Brave New Worlds

WELCOME TO YET ANOTHER FRIDAY! If you had off yesterday for Veterans Day I hop you enjoyed it. As of now the weekend is just a few crappy hours of work away. Let me share a few links with you to help you get through those hours. Read the rest of this entry »

THIS JUST IN! This Saturday Old City will be receiving a visit from the creators of the IDW hit comic Kill Shakespeare! Hit the jump for more details… Read the rest of this entry »

Avengers Children Crusade #3 (of 9)

Allan Heinberg (w) Jim Cheung, Mark Morales (a)

Simply the Best Hands down I really feel this is the best running title at Marvel right now. I cannot put my finger on exactly why, I just feel it in my bones (how’s that for a description?). Heinberg’s story coupled with Cheung’s pencils just makes for the perfect storm in storytelling. From the fast-paced story to the cliffhanger reveals, it makes me almost forget that this title comes out just once every two months. Sadness.

The Search Continues How many years has it been since Wanda Maximoff disappeared after the events of House of M? It’s been awhile hasn’t it? Now her kids are looking for her, along with Uncle Pietro, Grandpop Magneto and all of the crazy gang (that would be the Avengers and Young Avengers). Issue three picks up with Mags and Pietro discussing the fine art of deception and what to do next while the children try to respect their elders.

Forever What seemed like one of the longest diatribes to open an issue, ever, was actually really well down and quick to the point as Magneto gives newbies a quick history lesson on Victor Von Doom and a recap to what’s been happening while he and Quicksilver wax poetic about the potential of Doom’s involvement in all of this.

Meanwhile … While the Young Avengers and the Maximoff’s have their fun, we also get to see how the Avengers are attempting to handle things since Wiccan took off and left them holding Cap’s shield. It’s interesting to see how these events play out.

Only Negative Well, the worst part about this book is that it’s going to take a year for the final six issues to come out. At least we know each issue will leave us wanting more if the story continues to unfold at its current pace.

Amazing Spider-Man #648

Dan Slott (w) Humberto Ramos, Carlos Cuevos (a)

Brand New Day It is a brand new day in Amazing Spider-Man, but not “the” Brand New Day. Actually, it’s “Big Time” and this issue is the one that I was hoping for the past couple of years when Quesada decided to make the change to this book. It’s a perfect jumping on point for new readers, as well as a perfect jumping back-in point for disenchanted readers. I think this book will benefit creatively from the single voice of Slott, who has writing both characters (Spidey and Peter Parker) down to a “T.”

Conan Eat Your Heart Out While Conan O’Brien had his who’s who of guests on his first show on TBS, Slott packed in the stars as well as the book opens with the Avengers, plus appearances by the Fantastic Four, MJ, Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Robbie Robertson, The Daily Bugle, the Sinister Six, Doc Ock plus he somehow found time to throw in a new character as well. Whew, I am tired just typing it all out.

Bringing the Fun Back We all know Slott knows the funny and it’s a good thing to because while Spider-Man has always been about real-life issues, the best stories were able to balance real life with the fun.  I don’t know about you, but the last couple years have been a little depressing. I guess that is what happens when you make a deal with the devil (Mephisto) that never actually took place (thanks for the retcon Quesada).

Honorable Mention It was hard not gushing completely over these books as well, but I still want to give them their due. I think I am finally becoming a disciple of Grant Morrison. I think his Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne was a work of genius, and really should have been titled Final Crisis Aftermath: Return of Bruce Wayne. It really closes the door on that entire story. The final issue is a little confusing at first, but if you stay with it, really pays off. Also, I am still loving Ultimate Comics Thor. Issue two this week dug deeper into the character mythos while juggling three different storylines. It’s been a really fun and strange trip reading this title.

There’s one comic I will sure as crap be reading tomorrow…and I’d bet you know which one it is.

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Just in time for the Holiday Season we are teaming up with the Autumn Society to collect toys for Toys for Tots and raise money for kids in need. Show coming First Friday Dec 3rd! More details soon!

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Amazing Spider-Man #648

Dan Slott (w) Humberto Ramos (a)

Spider-man is going big time, as in the new arc for the fearless arachnid-wearing hero. Brand New Day is history, life moves on and Amazing Spidey is now out twice a month. However, the more things change, the more they stay the same as J. Jonah Jameson and the Sinister Six continue to make things fun. Slott takes over as the sole ongoing writer with this issue.

