SHIPPING LIST: MAY 5, 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...
FEB100678 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #143 $2.99
MAR100873 THE BOYS #42 (MR) $2.99
DEC091018 DARKSTALKERS NIGHT WARRIORS #2 (OF 3) A CVR LEE $3.95
MAR101031 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 $24.99
MAR101030 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 3 #3 $3.99
MAR100675 GLAMOURPUSS #13 $3.00
MAR100042 HELLBOY IN MEXICO OR DRUNKEN BLUR ONE SHOT CORBEN CVR $3.50
MAR100871 HOWARD CHAYKIN BLACK KISS HC (A) $24.99
FEB100756 INCORRUPTIBLE #5 $3.99
FEB100755 INCORRUPTIBLE TP VOL 01 (MR) $16.99
MAR100796 IRREDEEMABLE #13 $3.99
JAN100464 KING CITY #8 (MR) $2.99
FEB100367 MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS TP VOL 03 ELECTRIC ALLEGORIES $19.99
FEB100792 PRIDE PREJUDICE & ZOMBIES GN $14.99
FEB100825 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS MEET THE BAD GUYS TP $16.99
MAR101311 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 37 $12.95
MAR100390 SHADOWHAWK #1 (MR) $3.50
AUG090364 SPAWN #197 $2.99
NOV090362 WALKING DEAD HC VOL 05 $34.99

The Corporates...
MAR100471 ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN WOLVERINE #1 $3.99
MAR100483 ELECTRIC ANT #2 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
MAR100224 GREAT TEN #7 (OF 10) $2.99
MAR100293 IZOMBIE #1 (MR) $1.00
MAR100254 JONAH HEX #1 NEW PTG $1.00
MAR100227 JONAH HEX #55 $2.99
MAR100230 SECRET SIX #21 $2.99
MAR100513 SPIDER-MAN FEVER #2 (OF 3) $3.99
MAR100497 ULTIMATE COMICS NEW ULTIMATES #2 $3.99

The Spotlight...
- FEB100481 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #630 $2.99
Arguably for the first time this year, Amazing Spider-man took a dive, labouring three full issues on a story that just didn't support it, despite the exciting feature of Juggernaut and Captain Universe.

I've heard Amazing's pseudo-weekly schedule discussed in a lot of different ways, but I find it's often overlooked that the beauty of rapidfire short-part stories is that there's a significantly quick recovery time. We'll presumably see that first-hand when The Gauntlet gets back on track with the return of The Lizard -- the latest in a long line of classic reprisals over the past six months. If, like me, you skipped out on the second Something Can Stop the Juggernaut issue, you missed a back-up feature setting up this issue's return. I can only imagine the story featured vague details, because as we've seen throughout The Gauntlet, the classics might be back, but they're ripe for reinvention. I look forward to seeing what the webheads comes up with for these final chapters of the best Spidey run of the decade.

- MAR100183 BATMAN AND ROBIN #12 $2.99
I'm sure I've said it before, but it bares repeating -- if you told me a couple of years ago that my favourite comic every month would be a book about Batman and Robin, I would've thought you were insane. Such is the high concept prowess of Grant Morrison, who time and again proves capable of finding an angle and exploiting it to it's pop culture best. The dominoes are quite literally in line as we head toward the exciting culmination of the first year's worth of stories! The identities of the so-called Domino Killer, El Penitente and Oberon Sexton look primed to be revealed, or at least defined, as we head toward the Return of Bruce Wayne mini-series that will run in conjunction with subsequent issues of Batman and Robin. DC solicitations promise the return of a fan-favourite, which might signal the arrival of the promised Joker appearance, but with this story, one is never to be certain! Demonds and Deathstroke are on the menu as Talia al Ghul initiates a plan to kill the current Batman using spinal implants to control her and Bruce Wayne's son, the current Robin, Damien!

- MAR100159 BRIGHTEST DAY #1 $2.99
The previous #0 issue proved to be surprisingly meaty, despite only teasing the various threads that will be followed by twelve heroes and villains resurrected by the White Lantern's light at the end of Blackest Night. It's difficult not to feel a slight hestitation at the prospect of Brightest Day presenting yet another dense tapestry of intertwined stories and issues so immediately after Blackest Night, but all signs so far point toward another good series from DC and Geoff Johns. With the presence of Black Lanterns weighing heavily on future solicitations, it's a reminder that Blackest Night wasn't just another self-contained summer event, but rather something that contributed a roster of new characters and ideas to the entire DC Universe. I'm looking forward to seeing how these new components work, and what bigger idea lies behind the White Lantern -- an ominous tome that almost promises a sinister side, if I'm not just being paranoid. (Assuming the villainy isn't those hideous David Finch covers! Eugh!)

- MAR100585 CAPTAIN AMERICA BLACK PANTHER FLAGS OF FATHERS #2 (OF 4) $3.99
Given that this is The Comic Book Fight Club, it probably wouldn't surprise you to know I have a bit of a pet peev about finishing an issue in the middle of a fight. Flags of our Fathers #1 did just that, closing without even a teaser moment during the battle between a WWII-era Captain America and T'Chaka, the Black Panther. This perhaps speaks to Reginald Hudlin's writing style, which in the past has seemed unashamedly focused on the bigger picture -- "writing for the trade" as it were. Fortunately, the issue packs enough punch to well and truly justify itself as a very exciting book that will almost certainly be undeservedly overlooked by the majority. A lower price might've been more enticing to unsure readers, but if you skipped the first issue, do yourself a favour and flick through both on the stand. I loved the first arc of Hudlin's Panther, and with Red Skull lurking 'round the corner, this is a surprising companion piece that reiterates the writer's vision of the Wakandan power and mystique.

- MAR100042 HELLBOY IN MEXICO OR DRUNKEN BLUR ONE SHOT CORBEN CVR $3.50
It's dawned on me that Hellboy and I haven't spent much time together in a very long time. BPRD has well and truly taken over as the flagship interest of Mike Mignola's myth-laden franchise catalogue. The ensemble on-going collection of BPRD mini-series has benefitted from a sense of flow and character that Hellboy's adventures came to lack, all too often feeling like stylish art books, rather than the mythological pulp texts they once were. The Mignola mystique and subdued tone is always appreciated, but it felt as if it had run amok, sacrificing page and value for cool tones and evocative stills. The prospect of a Cinqo de Mayo romp pitting Hellboy against fiendish luchadores is well worth another look, however, promising the kind of kick in the pants big red probably needed. Should be a lot of fun!

