Brave New Worlds

After falling under an avalanche of titles the last two weeks of January, the month of February opened quietly in the amount of books released.  Luckily that did not translate into lack of quality as the first three books I read this past week – Buffy the Vampire Slayer #32, Siege #2 and Ultimate Comics X #1 – were all outstanding.  As always, spoiler free.

Brad Meltzer was tabbed to deliver the season eight finale in Buffy the Vampire Slayer #32 and part one of “Twilight” did not disappoint.  There was a noticeable improvement in the story telling in Meltzer’s first issue from Jane Espenson’s just-completed “Retreat” story arc, which were the first Buffy issues that left me disappointed.

Back to Meltzer however, despite the online reveal of Twilight, the story did not suffer and left readers wanting more as it ended – always a sign of a great read.  And Georges Jeanty once again supplied his masterful pencil strokes.

There were some real nice moments between Xander and Buffy after her slayerness discovered some new abilities at the end of last issue.  However, as is the case in the Whedonverse, those powers come at a price and the reveal will leave you in shock.

Meanwhile, over in the Marvel Universe, Siege #2 did not disappoint and picked up right where issue number one left off as Ares continues to lead the assault on Asgard.  At the end of last issue, Steve Rogers decided it was time to get in the game as Norman Osborn’s boys were taking out Thor.  Let’s just say holy frak as Ares and the Sentry face off, and Cap begins to mobilize the end of Osborn’s Dark Reign.  After reading Brian Michael Bendis’s first two issues of this mini-series, its hard to imagine how much better issue three can get.  Oliver Copiel’s pencils were amazing as always.

Finally Jeph Loeb appears to have rebounded from his writing struggles and delivers readers a nice new origin tale in Ultimate Comics X #1.  Arthur Adams art is strong, and his inclusion on the book will see this titled released every two months.

The cover shows a kid with claws.  Can’t be Wolverine since he bit it in Ultimatum (along with so many other characters).  So who is it?  Wait until you find out.  This is the Ultimate Universe we have been waiting for.

All three titles stood out above the pack this week for me so stop by Brave New Worlds and grab them if you passed them over, you won’t regret it.

For the latest chapter of Random Retro Comic Review, I asked Lane to select an issue from the Brave New Worlds back issue comic vault and out he pulled Flash #205 from April 1971.  Turns out this was a reprint issue that contained four stories, one of which had never been published.

Flash #205 was a Giant-Size issue and for just a quarter readers received an issue that included The Flash, The “Golden Age” Flash, Kid Flash and Johnny Quick.  The Jay Garrick story really stood out above the rest as both the story and art were outstanding.  This was also the only “new” story of the issue, having been written and illustrated in the 1940’s but never before printed.

Visually the issue was stunning with Carmine Infantino supplying the pencils and Bernard Sachs finishing.  In a couple of panels, Garrick looks like he could have jumped off the pages of Will Eisner’s The Spirit, the drawing styles being so similar.

No story credit is given and that is a shame because the story really flowed.  As with all of the features in this issue, the main nemesis was speed itself as a farmer created a way to speed everything up.  It was up to Jay Garrick to slow it all down.  Might not sound that exciting, but the execution was flawless for that time period.

Also included in the issue was Flash #139 from September 1963 when Barry Allen faced the Reverse Flash for the very first time.  It was an interesting time travel story by John Broome with art by Infantino and Joe Giella.  Turns out that Barry ended up inadvertently giving Professor Zoom his costume through a time capsule and history was made.  The original issue was the first appearance and origin story for the Reverse Flash.

It is interesting to see how much Infantino’s style changed from his Golden Age Flash story.  Some artists go through a huge transformation in drawing styles over the years (take a look at John Romita Jr.’s first issues) while others remain basically the same (John Byrne comes to mind).  For my money, I preferred Infantino’s early works.

Also reprinted was Flash #116 from November 1960 when Wally West thwarted a bank robbery attempt while also aiding his Dad in winning a rally car race.  Three issues later would see the very first Flash-Kid Flash team up.  The final installment was reprinted from Adventure Comics #189 from June 1953 and was a Johnny Quick feature.  Issue #189 of Adventure was actually had both Black & White and Color pages, which was different for that time.

The Golden Age Flash story was by far the best one of the bunch, but it was interesting to read the first-ever appearance of Zoom and how he came to become Reverse Flash.  It was a soundly-written origin story.

The issue also featured a ton of editor’s notes, explaining how it was possible for the Flash to run into the future, vibrate through walls and run on water.  Giving the actions a more realistic treatment.

