Comics to Buy this Week, June 10 - The “It’s Scott Snyder’s World and We Just Read It” Edition!

This is a big week for DC with the debut of a long awaited series and the start of a highly antipated arc in its top selling book. 

Superman has had some challenges in the new 52 driven mainly by the creator turnovers. Today he gets a new title, Superman Unchained, and a new superstar team - Jim Lee and Scott Snyder. The issue has a movie like opening that immediately telegraphs that Snyder has a hand on the character. Make that characters as Lois shows up here as well and Snyder gets her in her quick appearance. There’s a also a big reveal in the final pages to get you to come back next month. This one is priced $4.99 which includes Jim Lee double page and full page splashes but it also includes a few pages from Dustin Nguyen as well. The issue goes quickly but if you’re looking for a good Superman action story in the new 52 you’ll want to pick this up.

Snyder also has Batman #21 out today which is the start of a major arc, ZERO YEAR, that takes a new look at Batman’s early career. This one, of course, has to live in the shadow of Miller and Mazzucchelli’s Batman Year One.

Snyder’s approach to date on Batman has to be been to fill in pieces of history while working with what’s there. He takes a bit more freedom here but it’s worth it. You get to see a young Bruce Wayne as Batman and the start of an interesting arc. I knew Snyder was good when he started writing Batman in the new 52. Capullo, on the other hand I had my doubts about. Those are gone. Capullo has turned in probably his best work to date. You’re going to want to read this a couple of times to savor his work. The book also has a fun back-up drawn by Rafel Albuquerque and written by Snyder and James Tynion that continues the high energy of the book’s main story. Pick this one up.

And in the final Trilogy of Snyder this week he and Albuquerque team up for an American Vampire one-shot. This is the highest priced item of the week  - $6.99.

If you are not a fan of corporate comics which I guess is as good a name as any for DC and Marvel, than you also have two first issues from others.

With Locke and Key winding down, Joe Hill is kicking off another new comic - Thumbprint. This is a three issue mini-series focused on a female private just back from an army stint. 

If you were a fan of Umbrella Academy or a reader of Dangerous Days or/and are a fan of Becky Cloonan than this book is for you.

Marvel has Kelly Sue DeConnick teamed-up with herself for this mini-series featuring her two titles - Captain Marvel and Avengers Assemble and it features a hybrid of best of her work on the two titles. DeConnick seems to be the one person who has cracked the code on the bringing the tone of the Avengers movie into comics. Combine that with the lovely character work she has done with Carol Danvers and you have a good read.

Suicide Squad is still a violent book featuring Harley Quinn in the awful new costume but now its a well-written violent book with new writer Ales Kot on board. Said costume should be ignored on that not very pleasant cover to take a look at what Amanda Waller looking more like her old self in the corner. You have to sometimes look past the bad to see the good, so ignore the cover and jump into the book.

Yes, the boob window is back full time, all the time and on this cover it does what it does best.

I’m still reading this. Sadly not many of you are. Nocenti’s style is better fit here for me than in Catwoman.

Also out this week are the floppies for two of DC’s best digital offerings - Smallville and Li’l Gotham. If you aren’t reading on line, I encourage you to pick both titles up.

I’m broke after this week. What’s on your list?

Comics to Buy, May 1

Because no one asked…! Actually I did a get a few people asking where this feature went so here you go. This is a good week to start up again as there some interesting things to check out.

As usual I’ll start with a first issue.

In my mind I’m hoping this is a hybrid of Simone’s Gen 13 and Secret Six. Also look at that Amanda Conner cover.

I’m also going to highlight some second issues for you so you can catch up if you want.

Kelly and I reviewed the first issue on 3 Chicks and we both liked it. It’s written by musician Max Bemis with art by Jorge Coelo. The lead character thinks he’s a superhero. Or it may be an off-shoot of his being bipolar. Interesting premise and, so far, smartly done.

I’m a fan of the original Miss Fury so I picked up the first issue. And I liked most of it except the fan service was off the chart. Hoping it’s not as bad in this issue. So warning, there is a female lead but you see a lot of her.

Picked this up because of Duane Swierczynksi and enjoyed it.

And now on to some ongoings. 

Best book out there and NOW! with Francavilla on art (Aja will be back). Saw the preview and it looks great.

Because YOU asked for it! The boob window or as the solicit refers to it, the classic look, is back. The hole looks reasonably small there and really that other costume looked like a reject from 70s Abba.

Two lady hulks for the price of one in this issue!

And I think that’s it. I might pick up Batwing.

Oh and before I go a reminder that DC Digital has the first Adventures of Superman online. Just $.99 and you get old school Supes with the red underpants and a good read by Jeff Parker and Chris Samnee. 

So what’s on your list?

Comics to Buy, March 20

It’s LADEEZ week for DC Comics and also a new issue of Saga!

Let’s start with Saga because it will give me another chance to plug Brian K. Vaughan’s created own comic with Marcos Martin that debuted yesterday. More detail here. You have no reason not to get the first issue of this great comic. 

And now onto Saga!