- MAR100192 RED ROBIN #12 $2.99
Last year I lamented on Red Robin's status as one of the most interesting and relevant of the Batman: Reborn launches, but that it would also be the most likely to be forgotten. While I can't speak for the readership as a whole, I know I certainly succumed to a casual disinterest. From inception, Red Robin has been perhaps the most steadily important series to anyone interested in the Return of Bruce Wayne, but despite this, it always feels somehow short of it's goals. One of my noted frustrations has been the long running promise of some sort of clash with Ra's al Ghul -- something that appears to be happening, but was never really the point. I don't have a great affection for DC's teen characters and in some ways that's been to my detriment, making it difficult to have any concerted investment in the Tim Drake character and it's growth. If you are one of those readers who has some interest in Drake or the upcoming Return of Bruce Wayne storyline and missed out, it's probably worth investigating trades or cheap back issues. This really is a series that doesn't deserve the apathy I've shown it over time.

- MAR100199 SUPERMAN WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #1 (OF 4) $2.99
Speaking of apathy -- I still haven't gotten around to reading the FCBD #0 issue previewing Superman: War of the Supermen. It's really a very sound concept, as was the saga of New Krypton, but for whatever reason, I just haven't been interested. Maybe it's the fact that it was so seperatist in it's final execution, whereas I'm always much more interested in the texture of the DC Universe. Whatever the reason, it's at least nice to know Superman is entering the fray once more as the big hero of the DCU. I've avoided the elephant in the room -- James Robinson -- who burnt up a lot of goodwill with his now infamous work on Justice League: Cry for Justice. I really don't want to bring that up every time the man has a story to tell, but given that he's been handed the keys to both the JLA and Superman, one does wonder what the future holds. While not nearly as offensive as his JLA mini-series, there was a certain x-factor of boring that felt present in the execution of some of these big ideas, which, as already noted, really couldn't be faulted on a conceptual level. I'll be interested to see how War resolves these plotlines and makes use of them in the future. It would be an unfortunate contrast to Blackest Night if ultimately, War of the Supermen was about pushing the past year's stories aside. In particular, I'm interested to see how General Zod is dealt with from the perspective of longterm use.

- MAR100581 VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT #8 $2.99
I've always been one to scoff the pubescent culture of turning one's nose up at the mainstream. "Selling out" doesn't create bad work, mismanagement does! Unfortunately, Marvel have pushed my understanding philosophy to it's limit, apparently buckling under the cross-media success of characters like Deadpool and Iron Man. By virtue of their exposure in a multitude of series and guest spots, both characters have been nothing but mundane in comics. Still, I have to fully confess to the lure of a Moon Knight vs Deadpool plot, not just for the superhero fisticuffs, but for it's potential to drag Moon Knight back to relevance in the Marvel Universe, and Deadpool back to... relevance of any kind. I don't know that I have the blind faith, pom poms, and short skirt that some do for writer Jason Aaron, but I'd be willing to entertain the idea that things couldn't get much more bemusing for DP.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
FEB100218 BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM TP $12.99
MAR101031 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 $24.99
FEB100755 INCORRUPTIBLE TP VOL 01 (MR) $16.99
FEB100615 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN TP VOL 03 MOST WANTED BOOK 2 $14.99
MAR100653 IRON MAN ARMOR WARS II TP $29.99
MAR100871 HOWARD CHAYKIN BLACK KISS HC (A) $24.99
FEB100367 MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS TP VOL 03 ELECTRIC ALLEGORIES $19.99
FEB100792 PRIDE PREJUDICE & ZOMBIES GN $14.99
FEB100825 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS MEET THE BAD GUYS TP $16.99
MAR101311 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 37 $12.95
FEB100264 TRANSMETROPOLITAN TP VOL 07 SPIDERS THRASH NEW ED (MR) $14.99
NOV090362 WALKING DEAD HC VOL 05 $34.99

Hero of the Week 2010 #17: Black Widow

BLACK WIDOW (Marvel)
Real Name: Natalia Romanova (aka; Natasha Romanoff)
First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #52 (April, 1964)
Group Affiliation: Secret Avengers (upcoming), SHIELD (former)
Gaming Credentials: The Punisher (2005); Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006); Spider-man: Web of Shadows (2008); Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (2009); Marvel Super Hero Squad (2009); Iron Man 2 (2010); Marvel vs Capcom 3 (TBA)
Infinite Wars Cumulative Ranking: #74

If you've been anywhere online lately, you've probably been well informed by countdown advertising regarding the upcoming release of a little film called Iron Man 2! It's the sequel to the 2008 blockbuster of the same name [sans 2] starring Robert Downey Jr as the titular armored hero whose invention initially saved his own life, but is now an instrument for saving others.

Iron Man 2 brings Downey and co-star Gwyneth Paltrow back, alongside an all-star cast that includes: Mickey Rourke as the vengeful Whiplash; Sam Rockwell as rival industry figure Justin Hammer; Scarlett Johansson as Russian super-spy, Black Widow; and Don Cheadle as Tony Stark's military confidant and soon-to-be armored allie, Jim Rhodes aka; War Machine. Samuel L. Jackson also features Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD in a role he first introduced in a post-credits cameo that set the comic book world alight,

Scarlett Johansson in full Black Widow regalia as she appears in promo photos for Iron Man 2!

If the rolling success of comic book features has been any indication, then Black Widow is sure to become the hottest female property in the comic landscape. Marvel Comics have certainly already begun pumping out various related products to capitalize on this exposure, including a brand new on-going series, which makes it tough not to be a little bit cynical about how the machine has come to work since the break-out success of X-Men in 2000.
While it's questionable how much the comic books themselves have benefitted, it's fair to say that with each blockbuster release the starring heroes have been sure to become the most popular for their brief time in the sun. Even reviled works like Daredevil, Elektra, and Ghost Rider have given their respective properties a moment in the spotlight, even if time hasn't been kind to the balance of popular opinion.

Recently, Captain America was featured as HOTW on the back of controversy surrounding the casting of Chris Evans as the famed flag-waving super-soldier. If you ask me, the bigger concern in casting is probably Johansson, who really doesn't impress me all that much. Regardless, it seems increasingly likely that Iron Man will become the lynchpin for Marvel's proposed composite Avengers film franchise, which is set to be canonized by Captain America's arrival to the big screen in a film dubbed, The First Avenger, and will very likely extend an offer to Johansson's Black Widow.