The story telling is a bit dated in the other stories but not a terrible read.  But the issue is definitely worth it for the Jay Garrick story.  Overstreet lists Flash #205 at $75 for a 9.0.  The copy in the store is just about a 6.0 and sells for $18.

Until next time …

Issue Skinny

The Flash #205 (Volume 1)

Cover – Dick Giordano (p), Carmine Infantino (f)

Released: April, 1971

Collected: None

Since I normally write about what I’m excited to read on Wednesday on Tuesday nights and I didn’t get around to it, I have decided to write about 2 comics that are still sitting in my New Comis Pile that i still wanna read. Read the rest of this entry »

Gotham City Sirens #8

Before you laugh and scoff at what might look like a guilty pleasure, stop for a moment and read this month’s offering as Guillem March and Marc Andreyko team up to tell a creepy tale in which Poison Ivy looks to finally receive her comeuppance.

Gotham City Sirens has consistently been enjoyable since it came out eight months ago.  March has been supplying some superb and subtle artwork while Paul Dini has been providing excellent words.  Obviously March has become inspired working with Dini and this month took the job to plot the book himself, collaborating his script ideas with Andreyko on issue eight for what proves to be a chilling issue.

In the past, these three characters have not been successful in carrying their own titles, either by themselves or teamed with a second, however DC has seemed to find a new trinity residing in Gotham City of all places.  Each character brings a different trait that tends to balance the story telling and makes each issue a good ride.  Plus, when all else fails, Mr. J can always come back and wreak havoc with Harley’s heart.

So, before you laugh at this pick, give Gotham City Sirens a try, you might find yourself hooked.

I know we all feel the sting left from “Ultimatum’ with it’s pretty pictures-but-pretty mediocre story, but this comic out tomorrow from Marvel was pretty good. Written by Bendis with excellent art from Rafa Sandoval, this book delivered a lot of intense action. There’s some kind of being or creature trying to take out the characters that survived the events of Ultimatum.

Welcome back to the second installment of Random Retro Comic Review.  Just like the title states, this is a totally random review of a comic back issue and this week’s gem comes to us from DC Comics.  Once again I blindly placed my hand into the Brave New Worlds back issue comic vault and pulled out much to my pleasure, Tales of the Teen Titans #45 from April 1984 by Marv Wolfman and George Perez.

For the second week in a row, I was able to enjoy a back issue that I had never read before.  I don’t know what it is about the early 80’s era of comics, but I really have enjoyed the storytelling these past two weeks (could be nostalgia since this is when I first started reading the funny books as my Dad calls them).

This week’s cover once again sells the issue (they really knew how to get a reader hooked with that cover back then, sorry, waxing nostalgic once again) as Aqualad holds an unconscious Aquagirl entering Titans Tower.  And the cover is complete with word balloons, which we never see anymore, as Aqualad screams “Please you’ve got to help us … before it’s too late!”

The first of a three-part H.I.V.E. story simply titled “H.I.V.E.” this issue is mostly a set up as there is not much going on.  The Teen Titans (which I found awesome to read an actual good Titans story again even though there was not a lot of action) are still reeling from the death of Tara at the hands of the Terminator.  The cover opens the issue and then we immediately jump into a grieving Beast Boy (or Changeling as he was called back in the day).

It was a really dark portrayal of a character who is generally so lighthearted as Changeling disrupts a weapons deal all on his own with some vicious attacks.  If not for Cyborg hanging in the background, Wolfman and Perez convince the reader that Gar may have actually killed one of the men.

This issue really deals with a lot of emotional issues – Donna and Terry’s impending marriage, complete with a bachelor party and hot girl coming out of a cake.  Perez is really an excellent artist and his work on the Titans over the years is his signature book.  Raven’s continuing feeling of loneliness just as Wally comes back, still upset over his breakup with Raven, but refusing to help the team out in the end when they set off to confront H.I.V.E.  Turns out, Wally has some issues whenever he taps into the speed force.

Once again I really found myself enjoying this issue.  There were some real nice moments, including a couple of pages when Donna went back to Paradise Island to ask Hippolyta’s permission to wed Terry.  Another fun scene was Cyborg’s grandparents arriving at his apartment in Hell’s Kitchen but not finding anyone at home.  So what do they do, but pick the lock of course.

As I previously mentioned, I can not say enough great things about Perez’s detailed layouts.  Plus any time you get to see Aqualad and Aqaugirl in an issue has to be a plus.

