Better late than never, right?  – NB

5 Comics To Watch

Batman Annual #2 (D.C.) – Last year’s Annual was a great extra-sized one-shot detailing Mr. Freeze’s new origin. This year’s looks to be a Zero Year tie-in book that may or may not be essential reading. However at this point, anything by Scott Snyder is essential reading. And if that’s not enough…you’ve got a Jock cover to boot!

 

 

Batman Inc. #13 (D.C.) – It all ends here. Grant Morrison’s nearly decade long, on again-off again run on Batman comes to a close with his final issue of Batman Inc. In this issue, ‘Batman saves the world and loses everything’. That sounds about right.

 

 

 

Guardians of the Galaxy #5 (Marvel) – If this series wasn’t good enough…Brian Michael Bendis is joined by none other than Neil Gaiman on this issue of Guardians of the Galaxy. Billed as the aftermath from the Age of Ultron series, just the fact that Neil -freaking- Gaiman is chipping in on this series immediately elevates this book from solid pull material to ‘what-the-heck-are-you-thinking-if-you-don’t-pick-this-up’ territory.

 

 

 

The Wake #3 (Vertigo) – Scott Snyder’s Abyss-meets-The-Thing series has been stellar so far, and I for one can’t wait to see what’s next. Issue #2 in particular really added a level of science fiction/alternate history to the proceedings that made the story that much creepier. There’s still time to jump on this book, but by about the midway point of this series, you’re going to wish you had…trust me.

 

 

 

X-Men #3 (Marvel) – Another solid new series…as if we needed another great X-Book…but the female centric X-(Wo)Men book has a great story, interesting character dynamics and a kick-ass cast of characters rounding out the group. Throw in some great art, and the potential for some top notch action in coming issues, and you’ve got yourself a contender for best X-Men book period…along with All New X-Men of course!

 

 

 

Hidden Gems

Collider #1 (Vertigo) – ‘Temporary gravity failures, time reversal loops and entropy reversals. It falls to Special Agent Adam Hardy and his FBP team to figure out what’s going on, before it’s too late…’ If you’ve been loving all the cool stuff coming from Image lately, this is Vertigo’s attempt at trying to play catch-up. The Wake was the opening shot…this is round two. The story sounds weird…just what I like…and the cover…awesome! I’ll be checking this one out, how about you?

 

 

 

Daredevil #29 (Marvel) – Multiple Eisner Award Nominee and Winner Daredevil begins a new arc with this issue. If you missed out on the amazing first 27 issues of this series, now is your chance to be one of the cool (and smart) kids. Pick up last month’s issue #28 (the one with the kid on it) and this issue and get ready to have some fun, Daredevil style. Mark Waid and Chris Samnee do not disappoint…ever!

 

 

 

Also Out This Week

 

D.C. has The Flash Annual #2, Animal Man Annual #2, Detective Comics Annual #2, Superman Annual #2, Red Lanterns #22, Superboy #22, Adventures of Superman #3 and Batman Zero Year Directors Cut #1.

 

Marvel has Fearless Defenders #7 NOW!, Indesructible Hulk #11 NOW!, FF #10 NOW!, Uncanny X-Force #9 NOW!, Uncanny X-Men #9 NOW!, X-Men Legacy #14 NOW!, What If AVX #4, Venom #38, Ultimates #28 and Captain Marvel #14.

There’s also Sex #5, My Little Pony Friendship is Magic #9, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #24, BPRD Vampire #5, Bedlam #8 and GI Joe #6.

 

Trade Watch

 

 

 

There’s Uncanny X-Force Vol 1 TP and Green Lantern New Guardians Vol 1 TP and Vol 2 HC.

 

– S-1