I hope Johansson can live up to the role of the seasoned Russian super-spy, who should carry a considered aura of maturity and capability that I'm not quite sure is inherent to Johansson's acting or screen presence. These doubts extend largely from an uncertainty about the film itself, and whether or not it can rise above bog-standard summer blockbuster fodder to live up to the potential of the property. Last week I gushed about how much I appreciate the Iron Man concept and history, but I must clarify, very little of that was in reference to the film(s). While the first movie put forward a very pleasing and enjoyable experience, Iron Man ultimately felt like an exciting change in aesthetic, rather than a unique vision of the superhero formula. The Iron Man/Tony Stark dynamic offers a lot of potential to do things unique in this field, but the first film felt a victim to it's origin story, which could've been a film unto itself, and gave way to what finished as a fairly standard, formulaic vision of an action movie.

Here's hoping the movie sequel can do what the comics haven't done lately, which is tell an engaging and exciting story with a great character! There's a popular counter-cultural myth that assumes any mainstream success damns a concept or property to mediocrity. Selling out isn't in and of itself a terrible thing, but I think the Iron Man brand will need to invest in itself to have the longevity that Marvel's plans require, and to avoid becoming a stale disappointment.

Iron Man 2 has already begun screening in France and Mexico, and will drip release around the world over the coming days. It's set for an official release in the United States May 7, but if you're lucky, you might find a few early showings. Drop a comment and share your thoughts if you do!

<< Hero of the Week 05/09: Nick Fury       [Home]       Hero of the Week 04/25: Iron Man >>

Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9028952

SHIPPING LIST: APRIL 28, 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...
FEB100681 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #208 $3.99
JAN100191 BPRD TP VOL 12 WAR ON FROGS $17.99
FEB100987 DOCTOR WHO ONGOING #10 $3.99
NOV090346 DYNAMO 5 TP VOL 04 CHANGE OR DIE $15.99
FEB100334 IMAGE FIRSTS INVINCIBLE #1 (MR) $1.00
FEB100335 IMAGE FIRSTS PROOF #1 (MR) $1.00
JAN100462 INVINCIBLE #71 $2.99
JAN100133 LITTLE LULU GIANT SIZE TP VOL 01 $24.99
NOV090065 NGE SHINJI IKARI RAISING PROJECT TP VOL 04 $9.99
JAN100445 SAVAGE DRAGON IDENTITY CRISIS TP $14.99
FEB100996 TANK GIRL ROYAL ESCAPE #2 (OF 4) $3.99
FEB100028 USAGI YOJIMBO #128 $3.50
JAN100468 WALKING DEAD #71 (MR) $2.99

The Corporates...
FEB100151 ACTION COMICS #889 $3.99
FEB100480 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #629 $2.99
FEB100489 CIVIL WAR MGC #1 $1.00
FEB100138 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #11 $2.99
FEB100201 GREEN LANTERN #29 NEW PTG $1.00
FEB100519 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #25 HA $3.99
FEB100164 JUSTICE LEAGUE THE RISE OF ARSENAL #2 (0F 4) $3.99
FEB100507 MARVEL ZOMBIES 5 #2 (OF 5) $3.99
FEB100535 PUNISHER #16 $2.99
FEB100152 SUPERMAN #699 $2.99
FEB100145 SUPERMAN LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON #3 (OF 3) $3.99
FEB100430 THUNDERBOLTS #143 SIEGE $2.99
FEB100241 VICTORIAN UNDEAD #6 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB100177 WONDER WOMAN #43 $2.99

The Spotlight...
- FEB100135 DETECTIVE COMICS #864 $3.99
Greg Rucka departs for independent pastures, returning Detective Comics to a Batman after his run at selling the world of Batwoman. The big follow-up news is that JH Williams will spin-off into a new Batwoman on-going as both writer and artist. As a Rucka-sceptic, I'll be keen to see how his unified approach will change the texture of the stories, and perhaps create a more unified front.

It dawned on me recently that, even with Bruce Wayne returning in the next few months, we're going to have a substantial volume of Dick Grayson as Batman material by the time the original Batman returns to the DCU. Detective picks up plotlines from Tony Daniel's Batman, dropping the Dark Knight into Arkham Asylum courtesy of a David Hine continuation of plotlines detailing the fall of Jeremiah Arkham into insanity. Doesn't strike me as any kind of must-read, but art by Jeremy Haun is pleasant.

- FEB100121 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #47 (BRIGHTEST DAY) $3.99
Regular readers know I have an invested interest in value pricing, which I feel comics have not been living up to. I was a big fan of DC's general tendency to price toward $2.99 throughout 2009, so it's a bit disappointing to see that conservative leaning disappearing.

Green Lantern Corps provided a peripheral perspective of Blackest Night whilst maintaining it's own storylines, so I would expect this series to continue that central sense of normality. It was a little bit disconcerting to see the first post-Blackest Night issue of Green Lantern diving straight into a new mystery that will at least in part bleed into GLC. With any luck, that will be a truncated mystery that offers answers sooner than later. I'm not one to talk about "event fatigue," but variety is the spice of comics, and I'd like to try something different after a year of tangled black webs. "Green Lantern" is sure to remain a hot property for DC, but those considering jumping off might be assessing their plans right about now, particularly as GL #53 attempts to steer readers down an intertwining forked path.

- FEB100428 NEW AVENGERS #64 SIEGE $3.99
Something about the course of the last few months makes it feel like it's been a very long time since we got the last New Avengers issue. In stark contrast to it's early years, the popular series has managed to avoid being bogged down by surrounding event stories, benefitting greatly from a spirit of adventure that's seen a great variety of subjects tackled. Solicitations suggest The Hood will get the spotlight he's been promised for a while, but I'm still inclined to be a bit cynical when it comes to the reliability of preview blurbs.

New Avengers will be cancelled soon to make way for Marvel's readjustment of the Avengers franchise -- a very DC-styled "Heroic Age" that reorganizes the heroes with a presumed post-Siege union not seen since 2006's Civil War. New Avengers will be replaced with a now openly titled Secret Avengers, seeing most of the current Secret Avengers shunted off into other roles throughout the revamp, in favour of a line-up more deliberately reminiscent of the random team-ups of Secret Defenders fame. Being that the new title will be helmed by Ed Brubaker, one might suggest that you enjoy New Avengers, before the bubble bursts.

- FEB100473 ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 2 #1 $3.99
With the Kick-Ass film garnering widespread critical attention and a fast developing cult following, it's probably no surprise that Mark Millar is favouring the bombastic in his comics work. Ultimate Avengers 2 launches with the promise of the Ultimate versions of Punisher, Captain America, and Nick Fury plastered across the cover, but after the last series struggled to get airborne in the first few issues (which ironically featured aerial daring), I'm not sure I'm willing to put the dollars down for this one.

Millar's style can be divisive at the best of times, but with Nemesis and Ultimate Avengers, it feels as if the writer has sacrificed important structural components of his series that maintained the reader in even his most high concept pop works. What's left is very pretty collaborations that lack even the most basic depth in the opening scenes -- forgiveable in a two hour single priced film, but not in a comic book mini-series. Something might be here, but this is a buyer beware!