A warning that this issue has some NSFW pages (but, hey, now you know why those horns on Marco come in so … handy). 

And on to DC Comics with a sort of first issue. Christy Marx starts on Birds of Prey this month while still finishing up Sword of Sorcery.

We’ll find out whether Batwoman is engaged! There’s also a mysterious person appearing next month. Let me know who you think it is.

I was surprised at how much I liked Justice League of America #1 so I’m giving #2 a shot. I also picked up Justice League to see who the new members were. You can spoil yourself elsewhere on the blog.

There’s some Bat/Cat interaction in Catwoman #18. Hope this issue continues to show improvement in this series.

Starfire has her own one-shot by a writer I like, so I’m picking this up. You can read the story on the cover of this here.

And from Marvel there’s Captain Marvel. I’ve been enjoying this second arc.

I’m also going to pick up Conan the Barbarian, I’ve finally caught up on the series and I adore Belit and Conan.

What are you getting?

Comics to Buy this Week, March 13

It’s a good week for the LADEEZ and let’s start with the book that I’m sure everyone is wondering about.

So will Harper Row become the next Robin? Let’s just say if you put an empty pair of boots on the cover of a comic, it may mean someone could fill them … Just read the issue, you’re going to want to get this one.

Also this week are second issues for two female-led books from both Marvel and DC. Both had mixed reviews for their first issues (although they both landed on the “buy” side for me). 

First up is Katana #2 from DC Comics. The sales of the first issue were not great and the promotion of the second was muted. That’s not good.

Preview here.

Marvel has the second issue of The Fearless Defenders. From the preview it seemed like the art was still not quite there but, hey, Dani Moonstar joins the team. Also check out this awesome variant cover by Marcos Martin.

Dark Horse has issue #4 of the Ghost reboot by Kelly Sue DeConnick this week. They announced at ECCC this was going to be an ongoing and I’m glad, it’s been a fun series.

And speaking of DeConnick, Avengers Assemble #13 is out this week. This is fun series that captures the tone of the movie. Oh and look who is in this issue.

That’s it for me, what’s on your list?

Comics to Buy, Today March 6

It’s a short list this week but there are definitely a few you should think about picking up. Let’s start with a first issue:

Jim McCann and Janet Lee the team behind the The Return of the Dapper Men graphic novel, one of my bests of 2011, are back with a ongoing that takes place on a casino in space. 

I’m really enjoying Wood and Doyle story of young woman coming to terms with her Super powers.

This is being touted for it’s tie-in to Batman, Inc. #8 but there’s more than that here as we find out more about the mystery of Mr. Terrific. Also it ends on a zinger that I bet came up in the very first meeting on this book. Maguire does all the art on this and there are some of his trademark facial expressions.

Just a reminder that Smallville, Season 11 is also published as a monthly and not just on line for those who like to buy this way.

This book has really found its groove and this issue has Jen Walters in it so there’s another good thing.

I really enjoyed the first issue (we reviewed it on 3 Chicks) and can’t wait for this. 

And that’s it. Probably. I’m on the fence about a few comics. But what’s on your list?

Comics to Buy This Week

There’s some goodbyes in this week that make me sad. But for every ending, there is a beginning so I’m starting with a first issue, that many of you probably have on your radar:

There are 53 different covers for this but I do digital so I’m just going to get the one above. I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand it has some great female characters - Catwoman, Katana and Stargirl. But it also has an artist who I can find frustrating when it comes to drawing women. I’ll report back later with some thoughts.

As I posted yesterday, this is the last issue for a long time for J.H. Williams and the conclusion of the Wonder Woman arc.

I will support this book until they pull it from hands! 

I’m sad but not surprised this has been cancelled. That price point was all wrong for the book. But I’m going to finish out the run.

This ends the run of Duane Swierczynski. Although his run suffered a bit  from cross-overs and the silly decision to bounce Jesus Saiz off the book, I enjoyed his run. And he created the best new character of the new 52 - Starling. Thanks Duane!

I’m still sticking with this book hoping that Nocenti gets in her groove (or the groove she got for Katana).

There hasn’t been a bad issue yet.

What’s on your list?

Comics to Buy This Week, November 7

Not a particularly big week but let’s start with the one I’m look most forward to:

I hope you all are reading this. It’s one of the those few comics I can’t wait to read each month.

I’m not picking up much from DC this week:

I stayed away from Detective after the reboot and followed Snyder to Batman. But now that they have John Layman on the book, I’m going to start picking it up again. His first issue was good, I’m hoping this issue is even better.

i’ve had my concerns about Worlds’ Finest but I just can’t resist Catwoman and Talia’s kids facing off. Hey, DC spins thing their way, I spin things my way.

If you haven’t made the move to digital yet, you can catch up with the really terrific Smallville title by Bryan Q. Miller in floppies this week. And bonus! Bat ears!

The Rot continues in Animal Man #14 PLUS you get more Black Orchid written by Lemire. 

I also recommend giving Colder #1 from Dark Horse a try. It’s a bit on the gory side but Tobin is a good writer.

I’m not getting anything from Marvel this week.

What are you picking up?