Now that E for All is completely done, I can make my way quietly back to the comics section of CraveOnline with yet another installment of Comics to CraveOnline. Not to toot my own horn but I really think I snagged a few books that you guys might like, there are the old stand by’s of course, but there are also a few books that might have snuck in under the radar that you might want to give a second look. First up is a new book from DC written by Judd Winick, check it out.
Green Arrow and Black Canary #1
Writer: Judd Winick
Pencils: Cliff Chiang
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
After the wild ending (thanks Judd) of their wedding special, Dinah and Ollie are beginning their newest run at a fast pace, with only one minor problem; Ollie is totally dead. At least that’s what it seems like, as a cast of characters (including Hal Jordan, Batman, Dr. Midnite and others) plus Ollie’s son Connor help Dinah as she desperately tries to convince them that the man lying on Batman’s autopsy table is not Oliver Queen. The big question is, if that’s not Ollie, then who did she marry? More importantly, when did they make the switch? Find out at your local shop.
New Warriors #5
Writer: Kevin Grevioux
Pencils: Paco Medina
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Five issues in and the New Warriors grand come back is in Jeopardy of ending before it gets started. Mystery still surrounds the former mutants and their leader Night Thrasher. Is that really Dwayne Taylor the original Thrash? It all may be a moot point if the team doesn’t survive their current encounter. Readers pay attention, this books days could be numbered as it is still unclear if this series will continue once the Initiative story arc is over, so get this series now while the getting is good.
The New Avengers #35
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Leinil Francis Yu
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $ 2.99
Wow, here we are at issue 35. The original ‘New’ Warriors title went for over 100 issues and those kids still can’t drop the ‘new’ moniker (despite pleading from fans to just call the book ‘The Warriors’ [which would be awesome]). All that aside, the avengers family of titles have been just as good if not better than their DC counterparts since issue one of the ‘New’ book. Despite a little continuity confusion generated mostly by publishing schedules of the various titles (the same problem plaguing the Sinestro Corps War to a lesser degree) the books are fantastic when taken issue for issue. The underworlds reaction to the Superhuman Registration Act and the following Civil War is finally coming to light with the emergence of new villain The Hood (mostly because he wears a uh…hood) who as organized a sizable number of b-list villains with immediate results. A new day is dawning for the villains of the Marvel Universe, and buying this book will get you front row seats for the opening act.
Dark Times #5
Writer(s):Welles Hartley & Mick Harrison
Pencils: Douglas Wheatley
Publisher: Dark Horse
Cover Price: $ 2.99
Show me a Star Wars fans that says there are no good comics to read, and I’ll show you someone that has never read Dark Times. The only thing this series is missing is a John Williams soundtrack to accompany it. Readers should know a few things about Dark Times however. Issue 5 marks the end of the first story arc ‘The Path to Nowhere’ and there is no guarantee that the same cast of characters will be returning come issue 6. This could be a good thing considering Dark Horses impeccable track record concerning Star Wars, but some readers might feel a little left out in the cold as they have become attached to Dass Jennir and his crew. As a consolation, everybody’s favorite Sith Lord will likely be a series mainstay.
X-Factor #24
Writer: Peter David
Pencils: Pablo Raimondi
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $ 2.99
Peter David tells one heck of a story, but you probably already knew that. X-Factor took on a new direction after the M-Day disaster, and David has really put together an excellent cast of characters (and finally got Jaime out of that terrible costume [good riddance that ‘I really want to be Gambit’ suit]) and found a place for Layla Miller who has been displaced ever since she was introduced in the pages of ‘House of M’ a few years past. David has been real good about keeping the book in step with the rest of the X-Titles while still maintaining a unique feel for this particular title which can be difficult. The team is actually wrapping up a plot that has implications toward the future (Messiah Complex is on the way and it does run through the pages of X-Factor), if ever there was a time to get involved with X-Factor, now is the time.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #7
Writer: Andy Owens
Pencils: Dave Stewart
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
I know what you’re thinking, isn’t this a men’s site? With that kind of attitude sir, all you’re going to do is miss out on a great comic book. Even if you are not familiar with the original television series, Andy Owens makes it relatively easy to figure out who’s who and what’s what. Issue seven is the second part of a story featuring Faith (played by Eliza Dushku in the TV series), as the series fills us in on her whereabouts since the show’s final season. Though the next issue will likely resume following Buffy around, events that took place in issues 6 and 7 will probably take center stage very shortly as a potential enemy may prove a good challenge to the vampire slayer.
Nova #7
Writer: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Pencils: Sean Chen
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $ 2.99
As I write this I’m sitting next to my brother in law, and after showing him the awesome cover to Nova #7 his response is, “Is that a new hero?” and therein lies the problem. The idea that Nova has been around for as long as he has (1976) and still isn’t vaguely familiar to people who have a cursory understanding of comics is evidence of the lack of love that he and the rest of the New warriors have received from marvel over the years. Thanks to Abnett and Lanning people are finally getting to see Nova for the gem of a character that he is, a character that can exist in several settings (like the Green Lantern’s he’s a knock off of) and still fit. Like his New Warriors teammates, odds aren’t good that we’ll see this title after Annihilation ends, but this issue marks a major turning point for several characters, and of course presents you the reader a grand opportunity to get behind this excellent series, and maybe change its fate.
Booster Gold #3
Writer: Geoff Johns & Jeff Katz
Pencils: Dan Jurgens
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
All right gang, I promise I’ll leave you all alone about Booster Gold for a while at least, but it’s one of the books I plan on following for the duration. I’ve always like Booster Gold, I feel like characters like him keep comics honest, and makes sure that the creators remember who their target audience is supposed to be. It’s a fun read, and like Exiles, the book can go anywhere and run forever. Issue three features old favorite Jonah Hex in a funny tale that takes place primarily in the old west. There are stories out there that are far more compelling or ‘weighty’, but there’s nothing wrong with a fun comic that’s got nothing up its sleeve but good ol’ fashioned comic book antics done very well. Booster Gold is also a good idea for people who are just curious about the DCU in general as several characters are sure to be spotlighted as the series continues.
Halo: Uprising #1 (of 4)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Alex Maleev
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
I wonder if Brian Michael Bendis is a Halo fan, because if he is I’m so jealous. How this Halo story fits into the overall halo continuity I’m not quite sure, but it looks like it takes place around the beginning of Halo 2 (the Covenant first invaded Earth in the second game remember?), but it really doesn’t matter because it’s a cool Halo story and in the end that’s all that matters. In all fairness the story follows the human resistance on Earth just as much as the exploits of the Master Chief, which is a good thing actually. Bendis uses the opportunity to present a perspective of the Covenant invasion that you just won’t get playing the game. Halo: Uprising is a four part mini-series that Halo fans should not go without.
Ripclaw: Pilot Season #1
Writer: Jason Aaron
Pencils: Jorge Lucas
Publisher: Top Cow
Cover Price: $ 2.99
This title actually dates back to August, but it’s still worth mentioning, and it’s not too late to vote to have this series continue as an ongoing. If you enjoy books like Preacher, The Punisher, or Wolverine (and maybe Batman) then this book might be right up your alley. Faced with an untold number of wrestles souls that need to have certain matters settled before they can ‘cross over’ as a manner of speaking, this will likely take Ripclaw in all sorts of directions, but we’ll never know unless we vote for his book to continue this December. Just follow this link for info.