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
JAN100191 BPRD TP VOL 12 WAR ON FROGS $17.99
DEC090205 DC LIBRARY JLA BY GEORGE PEREZ HC VOL 02 $39.99
NOV090346 DYNAMO 5 TP VOL 04 CHANGE OR DIE $15.99
DEC090206 FLASH REBIRTH HC $19.99
FEB100623 INCREDIBLE HERCULES TP MIGHTY THORCULES $14.99
NOV090534 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 COLAN DM ED $99.99
NOV090549 IRON MAN DEADLY SOLUTIONS PREM HC $24.99
DEC090211 JLA DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 03 $29.99
JAN100133 LITTLE LULU GIANT SIZE TP VOL 01 $24.99
NOV090529 MMW INHUMANS HC VOL 02 $54.99
FEB100589 MMW SILVER SURFER TP VOL 01 $24.99
NOV090536 NEW AVENGERS HC VOL 04 $34.99
NOV090065 NGE SHINJI IKARI RAISING PROJECT TP VOL 04 $9.99
JAN100300 RED ROBIN THE GRAIL TP $17.99
JAN100445 SAVAGE DRAGON IDENTITY CRISIS TP $14.99
JAN100304 SOLOMON GRUNDY TP $19.99
FEB100621 ULTIMATE COMICS WOLVERINE VS HULK TP $19.99

Hero of the Week 2010 #16: Iron Man

IRON MAN (Marvel) (2009) 
Real Name: Tony Stark
First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #39 (March, 1963)
Group Affiliation: Avengers (upcoming), SHIELD (former)
Gaming Credentials: Captain America & The Avengers (1991); Marvel Super Heroes (1995); Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems (1996); Iron Man & X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal (1996); Marvel vs Capcom 2 (2000); Invincible Iron Man (2002); Tony Hawk's Underground (2003); X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse (2005); Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (2005); Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006); Iron Man (2008); Incredible Hulk (2008); Iron Man: Aerial Assault (2009); Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (2009); Marvel Super Hero Squad (2009); Iron Man 2 (2010); Marvel vs Capcom 3 (TBR/2010)
Infinite Wars Cumulative Ranking: #3

They really only reflect about twenty years worth of data, but video games are an interesting way to gauge the mainstream penetration of a comic book superhero. When compared to the pantheon of other DC and Marvel heroes, Iron Man has done reasonably well, reflecting not only his standing within the comic books, but success in cross-media projects like the moderately popular Marvel Action Hour cartoon of the mid-to-late nineties. Iron Man now sits at the very top of the Marvel heirarchy as he prepares to appear in the second feature film starring Robert Downey Jr.

Mickey Rourke, Don Cheadle, Scarlet Johansson and Sam Rockwell join the cast of returning originals, Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Samuel L Jackson, to upgrade the ensemble to All-Star status on the back of the unanticipated success of the first movie. Iron Man 2 is set to challenge the dollarage of previous blockbusters helmed by Spider-man and X-Men, with the benefits trickling down more specifically to the Marvel Entertainment studio as they did with their previous outings with Iron Man and Incredible Hulk.

This mainstream movie-funded arrival is the feather in the cap of a character that took precedence as the dominant figure in Marvel's comic books back in 2006, having enjoyed a career as one of Marvel's many major icons since debuting in 1963 as the likeable playboy industrialist.

The reasons for making Iron Man our Hero of the Week are two-fold: 1) Iron Man 2 starts to hit cinemas in a bit over a week from now, and 2) Iron Man is among the three confirmed Marvel comics characters returning to the cast in Marvel vs Capcom 3! Yay!

It's a testament to the superhero construct that a character born of such garbled sixties war-time concepts as Iron Man can seemlessly transition from the politics of the decade of his creation, to the technarchy of the double-ohs, to a high concept video game about characters shooting each other with colourful liquid epilepsy. It's a texture all too often mistaken for a Marvel trademark, but for the naive making this mistake, forgiveness is easy. Afterall, Iron Man just happens to be a wonderful example of how imagination can transcend what we perceive as contemporary, giving birth to something iconic and diverse in ideals.

At his heart, Iron Man remains Stan Lee's playful attempt to test his own creative invincibility during an era where he'd successfully given the world Kirby co-creations like the Fantastic Four, Hulk, and X-Men. With a winning streak like that, why wouldn't "The Man" see if he could convince readers to like a supposedly unlikeable archetype -- the ultimate eventuality of his generation of 'heroes with headaches?'

Tony Stark was a smarmy moustachioed weapons dealer in a time of cultural disdain for America's preoccupation with war and imagined enemies during the Cold War. This uber-capitalist was out for numero uno with little regard for causality on distant shores -- that is, until he tasted the threat of war first-hand. With his heart broken, Tony Stark's deathbed revelation is an ironic epiphany of love and peace. Using the advanced technologies of the Iron Man tech that kept him alive, he would use his weapons to fight evils face-to-face as an armored avenger. in fifty years of publishing, he hasn't spent a lot of time away from the industrial manufacture of potentially lethal materials, but then, that's why we love him... usually.

In 2006's Civil War, Iron Man was reinvented with all the antagonistic intent of Stan Lee's original design. A cypher for post-9/11 Bush Jr politics, Iron Man became an oppressor of free superheroes, demanding they reveal themselves and succumb to his total power. It was a plot that lent itself to the philosophical friction between the intent of superhero archetypes, the hopes and dreams of what they represent, and the truth behind the America of today. I've often discussed the intriguing contrast of Captain America as the mythic ideals that America dreams of, versus Iron Man's self-made production-line versions of self-investment and charity donations.

I really love these qualities about the Iron Man character. I love that he exists as a parable of both the good and the bad, without any implicit requirement for malice or motivation behind those comments. I love that his demons are ones of the nation that champions him, of the industry he inherited and the weapons he created, of the evil men he created those weapons to fight, of the technological arms race we live in today, of mysticism and magic that undoes the constructs of technology, and of his own weaknesses as an alcoholic and playboy.

War Machine fills in for Iron Man in this gratuitous vista shot from Sega's Iron Man 2, opposite the SHIELD Helicarrier.

In Marvel vs Capcom 3; Iron Man will be challenged by alluring succubi, gun-toting zombie fighters, and legendary martial arts masters. In Iron Man 2, it might be a more karmic fate the armored hero faces when he teams with comic book favourite, War Machine, to battle against the classic Russian villainy of Whiplash and his American benefactor, Justin Hammer. It should be a very fun installment in the modern adventures of this Cold War hero!

