The BEST comics weeks are the ones that you walk into the shop and realize that you can’t possibly afford to buy all the books you want. Or you could, but you shouldn’t. It usually a sign that the industry is doing something right, or that you need a better job, or the comics industry’s shipping schedule needs to do a better job of meeting my very specific needs. Why yes, I am a diva. So a special shout-out to Young Avengers, Fatale and the Wake, 3 books that I really dig, but that not being bought in trade, not unlike “Wolverine and the X-men“. So where does that leave us?
Let’s start off with a pair of Brian Bendis penned X-books, All-New X-men and Uncanny X-men. First and foremost these books look great. Stuart Immonen and friends keep All-New looking fresh and expressive, giving Bendis plenty to work with. And you really can’t do any better than Frazer Irving for an artist on Uncanny when you’re telling an story involving Limbo and demons. Believe it or not it actually helps to good when it comes to a medium like comics (SHOCKING REVEAL), and these X-books very much succeed on that level here.
However, they couldn’t be any different on a script level. All-New’s is great. Fun read, choke full of characters with unique voices and Bendis has GREAT moment with Kitty Pryde reacting to something that happened in Uncanny Avengers not too long ago. Well worth the $4. Uncanny X-men…kinda mediocre. The book feels lost, as big reveals and twists don’t carry the omph they need thanks to some not so great dialogue choices made by Bendis. If you’re torn on the two, go with All-New, and hope Uncanny reads better in trade.
This week was a very good week for Marvel editor Stephen Whacker, as both Daredevil #27 and Hawkeye #11 hit the stands, and were the type of books that wins Eisners. Both Mark Waid and Matt Fraction did great jobs on the words & plot department for these books, but it was their artists, Chris Samnee and David Aja respectively, who really elevated these books above the majority of the titles on the stands. Samnee is a master story teller, as there’s a moment that happens about halfway through that book that kicks of a series of pages that are impossible NOT to get pumped up for. As someone who didn’t even start off as the main artist on this title, Chris has definitely left his mark on it, making it one of the best looking books on the market month after month.
As for Hawkeye…I honestly don’t know what else there’s left to say about the title. I’ve been a fan of the book since it was announced. I’ve sung it’s praises with every issues released. Hell, I even read this issue 3 weeks in advance, and I was still excited for 11. And you know what? It’s honestly the BEST comic to come out this year. Aja tells a murder mystery from a dog’s P.O.V. and it’s great! There’s action, drama, romance, humor and if you’ve been paying attention to this book, the last 3 pages will hit you like a ton of bricks. For $3, I can’t recommend a better book.
I CAN HOWEVER, OFFER SOMETHING THAT IS PRETTY GREAT AT THE SAME COST! Greg Rucka and Michael Lark, 2 veteran creators who have made many a fine comic over the years, have Lazarus #1 on the stands, and holy butts, is solid as hell. I love debut issues that stand on their own, and if this was a done and one I’d be pleased as punch. HOWEVER IT’S A ON-GOING, SO I’M THRILLED. Without going into details, it’s very much a crime story with a sci-fi background, and also violent as hell. But I’m in. Rucka’s great, Lark is fantastic on both art and letters and Santi Arcas is fantastic on covers. All for $3. Image have been firing on all cylinders when it’s come to fantastic new series, and this book isn’t any different. GET ON IT THIS BOOK NOW, IT IS THE NEW FATAL, IT THE THE NEW SAGA, AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE SOLD OUT BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS, OPPS!
So all in all a great comics. This upcoming week has “Satellite Sam” debuting from Image, and the Fionna and Cake mini-series wrapping up, plus I’ll be spending some time looking at the 5th volume of Wolveirne and the X-men. COMICS FOR EVERYONE Y’ALL!
