Written by Jai Nitz, art and cover by Kevin Sharpe.Not so much because it sounds interesting - 'cause it doesn't, really - but I enjoyed Nitz' Heaven's Devils mini-series so I'm curious.
"Spring." Jessica Suddreth was a normal high school freshman until she was magically transported to the fairytale world of Asamondo. Once there she trains to be a Spell Sword, a mystical warrior, to lead the peasants against the tyrannical King Elian. The good news is she's the best Spell Sword ever. The bad news is she still has all the emotions and insecurities of a 14-year-old girl and her training includes chopping wood and washing clothes for the peasants. Now, high school doesn't seem so bad. Will she stay in Asamando and work through the hard knocks, or will the comforts of her old life call her home?
32 pages, $3.50, in stores on Oct. 5.
Written by Jeff Amano and Ivan Brandon, art by Mike Hawthorne and Rick Remender, colors by Giulia Bruscom cover by David Mack.Beckett's now paired up with Image and I want to continue to support their stuff. Plus, other than Remender, I've liked previous work by all of the creators involved.
Featuring a brand new David Mack cover, Beckett's controversial first series is finally collected into one massive volume. Chinatown has been overwhelmed by vicious biker gangs. One man is chosen to lead his people to freedom, but the price of victory is more costly than blood and darker than war. Includes a cover gallery as well as behind-the-scenes info with the creators.
224 pages, $19.99, in stores on Oct. 12.
Written by Mario Gully and Marc Hammond, art and cover by Gully.I'm going to pick up the first issue out of curiosity, but I doubt I'll still be intersted by the time this one comes out. Gully comes off as a bit too arrogant on the Image boards - subtly dissing Arcana, where Ant got its start, whenever he can - especially considering how badly written the first series was.
Ant is in desperate pursuit of the man that may hold the key to her misplaced memory. All is not as it seems, though, as Hannah, fresh out of one fight, runs headlong into one of the greatest forces she has ever known: Spawn! He has the power to unlock the secrets of her mind, and she will stop at nothing to get it.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Oct. 12.
Written by Phil Hester, art and cover by John McCrea.I loved the first two issues of this comic. Only wish it was a monthly! And not $3.50...
"Incarnate," Part Four: "Sacrifice." Sharpe and Nguyen face the horrifying reality that our world is being invaded by the restless spirits of the dead. The only thing capable of stopping this ghostly army is a doomsday device so terrible even the defense department has tried to destroy it. Sharpe doesn't share their compunctions, but will he be able to use it if it means the death of those closest to him?
32 pages, black and white, $3.50, in stores on Oct. 26.
Written by Miles Gunter and Ivan Brandon, art by Andy MacDonald, cover by Eric Canete.I loved the second issue of this comic. Like swooning kind of love! Hope they can keep it up.
Quentin's in love, but he's headed for a world of pain to match. In perfect Meach fashion, euphoria turns to tragedy and all of it to crime as we build towards a violent climax to Beta Love.
October 5 €32 pg € FC € $2.99
Written by Rick Remender and Kieron Dwyer, art and cover by Paul Harmon.Wow! Didn't think there was eight issues worth of story in this thing. Much as I like Paul Harmon's Mora, it's still not enough to get me back after that horrid second issue.
Janine must face the real, human consequences of her need to consume human blood. Still reeling from the recent deaths around her, she must chose between suicide and eternally perpetuating her own life at the expense of others.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Oct. 26.
Written by Scott Wherle, plotted by Jim Valentino, art and cover by Carlos Rodriguez and Marc Deering.Picked up the first three issues of ShadowHawk after enjoying Blacklight #1, and was pleasantly surprised. Solid, unpretentious superhero fun. This issue has two great homage covers, too. Also glad to see Wherle taking over the writing.
"Suffer Not A Corpse to Live." Part Two of the two-part Shadowhawk/Blacklight team-up as the two new heroes come face-to-face with the living zombie, Corpse, and learn a few new things about their own powers! New writer Scott Wherle takes the reins in a team-up that actually matters, as it helps define both characters' personalities and powers!