In true Tony Stark capitalist style, you'll find a plethora of related merchandise from the movie.
Sega's Iron Man 2 strives to be better than it's utterly mediocre forerunner with dialogue coaching from Matt Fraction and a new team leader. I remain slightly unconvinced as discussed in a previous 5 Steps to Building a Better Iron Man article, but hope they pull it off. You'll also find a long checklist of comic book cash-ins from Marvel Comics themselves. Buyer be warned -- this is not typically the breeding ground for good, memorable comics.

<< Hero of the Week 05/02: Black Widow       [Home]       Hero of the Week 04/17: Ryu >>

Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9028259

SHIPPING LIST: APRIL 21, 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...
FEB100677 ARCHIE #608 (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
JAN100999 ART OF TONY HARRIS ART & SKULLDUGGERY HC S/N ED (IDW) $79.99
FEB100683 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #180 $3.99
FEB100017 DEVIL #3 (OF 4) $3.50
JAN101145 DRAGONBALL Z VIZBIG ED GN VOL 07 $17.99
DEC090405 ELEPHANTMEN #25 $3.50
FEB100333 IMAGE FIRSTS GIRLS #1 (MR) $1.00
FEB100332 IMAGE FIRSTS WITCHBLADE #1 (MR) $1.00
NOV090350 INVINCIBLE HC VOL 05 ULTIMATE COLL (RES) $34.99
FEB092456 JINGLE BELLE SANTA CLAUS VS FRANKENSTEIN SGN $14.99
FEB100684 JUGHEAD AND FRIENDS DIGEST #37 $2.69
JAN101060 PHANTOM GHOST WHO WALKS #9 $3.99 [learn more @ChronicleChamber.com]
FEB100787 RASL TP VOL 02 FIRE OF ST GEORGE $15.00
NOV090062 SHINJUKU HC $29.99
FEB101101 STREET FIGHTER LEGENDS IBUKI #2 (OF 4) A CVR DOGAN $3.95
FEB101024 TALES OF TMNT #69 $3.25
JAN101071 TICK NEW SERIES #3 $4.95
FEB101074 WWE HEROES #2 $3.99

The Corporates...
FEB100137 BATMAN STREETS OF GOTHAM #11 $3.99
FEB100217 BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #15 $2.50
FEB100496 DEATHLOK #6 (OF 7) $3.99
FEB100453 FIRESTAR #1 $3.99
FEB100492 HERCULES FALL OF AN AVENGER #2 (OF 2) $3.99
FEB100203 HUMAN TARGET #1 NEW PTG $1.00
FEB100126 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #44 $3.99
FEB100172 POWER GIRL #11 $2.99
FEB100439 SIEGE SPIDER-MAN #1 $2.99
FEB100156 SPIRIT #1 $3.99

The Spotlight...
- FEB100478 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #628 $3.99
I have a great affection for the late eighties David Michelinie/Erik Larsen run of Amazing Spider-man (where Spidey briefly went cosmic with the powers of Uni-Power), so any allusion to Captain Universe and Spidey usually gets my attention. Alas, the last issue might've been the first true clunker delivered to the weekly series since The Gauntlet began a flowing fresh perspective on the title. It would take a mammoth effort to justify Something Can Stop the Juggernaut as a three-part purchase, but presumably this issue will at least reveal the face behind the Captain Universe power and what beef they've got with ol' jugg-head.

- FEB100128 BLACKEST NIGHT DIRECTORS CUT $5.99
Ordinarily I'd be very cynical about the prospects of these second-release type Director's Cut book, but for the princely sum of $5.99, it seems readers will be privvy to eighty-pages of all new content, as opposed to the standard reprint with extras! $5.99 is a pretty hefty price to put on a book of this nature and despite being interested, I can't help but get the sense this is a rare blatant example of DC milking a property for the sake of milking it. Not too long ago 80-page giants were a steal from DC at $1 -- with FCBD looming, it seems like a missed opportunity not to offer this at a more reasonable offer, perhaps with a few Brightest Day teases in the back. A sentiment that Brightest Day #0 shared by not reprising the FCBD spot held by Blackest Night #0.

If nothing else, fans of Blackest Night will probably have every reason to pick this up. There're bound to be a few tasty morcels of cut material and details untouched by the books. Anyone who found they didn't absorb the subtlties of the story might also enjoy commentary by Geoff Johns and co, provided they're willing to pay for something that's often featured freely online.

- FEB100118 GREEN LANTERN #53 (BRIGHTEST DAY) $2.99
The scions of the spectrum will be sticking around, it seems, as the self-appointed "New Guardians" from Blackest Night unite in their efforts to presumably protect the recently revealed centre-of-the-universe, Earth, and recapture the White Lantern. While some are bound to feel fatigued by the presence of spillover from the concluded Blackest Night plot, I find it pleasing that these characters haven't become defined by the storyline that canonized them. It should be very interesting to see how Atrocitus, Larfleeze, Saint Walker and Indigo-1 grow as individual properties, and how Carol Ferris is intergrated into the superherosphere after being the girlfriend-cum-occasional-villain-of-the-week! I'm looking forward to seeing things spin-off into, perhaps, a slightly less encompassing direction!

- FEB100550 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #25 $2.99
- FEB100553 NOVA #36 $2.99
Back in 2006, during Annihilation, it was a bit of a surprise to see Thanos finally bite the big one, but I think we all knew his reunion with beloved Lady Death would be short lived. It's a bittersweet return if, like me, you're still very soured by the frivilous use of death in modern comics. Still, much like Blackest Night justified has been able to justify certain resurrections through thoughtful and well construct plotpoints, I would expect the same will emerge here when the cosmic corner of the Marvel Universe enters it's next epic, The Thanos Imperative. While they admittedly haven't quite held my attentions since the '06 reboot of cosmic Marvel comics, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have proven themselves up to the task of supporting this once grossly neglected collection of properties.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
SEP090163 ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH HC $75.00
JAN100999 ART OF TONY HARRIS ART & SKULLDUGGERY HC S/N ED (IDW) $79.99
JAN100301 CRISIS ON MULTIPLE EARTHS TP VOL 05 $19.99
JAN101145 DRAGONBALL Z VIZBIG ED GN VOL 07 $17.99
FEB100185 GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH TP NEW EDITION (RES) $14.99
NOV090350 INVINCIBLE HC VOL 05 ULTIMATE COLL (RES) $34.99
FEB092456 JINGLE BELLE SANTA CLAUS VS FRANKENSTEIN SGN $14.99
FEB100620 PUNISHER DEAD END TP $16.99
FEB100787 RASL TP VOL 02 FIRE OF ST GEORGE $15.00
JAN100362 SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE TP VOL 08 $19.99
NOV090062 SHINJUKU HC $29.99
JAN100303 SHOWCASE PRESENTS DIAL H FOR HERO TP $9.99
FEB100622 THUNDERBOLTS TP WIDOWMAKER $14.99
DEC090285 Y THE LAST MAN DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 03 (MR) $29.99

