So my ankle been’s acting up, as has my left kneecap. My lower back kind of hurts t00-GET IT? I SAID PULL IN THE TITLE AND YOU THOUGHT I WAS REFERRING TO COMICS BUT THEN I STARTED TO TALK ABOUT PHYSICAL PAI-never mind this joke is bad and I feel bad.
Loran is a bit behind thanks to the college year starting up, and the my next toy article is still being worked on. Which means if I want to get paid, something needs to be tossed on the ol’ Daily Planet, or the powers that be will send me a displeased e-mail. It’s a lot more threatening than it sounds, I assure you. So, to please the pay-gods, I’ve decided to type up an article about what comics I bought this week, and if they’re worth your money. Warning, slight spoilers below for those who trade wait.
The 11th issue (or “Round”, as it’s called on the cover) of AvX (Avengers Vs. X-Men) dropped this past week and man….I’m torn. Writer Brian Michael Bendis is probably the weakest of 5 “Architects” working on this book, as issue 11 is….kind of rough in the script department. Marvel having 5 different writers on this thing did not do it much service, as characters and the story struggle to have one consistent voice,, not to mention act incredibly out of character at times, making either side hard to pull for. The Phoenix 5 (er 2…1) are suppose to be the bad guys for the last 5 or so issues, but the Avengers have been jerks since issue 1. It’s a rough read and the hyped up death is pretty weak, considering this is the UMPTEENTH time this character has died. Luckily,Oliver Coipel handles the art for this issue, so it’s a pretty trainwreck.
However, Uncanny X-men #18 follows the proud Marvel tradition of being a book that is ” A tie-in book that’s actually better than the main series”. Kieron Gillen has been KILLING on this series, making the Extinction’s team fall from grace way more compelling that the core AvX series has, and we have Ron Garney drawing this issue, which is a HUGE step up in the art department. The book gives more of an in-depth look of the battle and events from AvX #11, and the B-story focuses on a plotline that dates back from “Fear Itself” with a shocking twist. “Uncanny X-Men” #18 is well worth the $4, where as AvX #11 is strictly for completionists, or fans of Coipel’s worth to the point where the plot means nothing to you.
I only pull 2 books from DC monthly, and they happen to come out on the same week this month. They also happen to be quite excellent. Batman #0 drops with the EXCELLENT team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. This issue focuses on Bruce Wayne from 6 years ago, fresh from his global training, ready to make a change. It also brings back and semi-reinvents some baddies that tie into another Bat-book, and sets the stage for a story in 2013. The back-up, written by James Tynion IV & Andy Clarke, focuses on 5 supporting characters, and how Batman’s present influences them, and shapes their destiny. This is the PERFECT jumping on point for this series and a great issue overall. Well worth the $4.
Sean Murphy’s Punk Rock Jesus #3 came so very, very close to being my book of the week. It’s a great mini by Murphy, who’s been kicking all sorts of ass on various Vertigo titles these last few years. This is the 3rd chapter of a 6 issue mini where the clone of Jesus Christ is the focus on a reality tv show, and the world that the Clone of Jesus (Chris) is born into is beginning to take it’s toil on the boy, which means we should be getting a heavy dose of punk rock next issue. Also the last 4 pages are the perfect cliffhanger, making the wait for #4 quite painful. A great creator owned title, and the $3 will get you a story I’m surprise DC will publish and some of the best art coming out of the big 2 today. Buy it now, and then double dip for the eventual trade.
And while both DC releases were amazing, Uncanny X-Force #31 is without a doubt my pick of the week. Rick Remender’s final arc is halfway through, and after having their asses hunted down and kicked several times, X-Force is ready to go on the offensive and take the fight to the new Brotherhood. Literally in this book is amazing, from the script to Phil Noto’s pencils, to the coloring and letting. I could gush on more, but I’m sure you get the point. Granted it’s a $4, 20 page book, it’s well worth the money. Buy it on sight, unless you’re not reading it, then buy all the trades and get caught up.
That’s it, which is bad, because I am not so great wrapping up articles. So um….buy comics. Preferably at Forbidden Planet NYC. Setting up a pullist with us would be fine as well.
