December Comics Guide

Please not that all entries are based on the month’s issue of Previews, the comic retailer’s order guide. It’s possible that some books will be delayed – or even canceled – but we will do our best to stay up to date. 

At long last, the 10 issue limited series from brothers Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon kicks off this month! I feel like I’ve been waiting impatiently for a lifetime, but no longer. Following an obituary writer struggling to climb out of his famous father’s shadow, Daytripper is poised to be a a stunning portrait at the "smaller" moments in our lives. And don’t forget, it’s Gabriel effing Ba and Fabio-GD-Moon. Daytripper #1 hits stands December 9. 

It’s an understatement to say that I was blown away by how much I didn’t loathe the debut issue of this series (read our review of Victorian Undead #1). For realz, I fully expected yet another zombie book on the market to cause me eyes to roll back in my head and urinate in my pants our of sheer boredom. Instead, I found that the famous Sherlock Holmes mantra "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth" is so obviously talking about the undead, and couldn’t believe that this pairing hadn’t been made before. With that said, I’m pretty pumped for issue #2, on shelves December 23. 
 

I know, I know, yet another X-book (and yes, Wolverine is in this one too). However, Nation X is shaping up to be a little something different, as it finds some of our beloved mutants living on Utopia, the mutant island that was recently brought into play. From the way Marvel is pitching the book, it seems like it’s going to be a more subdued character-focused book, rather than another adrenaline pumping ride through a display of mutant powers. I guess we’ll find out when Nation X comes out on December 9. 
 

It feels like just yesterday that this new volume of Jonah Hex launched, but here we are some years later with the double-sized issue #50 coming out with Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray pushing along everyone’s favorite Old West badass. The most enticing part about issue #50 though, is that none other than Darwyn Cooke is tackling all art duties – both interiors and covers – to make this anniversary issue truly celebratory. Jonah Hex #50 comes out December 2. 

Dante’s Inferno #1 (WildStorm)

Hold the phone! A comic book based on a video game? On a list collecting the most exciting releases of the month? From a human being who absolutely loathes video game books? (read my review of Modern Warfare 2: Ghost #1!) As skeptical as I may be, and as evil as Electronic Arts is, their Dante’s Inferno game intrigues me, if only for it being the first poem translated directly to video game form (Beowulf doesn’t count). Something tells me they’ll be taking their liberties with Dante Alighieri, but I do find that the story of Dante’s Inferno is perfectly fit for dark, scary trip through Hell. Especially during Christmas, when the world needs it most. Dante’s Inferno releases December 9. 

What I’m gathering from the solicits on this one is that Who Will Wield the Shield? is essentially Marvel’s attempt at Battle for the Cowl, where the mantle of the icon in question is to be claimed. Hopefully WWWtS? will be just a tad less convoluted and melodramatic than BftC, but with regular Cap scribe Ed Brubaker at the helm, I’m fairly certain that everything will be a-okay, resulting in some top notch entertainment. Captain America: Who Will Wield the Shield? #1 comes out December 23.

What If? Astonishing X-Men #1 (Marvel)

I admit that with all of the What If? books coming out this month, I chuckled a bit at the stupidity of it all. Marvel wastes more time and talent on revisiting the past than it does on creating something wholly new and different. Except, the fact that this What If? tale revisits the last thing that Marvel did that was wholly new and different, which was Joss Whedon and John Cassaday’s Astonishing X-Men. If you are unfamiliar with What If?, it’s essentially a series of hypothetical scenarios in which the outcome of the stories would have been drastically changed had a couple of details been switched around. Often times these are humerous affairs, but I’m just happy to sit and dwell on how glorious Astonishing was. What If? Astonishing X-Men #1 releases December 23. 

Dark Times is awesome, and it’s the only Star Wars book that is currently worth getting. Unfortunately, the opportunity to purchase it only comes along about once every six months or so, so you better thank the baby Jesus that it’s coming in December. Continuing the "Blue Harvest" storyarc, Dass Jennir is caught in the middle of something big, and there will likely be a sweet cliffhanger that we won’t be able to follow until next summer. Merry Christmas, Star Wars: Dark Times #15 releases December 23. 

A new Image series from the co-creator of both Powers and The Mice Templar, Michael Avon Oeming, God Complex tells the tale of the Greek god Apollo hiding amongst us lesser folks, away from his family. As is to be expected, Zeus is enraged by this and immediately sets out to find the no good son of a bitch. I’m always a fan of both jumping on a new Image book at #1 and the integration of Greek myths into our modern society, and guess what! God Complex has both, and it releases December 9. 

Brian Michael Bendis. Alex Maleev. Matt Murdock. Huge f*cking omnibus hardcover. December 16. ‘Nuff said.

History of the DC Universe Series 3