Hero of the Week 2010 #15: Ryu

RYU (Capcom) (2009)
Real Name: Ryu
First Appearance: Street Fighter (August, 1987)
Group Affiliation: Gouken Dojo
Gaming Credentials: Street Fighter (1987); Street Fighter II (1991); Super Street Fighter II (1994); Street Fighter: The Movie (1995); Street Fighter Alpha (1996); X-Men vs Street Fighter (1996); Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo (1996); Pocket Fighter (1997); Street Fighter Alpha 3 (1998); Street Fighter III: Third Strike (1999); Street Fighter EX3 (2000); Capcom vs SNK 2 (2001); Marvel vs Capcom 2 (2002); Capcom Fighting Evolution (2004); Namco x Capcom (2005); Street Fighter IV (2009); Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (2009); Tatsunoko vs Capcom (2009); Super Street Fighter IV (2010); Marvel vs Capcom 3 (TBR/2010)
Infinite Wars Cumulative Ranking: #19

It's been a busy few years for the wandering world warrior called Ryu, but then, it's been a busy few decades too, hasn't it? You might have been led to believe the fighting spirit had left Ryu and his Street Fighter fellows at the turn of the century, but with arcade tangents like Capcom vs SNK 2 (2001) and Marvel vs Capcom 2 (2002) garnering huge followings, it's retroactively safe to say Street Fighter never truly went away. Things certainly got quiet for a while there, though.

2008 gave us the news many had been waiting a decade for -- Street Fighter IV!
With it has come a parabolic swing that finished the double-ohs with the upward momentum of the early nineties! In truth, Street Fighter IV was a follow-up announcement to the retro revival of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, but with comic book art studio UDON taking so long to complete their newly drawn HD sprite artwork, the franchise return led like their Japanense posterboy, with the power play of a finishing blow -- hadouken!

Ryu gathers his ki for a hadouken fireball in Street Fighter IV!

With SFIV has come a veritable torrent of titles, including a brand new crossover spectacle with the animé studio responsible for Gatchaman, Casshern, and Tekkaman -- Tatsunoko vs Capcom. That won't be the last fight Capcom picks with another company in this new era, but before we look toward the future, another fight is concluding...

For seven years, UDON have been the proprieters of the Street Fighter license, allowing them to not only produce comic books based on the popular fighting franchise, but also branch out as their own autonomous publishing group, UDON Comics, now responsible for handling adaptations of various Capcom brands (Rival Schools, Darkstalkers, Final Fight).

After publishing various incarnations of their Street Fighter series independently and through Image Comics, UDON arrived at the 2008 launch of the twelve-issue maxi-series, Street Fighter II Turbo. This was the summit of their various plotlines leading to their version of the official Street Fighter II tournament, which was summarized with elimination brackets I discussed in a previous blog. With the tournament beginning in issue #8, it's been a rapidfire of eliminations as UDON put a hint of plot to the established facts of the games, culminating in the Super Street Fighter II Turbo-inspired defeat of Bison at the hands of an uninvited Akuma -- and the subsequent confrontation between he and Ryu.

As has been the case all along, I struggle to offer any definite recommendation for the series. These comics are an indulgence that the average reader of the medium would not be especially interested in, lacking the fundamental attention to detail that most comics take for granted. As evidenced by the long awaited return of Akuma, the series has contained a string of pandering moments that fans of the Street Fighter characters and story would greatly appreciate, but without the focus or intent of conventional plotting or characterization. They come a distant second to the elaborative martial arts adventure and philosophy of Masahiko Nakahira's manga stories, Street Fighter Alpha and Street Fighter III: Ryu Final. Good, but not great. Faithful to the material and probably only for the diehard fan.

Currently, UDON are publishing a four-issue mini-series, the third in their Legends deviations which have included tales starring Sakura and Chun-Li, and now unleash SFIII high school hijinks in Street Fighter Legends: Ibuki. It comes as the group's first series-centric elaboration of the infamous Street Fighter III characters and canon, which was originally slated for it's own series, but has since become slightly less certain amidst delays. This makes Street Fighter II Turbo's conclusion all the more worthy of acknowledgment as UDON close the most significant chapter in their adaptation of the Street Fighter canon. The comic book exploits don't end there, of course...

Being generally busy has allowed me to write this HOTW feature up late to include the trailer of the long speculated and now officially announced sequel, Marvel vs Capcom 3!

In hindsight, it probably isn't all that shocking, given Marvel's previously announced animation deal with Tatsunoko, and the cancellation of their relationship with EA [during production of a now aborted sequel to Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects]. Did those factors have a part to play? Hey, who cares?! Marvel vs Capcom 3 is on the way to home consoles, and is already promising a roster of characters that will surprise fans in number, and perhaps even in scope of choice. Capcom have, afterall, established a precedent of unusual draftees from the Marvel side (Shuma-Gorath, anyone?).

It's going to be a very exciting few months as fans play the guessing game based on silhouettes revealed in promotional artwork. Deadpool and Captain America are a sure thing. Is that Thor? Could we really expect Super-Skrull to make the line-up, or are pointy ears a fake-out for Green Goblin, or some other unanticipated choice? With a hint of anticipation for this eventuality, I took a look at some of the characters that never made it into the MvC line-up in a blog back in 2009. I suspect, however, that there'll be more blogging to come. What fun!

Iron Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Chris Redfield, Morrigan, and Ryu, are all already confirmed. Which is a perfect reason, along with Super Street Fighter IV and the Street Fighter II Turbo comic book, to make Ryu our Hero of the Week!