Avengers Children’s Crusade #3 (of 9)

Allan Heinberg (w) Jim Cheung (a)

Continuing to move at breakneck speed, the latest installment features the “actual” return of the Scarlet Witch. Talk about not milking something to the end, or near the end. I mean, this revelation is pretty much in the beginning as the book is only about one-third of the way complete after this issue. Anyway, Wanda’s back, but which Wanda is it? Is she the Vision-loving hero or the mutant-extinction crazy person. My money is on the crazy.

Batman Return of Bruce Wayne #6 (of 6)

Grant Morrison (w) Lee Garbett, Walden Wong (a)

Finally it has arrived, the return of one Bruce Wayne, better known as the Dark Knight, the Caped Crusader, Apollo Creed (okay, I’m kidding on that last one, but how cool would that be – but I digress). Anyway, Batman is back, and boy is he going to be pissed at Dick for wearing his costume. I mean, you don’t go commando in another man’s tights. I’m just saying. And oh yeah, the future of the Batman titles begins here.

Spider-Man One Moment in Time Hardcover

Joe Quesada (w/a) Paolo Rivera (a)

This is it, all of your answers to One More Day which set up Brand New Day. The retcon of the Marvel Universe and Spider-Man is explained here. Don’t believe me, then pick it up. Collects Amazing Spider-Man #638-641.

Superman vs Muhammad Ali Deluxe HC

Dennis O’Niel, Neal Adams (w) Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, Terry Austin (a)

More thrilling than a fight in Manilla, it’s two versions of the classic Superman vs. Muhammad Ali comic. Only aliens in the 1970s could bring these two legends together, and for a boxing match no less (I wonder who wins?). The deluxe edition is normal size and features previously unreleased art. The facsimile edition is the books original print size (10×13.25), because Superman and Muhammad Ali in a comic book is just too much for the confines of the normal page.

Cover Girls of the DCU Harley Quinn Statue

Adam Hughes (designer) Jack Mathews (scupltor)

The latest in DCU’s Cover Girls line is here, featuring the dastardly and delightful Harley Quinn. These statues generally do not stay in stock long, add in the fact that it is Harley Quinn and it is a perfect storm for selling out. Luckily Brave New Worlds order a few, just for you.

Star Wars Slave Leia Mini Bust

It’s finally here, Gentle Giant’s latest Star Wars masterpiece and every fanboy’s greatest desire, Slave Leia, sculpted in a spectacular mini-bust. With two awesome statues to choose from this week at Brave New Worlds, the choice is an easy one, pick up both. You won’t regret it, granted you might have some explaining to do with the wife, but give one to her as a gift, she’ll never realize. No need to thank me. Your happiness is thanks enough.

Comics will be out on Wednesday this week! See what we’ll have for ya!

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Newsarama posted a Batgirl #15 preview, the book comes out next week, which I fell in love with and I decided to share it with you, here, on our blog as well. Enjoy. (I made it one big page) Read the rest of this entry »

Click here to see previous strips.

Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale

Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon (w) Chris Samnee (a)

Seeds Even though only 13 episodes plus a feature film were made, there was a lot of character development going on in the Firefly/Serenity world. That’s how Joss rolls Yo. One story thread he kept watering was the tale of Book, Serenity’s Shepherd. I figured that story to have been moot when the character met his demise in the movie. It did not.

Memento Just like the Christopher Nolan movie Memento, this story is told in reverse. It’s a unique but awesome way to tell this story. It makes you as the reader make decisions on the character’s true motives based on what you just read, only to have those inferences turned over once you turn the page and read the next panel. It’s awesome.

Hey, it’s the Mighty Avenger Guy! That’s right, that is the same artist from Thor: The Mighty Avenger on this book. Samnee’s style really compliments the grittiness of this tale. It’s a perfect compliment.

What Do We Learn? Well, if you are like me there were always a couple of lines that

stuck out about Book. Funny enough, it was always Jayne who was bringing it up, his past that is. There is the episode where the Alliance actually saves his life, which is really interesting now that we read one of the big reveals of this tale. There’s more, but I’d rather you go back and figure them out for yourself.

Is It For Anyone? I think so. I don’t think you need to know the character’s history to read this book. Obviously you will get a lot more out of the story if you have that rooting interest, but the brothers Whedon and Samnee tell a solid story nonetheless without all the back story. I would hope that if you were not a fan before, you would want to find out what all the hub-bub is about afterwards.

In Stock Now Release a week after the $19.99 Superman: Earth One, Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale is a bargain at $14.99. And possibly the best part besides another great Serenity story is that the purchase counts towards book club at Brave New Worlds. Check it out now at either one of our awesome locations.