Tales of the Teen Titans was actually called The New New Teen Titans up until issue #40 before switching to Tales.  Overstreet prices the book at $3.50 for a 9.0 copy and the version we had in the store is probably an 8.0 and can be had for just $1.00 as part of Brave New Worlds current back issue sale.

Issue Skinny

Tales of the Teen Titans #45 “H.I.V.E.”

Marv Wolfman, George Perez (w), George Perez (p), Mike DeCarlo (f)

Released: April 12, 1984

Collected: None

Until next time …

There are a lot of new comics out this week…Kick Ass #8, New Avengers #61, Batman and Robin #7 to name a few…but I want to read these two real bad… Read the rest of this entry »

The Chill is the latest offering from the Vertigo Crime series and I have to say it was a great concept that was executed very well.  Jason Starr provides the words while Mick Bertilorenzi’s art provides the perfect compliment to a story that begins in the 1960s in Ireland.

But the tale does not remain there, after setting the table quickly it fast forwards to present day New York (because that is where everything happens).  Before we know it, we are immersed in a series of suspected serial killings that has one character refer to  the Big Apple’s infamous other slayfest, Summer of Sam.

A lot of these books can become really gory, but that is not the case for The Chill.  Clocking in at 188 pages, I have to admit about three-fourths of the way through the read the book started to drag, but the ending totally makes up for it.

Anyway, I highly recommend The Chill for fans of the crime genre (Sleeper, Criminal) and of something completely different.  You should not walk away disappointed.  If The Chill gets it done for you, try Bryan Azzarello’s Filthy Rich (Vertigo Crime) which came out a few months back.  It is a little more noirish than The Chill, but an excellent read just the same.

In additon, Oni Press has also throw it’s hat in the ring with it’s own Crime Noir title, You Have Killed Me by Jamie Rich and Joelle Jones.  This one was done really well and looks like it came off the big screen thanks to Jones art.

And what would you know, Brave New Worlds has all three of these titles in stock today.

Brave New Worlds has some exciting releases coming out for all our faithful customers this week including Siege-crossover New Avengers #61 and The Losers: Volume 1 and 2 Trade Paperback.

Promising to be the biggest event to hit the Avengers since Disassembled, the Siege hits the pages of New Avengers this week and guess who is back? Give up, well if you have been living under a rock than you might not know that Captain America is back. What’s that you say, Captain America has been back? True, but this month Steve Rogers makes his return to the Avengers and boy are things all sorts of messed up.

Rogers might find his return this time even more confusing than when he was originally chipped from ice back in the 1960s. This time Norman Osborn is in charge and is going all-in against Asgard, What chance does a super-soldier have when the gods fall? You are just going to have to read New Avengers #61 to find out.

And in case you missed it last week, the Siege crossovers began in earnest with the release of Dark Avengers #13 and Dark Wolverine #82, both still available at Brave New Worlds.

The Losers: Volume 1 & 2 TP

Another Vertigo title is getting the media treatment as Andy Diggle’s The Losers is slated for an April 2010 release on the big screen. DC is celebrating the event by releasing The Losers: Volume 1 and 2 Trade Paperback as a set this week. Think the A-Team as The Losers were an elite U.S. special forces unit (is there any other) that stumbles upon a C.I.A. secret they can not ignore (they never can). So guess what happens next, that’s right, the C.I.A. attempts to take The Losers out, and the story begins.

Jock and Shawn Martinbrough provide the pictures as The Losers: Volume 1 and 2 collects the Ante Up and Double Down trade paperbacks.

Hulk #19 this week had it all – the Fantastic Four, M.O.D.O.K., Klaw and oh yeah, Red Hulk. Plus add-in Ed McGuiness on pencils and you have an instant classic (seriously).

It has been awhile since the entire Fantastic Four has been in a story together and I was ready for an all-new adventure with Marvel’s first family. Lucky for me Hulk #19 fit the bill and felt more like an issue of Fantastic Four than the Hulk. But, there is a reason for this if you have been following the Fall of the Hulks story line by Jeph Loeb.

This week saw the inevitable return of the Frightful Four, all souped up and ready to take on Reed and the gang once again. Without giving too much away, wackiness ensues (of course) and it is up to the Red Hulk (that’s right) to save the day.

I have to say, I am really glad I gave this once-maligned title a try. The Fall of the Hulks arc has been enjoyable and this issue definitely moves that story forward. Also, if interested, you should try out the Incredible Hulk as well as some of the Fall of the Hulks tie-ins as this story is finally moving towards a resolution.

And I still say all the Red Hulks are really Betty.