<< Hero of the Week 04/24: Iron Man       [Home]       Hero of the Week 04/11: Aquaman >>

Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9027568

SHIPPING LIST: APRIL 14, 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...
FEB100742 ANCHOR #7 $3.99
FEB100680 ARCHIE DIGEST #263 $2.69
FEB100679 ARCHIE NEW LOOK SERIES TP VOL 04 MY FATHERS BETRAYAL $10.95
JAN101086 ATOMIC ROBO REVENGE O/T VAMPIRE DIMENSION #2 (OF 4) $3.50
FEB100682 BETTY & VERONICA #247 $2.99
FEB100045 BPRD KING OF FEAR #4 (OF 5) $2.99
FEB100744 COLD SPACE #1 $3.99
NOV090376 EXISTENCE 3.0 #3 (OF 4) (MR) $3.50
OCT090420 FALL OUT TOY WORKS #4 (OF 5) $3.99
JAN100460 FORGETLESS #4 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
FEB100395 GOD COMPLEX #5 $2.99
OCT090109 GUNSMITH CATS BURST TP VOL 05 (MR) $12.99
FEB100009 HELLCYON #1 (OF 4) $3.50
FEB100758 IRREDEEMABLE SP #1 $3.99
FEB100331 IMAGE FIRSTS AGE OF BRONZE #1 (MR) $1.00
FEB100330 IMAGE FIRSTS SAVAGE DRAGON #1 (MR) $1.00
DEC090974 JUDGE DREDD RESTRICTED FILES TP VOL 01 $32.99
FEB100959 KILL SHAKESPEARE #1 $3.99
JAN101055 PHANTOM CAPTAIN ACTION #1 (OF 2) ART THIBERT CVR A $3.99
FEB100401 SAVAGE DRAGON #159 $3.50
FEB101235 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 36 $12.95
FEB100990 WEEKLY WORLD NEWS #4 $3.99

The Corporates...
FEB100150 ACTION COMICS #888 $3.99
FEB100501 DAREDEVIL #506 $2.99
FEB100154 DOC SAVAGE #1 $3.99
FEB100205 EX MACHINA #1 NEW PTG $1.00
FEB100582 PUNISHERMAX #6 (MR) $3.99
FEB100437 SIEGE LOKI #1 $2.99
FEB100485 SPIDER-MAN ORIGIN OF HUNTER #1 $3.99
FEB100530 SUPER HEROES #1 $3.99
FEB100271 UNWRITTEN #12 (MR) $2.99
FEB100577 X-FACTOR FOREVER #2 $3.99

The Spotlight...
- FEB100134 BATMAN #698 $2.99
With the long-running Black Mask mystery concluded, Tony Daniel looks to be moving on to smaller fare before the extravaganza of Batman #700. As mentioned previously, I have such a hard time getting behind the aesthetics of Daniels' work, which certainly has the gritty zing of a good Batman book, but lacks focus and design in it's visuals, and thorough writing in it's script. Even so, I find myself somewhat intrigued by the prospect of what I assume is a two-part Riddler story before the milestone. That intrigue comes with a conditional consideration for what Paul Dini has done with the Riddler character, transforming him in Detective Comics and Gotham City Sirens into an engaging and all together likeable sleuth. Here's hoping Daniels' nineties-style pencils only give cover-shots of Riddler the illusion of being something far less interesting than the reserved mentallist he has become.

- FEB100448 BLACK WIDOW #1 HA $3.99
As a none-too-subtle tie-in to the upcoming Iron Man 2 film sequel, it's tough not to be cynical about this launch. One of a fistful of titles baring Iron Man on the cover; Black Widow has perhaps the most potential for merit, but I wonder if that will appear on the page. Black Widow has spent the best part of the last few years acting as a peripheral character, reflected in our Eurohero Contest poll last year, where Black Widow scored a meager 2% of the votes below Morbius, Lilith, and Batroc. The thing that might interest me the most about this title is observing how the film effects the reception and popularity of the character over a long period of time. I'm predicting a short term investment, but you never know!

- FEB100116 BRIGHTEST DAY #0 $3.99
With some of their top titles sticking to $2.99 throughout the last couple of years, you can't accuse DC of rampant price gouging. Still, when you consider that "zero" issues usually serve as a primer to actual stories, it's a big ask to have us slide straight out of Blackest Night into a $3.99 overblown preview book. Particularly given that Blackest Night had such a successful start with a Free Comic Book Day #0! The lure will almost certainly be too much to overcome for consumers that bumped Blackest Night to the top of the monthly sales charts, but buyer beware. I suspect we might get a bit more than the teasing bait of the FCBD Blackest Night issue, but I wouldn't expect the pieces of the puzzle to be laid out just yet.

- FEB100123 FLASH #1 $3.99
Quite possibly the biggest release of the week; Flash returns to publication after what has been a garbled and confused few years of character-swapping and limbo. Barry Allen is our resident Flash in this bright new day, and after starring in Flash: Rebirth and Blackest Night, it's his first opportunity to finally get back to business as usual! I for one will be pleased just to know a Flash book is on shelves monthly after such a long hiatus! Fingers crossed Geoff Johns (with exciting new artwork by Francis Manapaul) comes out of the starting gates suitably fast with the Scarlet Speedster, because as much as a slow-build is appreciated, it's time for a post-event cleansing that can only come with quick-paced classical monthly superheroics! The vehicle is certainly there as we head in to a new storyline detailing the mysterious murder of one of The Rogues -- a shocking twist if Blackest Night's dead is dead mandate turns out to be true!

- FEB100165 GREEN ARROW #32 $2.99
Sigh. To indulge this fundamentally flawed concept, or not? That is the question! It's been quite a while since Green Arrow was one of my monthly must-reads, so the affectionate part of me really wishes, like Flash, I could just sit down and get back to basics.

For those who've been reading regularly throughout the shared Green Arrow/Black Canary era, basics is probably not the right word for what I'm looking for, but while I'm sure those issues had some great character-driven content, it was a very specific format that did not grab me. While the Fall of Green Arrow storyline isn't completely without merit, it's difficult to escape the way in which it began, in James Robinson's mortifying Justice League: Cry for Justice. So, really, I just don't know what to expect. At $2.99, it might be worth dipping a toe in the water to see how all of this is actually going to go down, but I've got my doubts.

- FEB100441 SIEGE CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 $2.99
A few weeks ago I was critical of the way events in Siege tie-ins have synced up with the rest of the event. While there have certainly been fairly significant oversights, based on the issues that came out that week [March 24], I have to suck eggs. Those issues did indeed satisfy a good level of cohesion, and I would be forced to ammend my claim of disinterest -- after Siege #3, I find that I'm bored the first time these brawls are happening, making the redux across each tie-in all the more dull. Captain America (either one) is probably the character that would pull me in to this round of tie-ins, especially with a reasonable price on them, but previews show more Siege redux, and I just can't muster the interest. Chris Yost writes, so there's a good chance this is worth a look as a peripheral piece, but even in terms of aligning the two Caps, there's a good chance this one is worth a miss. I might need to take that back next week, though.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
FEB100679 ARCHIE NEW LOOK SERIES TP VOL 04 MY FATHERS BETRAYAL $10.95
FEB100635 ESSENTIAL IRON MAN TP VOL 04 $19.99
FEB100633 EXCALIBUR VISIONARIES WARREN ELLIS TP VOL 01 $19.99
DEC090207 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS UNION HC $19.99
OCT090109 GUNSMITH CATS BURST TP VOL 05 (MR) $12.99
DEC090974 JUDGE DREDD RESTRICTED FILES TP VOL 01 $32.99
FEB101235 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 36 $12.95
FEB100614 SPIDER-MAN DIED IN YOUR ARMS TONIGHT TP $19.99
FEB100597 SPIDER-MAN GAUNTLET PREM HC VOL 02 RHINO & MYSTERIO $19.99
JAN100306 SUPERMAN CHRONICLES TP VOL 08 $14.99
DEC090253 TOM STRONG DELUXE ED HC BOOK 02 $39.99

