' Super Street Fighter II addition of Akuma into the canon, as he jumps in to fight M. Bison in what will presumably be an action-packed blockbuster end to the maxi-series. The biggest question that remains is how well the art studio will perform in the future, now that the most significant portion of the Street Fighter story has been told.

- DEC090417 WEIRD WORLD OF JACK STAFF #2 $3.50
As an old fan of characters like The Spider, A.R.C.H.I.E. and Mytek the Mighty, I've always had a real affection for the Jack Staff world. Alas, I constantly allow myself to fall out of touch with these comics. Weird World of Jack Staff seems like the perfect way for readers new and old to jump back in on the quirky and diverse subject of the series' title. Paul Grist's quirky charm might feel a bit jarring at first to those lured by the slick, contemporary styled guest cover art, but I would hope anyone checking it out could overcome that, to appreciate what really is sure to be one of the most genre-spanning works on shelves today. Bright, colourful and full of superhero-lite adventure, it's just a great and fun book. I really just wanted to mention that!

- FEB100572 WOLVERINE WEAPON X #12 $3.99
I really can't remember the last time I sat down with the expressed intention of reading a comic because Wolverine was in it. It's with noted trepidation that I take note of the latest issue of Weapon X. I enjoy the unique experience of comic book shared universes and memorable characters -- so the big lure here is the presence of Captain America and Deathlok(s), who probably aren't the first guest characters in the series of late, but are the first to really grab my attention. It's a cross-time tale that tells of Wolvie's battle against the growing cyborg ranks of Deathloks, so it's probably not exactly destined to have lasting effects on the world around them, but it's nice to have a reason to at least look up at one of Marvel's most prevelant characters. Can't say I'll be particularly driven to pick this up as one of the various $3.99 books out this week, but it's worth a mention. Another feather in the cap of writer Jason Aaron, who seems to have well and truly won the favour of the Marvel boysclub.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
DEC090201 BATMAN AND ROBIN DELUXE HC VOL 01 BATMAN REBORN $24.99
JAN100682 DAREDEVIL GUARDIAN DEVIL TP NEW PTG $19.99
JAN101022 GHOSTBUSTERS DISPLACED AGGRESSION TP VOL 01 $17.99
JAN100437 GODLAND TP VOL 05 FAR BEYOND THE BANG $14.99
FEB100616 IRON MAN VS WHIPLASH TP $14.99
JAN100298 JSA TP VOL 04 THY KINGDOM COME PART 3 $19.99
FEB100619 MARVEL ZOMBIES 04 TP $16.99
DEC090255 STARCRAFT HC BOOK 01 $19.99

Hero of the Week 2010 #13: Martian Manhunter

MARTIAN MANHUNTER (DC)
Real Name: J'onn J'onnz
First Appearance: Detective Comics #255 (November, 1955)
Group Affiliation: Justice League, Black Lantern Corps (former)
Gaming Credentials: Justice League: Injustice for All (2002); Justice League Chronicles (2003); Justice League Heroes (2006); DC Universe Online (TBR/2010)
Infinite Wars Cumulative Ranking: #36


He's been described as the heart, the soul, and the conscience of the Justice League, but no amount of sentimental attachment was enough to save the character from the march of death that populates mainstream corporate comics today. After years of having the axe dangle during major stories, Martian Manhunter finally met his fictional demise at the hands of The Society in 2008's Final Crisis.

As you no doubt know, death has a way of being less than permanent in comics, and in honor of Easter, it seems all the more appropriate that our HOTW is officially back among the living as of this week's Blackest Night #8! The timely resurrection came courtesty of the White Lantern light of Life (provided by "The Entity"), which resurrected a dozen heroes and villains who were gripped by black rings provided by Nekron: sentient personification of black nothingness, guardian of death, and enemy of all flickers of life, who instigated the year-long DC Universe/Green Lantern comic book event epic, Blackest Night. Trust me, it's not as complicated as it might at first sound!

Left-to-Right: Maxwell Lord, Professor Zoom, Hawk, Jade, Captain Boomerang, Firestorm, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Deadman, Osiris -- twelve resurrected by the White Lantern for reasons to be explored in Brightest Day!

Like most of DC's secondary iconic heroes, the Martian Manhunter's career in video games has been brief, but thanks to a fixed role in the animated Justice League cartoons, many fans across the globe have gained new appreciation for one of comicdom's favourite sons. The character is likely to be front and centre when players dive head-first into an interactive parallel world when Sony finally launch their action-adventure MMO -- DC Universe Online! All part of DC's growing network of cross platform properties that will no doubt foster a greater awareness of what they have always had to offer.

For characters like Martian Manhunter, the sales pitch begun with the comics, depicting a process of refinement that's branched the entirety of the character's fifty-year history. It was quite recently, in Darwyn Cooke's 2004 opus DC: The New Frontier, that many fans were introduced to what they feel is the stylistic and representative definitive version of the Martian Manhunter's earliest days, a tale that separates him from the similiarities he shares with another last survivor of a far off alien race, Superman. In these early days, Martian Manhunter is introduced to humanity through observations of 1950s paranoia and intolerance, as well as the moral templates depicted in entertainment such as noir detective tales that inspire him to create the fictional human persona of Det. John Jones -- a chiseled beat cop with a hunch that'll lead you to water in the desert, thanks in no small part to his Martian-borne powers of telepathy, invisibility, and intangibility.

For the super-man who has everything, a weakness quite unlike any other -- fire!
Those who saw the lighter-fare animated adaptation of The New Frontier were still privvy to one of the greatest lines of the six-issue mini-series, spoken by the Martian's fellow Gothamite, Batman; "Make no mistake -- It took a seventy-thousand dollar sliver of meteor to stop the one in Metropolis. With you, all I need is a penny for a book of matches."

It's a beautifully simple line that sums up the predicament of Martian Manhunter's ultimate frailty, the differentiation between he and Superman, and the social distrust he faces in his early days after accidentally being transported to Earth by a scientist who died of a heart attack upon seeing him. An origin that paints a steady contrast to Superman's Moses/Christ-like tale of being adopted by a loving family and nurtured to recognise the good in humans, and reminds us how the devil lurks in the details within the otherwise simplistic superhero archetype.

Needless to say, it's a lot of fun to have the character back in the world of DC comics!
He and the other characters resurrected in the final issue of Blackest Night will now become the subjects of a brand new storyline, the contrasting Brightest Day. The names come from another New Frontier reference, namely the oath sworn by members of the Green Lantern Corps who accept the mantle and quote it to charge their powerrings. For more information on all things comic book, you should check out DCcomics.com! Otherwise, that's a wrap on a nice and quick Easter HOTW!

<< Hero of the Week 04/11: Aquaman       [Home]       Hero of the Week 03/28: Captain America >>

Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9026122

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