Hero of the Week 2010 #14: Aquaman

AQUAMAN (DC) (2009)
Real Name: Orin/Arthur Curry
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #73 (November, 1941)
Group Affiliation: Atlantis, Justice League, Black Lantern Corps (former)
Gaming Credentials: Justice League Task Force (1995); Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis (2002); Justice League Heroes (2006); Batman: The Brave and the Bold (TBR/2010); DC Universe Online (TBR/2010)
Infinite Wars Cumulative Ranking: #55


I spend a lot of my time here on 1UP championing the value of a good story and the desire to see video games meet a standardized level of quality in that domain. This often involves holding up the conventions of modern comic books as an example video games could learn a lot from. You'd be hard pressed to get me to change my mind about that, but as DC comics close their year-long epic, Blackest Night, and gear toward a Brightest Day with newly resurrected heroes like Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and Aquaman, an important counter-perspective begins to emerge.

Over the course of seventy years of serialized publishing, it stands to reason that characters are going to evolve to a certain point, but not so much that they become unrecognisable to their most popularized versions. This is the conundrum of comic books, where variations in a basic formula have created conflicting nostalgia in generations of readership who have graduated into controlling positions within the industry. It could be argued that few mediums have had the aging and industrial design to initiate so many die-hard fans as American comic books, and that's evident in the line-up of contemporary superstars who are writing the adventures of Batman, Superman, and their contemporaries. This is especially evident in Brightest Day and the writing of Geoff Johns and the current regime overseeing the course of DC comics.

Aquaman grapples with perceived weaknesses in a 1988 re-telling of the Justice League origin in Secret Origins #32.

Time has not been kind to Aquaman.
Where once a fascination with the unknown frontiers of deepsea adventures captivated fans of science-fiction, the notion of mystery and excitement has been lost in these modern times of science and assumed wisdom. They say the popularity of underwater fiction has sunk in most mediums due to this, but the persistent popularity of his tempestuous predecessor, Sub-Mariner, reminds us that it's much more than his aquatic origins that let the character down. A maturation in the expectations of comic book hyper-reality and characterization are a far greater handicap to the vintage DC hero, whose fantastic tales perhaps lagged behind others in gaining contemporary review. Unrevived by his equivalent to the Batman's seventies Denny O'Neil, or eighties Frank Miller, Aquaman was left to parody, mocked for the realistic impracticalities of his water-centric powers, and unrescued from the same Silver Age post-Comics Code silliness that populated DC's stories in the fifties and sixties.

Silver Age nostalgia is blatantly evident in the current era of DC comics and front-and-centre in their line-up of resurrections featured in Brightest Day. These nods to the past haven't come exclusively at the cost of the present, allowing classic versions to incorporate or coexist with modern inventions, whilst reviving the verve and imagination of Silver Age indulgences. It is, afterall, not a matter of simple and mindless absurdity, but the indulgence in fantasy that makes comic books an inherently exciting and imaginative medium. Writers like Grant Morrison have long shown the potential of merging old ideas with modern scope, leading to some of the most celebrated, quirky, and intelligent stories in comics, knowingly accepting of the madness and justified by appropriate balance.

Morrison's interpretation of Aquaman in the pages of JLA and Justice League spin-offs [pictured right] remains one of the most recent versions worthy of acknowledgment. His penchant for indulging the fiction allowed Aquaman to surpass his tongue-in-cheek appearances with the League of the eighties, to exist on the terms of super-heroic strengths. He possesses a retroactively included strength based upon the perils and pressures of the deep, while also showing considerable aptitude for languages befitting of a character whose domain encompasses half the globe, one he rules with the authority of a King.

It's a timely occasion to talk about Aquaman, however, thanks to the recent announcement of a Wii adaptation of the 2008 cartoon series, Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

Where Brightest Day actively works to reintroduce Aquaman as a respected piece of the DC Universe; Brave and the Bold makes the decision to accept and capitalize upon the comedic overtones of the character, taking ownership of them with a loving parody of the tropes of classically popular superheroes. Brave and the Bold borrows extensively from all eras significant to Batman and DC comics, capitalizing on design and aesthetic commanded by the Silver Age of comics and TV animation, while borrowing stories, ideas, and characterization details from comics and movies spanning from the forties to today.

Aquaman's traditional family-man heroics clash with an ironically distanced stupidity and bravado that I couldn't say has ever truly been identified with the character. This might come from Aquaman's Golden Age relevance, or from broader ideals of heroes like Superman and Captain America, whose square-jawed fearlessness define the public archetype of successful superheroes. It's a joyous and valid interpretation of the character, and one I would expect will come into conflict with the current Brightest Day vision that is steadily influenced by the already mentioned indulgence in the more super-heroic qualities of the character. Which brings me to the opening point about a video game perspective...

I believe it's undeniable that decades of serialized storytelling has made comic books an invaluable perspective for video games to learn from. The maintenance and refining of properties over the course of seventy-odd years provides a learning process of mistakes and triumphs that any creative medium could learn from. That said -- video games, operating in publishing and budgetary structures more akin to film, have the advantage of at least avoiding the marginal difficulties of reasoning the balance between decades of serialized adventures, and aging. In their inaugral simplicity, video games have escaped the intellectual and conceptual demands that have forced comics to grind through constant justifications of a shifting timeline. Mario, for better or worse, exists timelessly as a concept without the beauty or intrigue of depth and character, but also without the struggles of reasoning through  Which is a strength to be admired.

Brightest Day #0 is already on sale and can be found at most good comics retailers.
Collected editions of Blackest Night will be available soon, but if you want to enjoy the Brightest Day action in real-time, it begins it's weekly release schedule May 5, with tangentially related instalments in Flash, Green Lantern, and other series. You can get more information by visiting DCcomics.com! Batman: The Brave and the Bold debuts for Wii and DS later in the year.

<< Hero of the Week 04/18: Ryu       [Home]       Hero of the Week 04/04: Martian Manhunter >>

Originally updated: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9026819