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Oct. 19.
Written by Akira Yoshida, art by Paul Lee, cover by Pat Lee.Didn't like P. Craig Russell's take on Conan at all, but Busiek & Nord have me hooked on the character so I'm going to try this one out. How is that any different from the Marvel Zombies that buy anything with Wolverine in it, you ask? It's not, really. I'm a hypocrite!
King Conan travels to the exotic land of Khitai, only to run afoul of an evil sorcerer and his demonic retainers in this tale of silent shadow warriors and ghastly monsters in the Far East. When Conan receives an invitation from the Eastern Kingdom of Khitai to open trade in precious jewels and spices, he decides that he will travel into this long-mysterious land. Yet, to do so is perilous, as those who have requested his company may have far more devious intentions, and beasts unseen by Western eyes lurk amidst the shadows. Set many years in the future from the award-winning on-going series, Conan and the Demons of Khitai marks Conan's first appearance as King in Dark Horse's best-selling comics revival of the legendary fantasy hero.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Oct. 5.
Written and art by Eric Powell.Read a lot of good things about The Goon, and Powell's Dark Horse Book of the Dead story was pretty good, so I do believe I'll grab this and give it a try.
Now is the perfect time to get acquainted with the cult-hit as Eisner award-winner Eric Powell and Dark Horse Comics present the original The Goon #1 in a new 25 cent edition that includes a brand-new short story and painted cover by none other than the illustrious Mr. Powell himself. Over the last few years, The Goon has earned both critical and popular acclaim with its tales of a lone thug and his fight against a never-ending onslaught of zombies, giant lizards, and killer robots.
32 pages, 25 cents, in stores on Oct. 12.
Written by Joe Casey, art by Stefano Caselli, cover by Rich Black.The first two issues of this relaunch have been surprisingly good, so I'm looking forward to this one. Particularly liked the casting of Destro as a mercenary arms dealer available to the highest bidder. Fun stuff, nicely illustrated.
With the Joes on the brink of discovering his identity, Vance Wingfield reaches out to a man with no loyalties: Destro! But will the arms-dealer provide him with the key to achieve his ultimate goal, or will he destroy Wingfield and G.I. Joe alike?
32 pages, $2.95.
Written by R.A. Salvatore, adapted by Andrew Dabb, art by Tim Seeley, covers by Seeley, Casey Burns and Tyler Walpole.
Adapting the second volume of R.A. Salvatore's classic Legend of Drizzt Trilogy: Exile! Drizzt Do'urden, a lone hero among the treacherous race of the Drow, has left everything he knows to seek honor and justice in the wilderness of the Underdark. Alone save for the mystical panther Guenhwyvar, he will encounter new allies -- and the new enemies that could destroy them!
48 pages, $4.95 (cardstock cover, $8.95).
Written by Steve Niles; Art and cover by Scott HamptonI enjoyed the couple of IDW titles I've read from Niles, Secret Skull and The Lurkers, and have reconciled myself to the fact that I'll have to get my Batman fix via his mini-series at least until Infinite Crisis is finished, so I'm really looking forward to this one.
Acclaimed writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) joins distinctive painter Scott Hampton (BATMAN: NIGHT CRIES) for a 3-issue Prestige Format miniseries that uncovers the investigation of grisly murders outside Batman's usual territory…in the Gotham suburbs! Commissioner Gordon calls on the Dark Knight for help in solving the mystery, although Batman has never delved into the suburbs of Gotham before. But the series of murders is so shocking that Batman must respond, despite being in unfamiliar territory!
On sale Oct 5 o 1 of 3 o Prestige Format o 48 pg, FC, $5.99 US Edited by Joey Cavalieri
Written by A.J. Lieberman; Art by Al Barrionuevo & Bit; Cover by Claudio CastelliniThis title has really fallen off lately, which is disappointing because I thought Lieberman initially had a much better handle on Hush than Loeb did. Just got the axe from my pull list and doesn't look like it's coming back anytime soon. Sad.
Batman and Hush race to find the former Clayfaces and unravel the mystery of the shapechangers! Just when Hush thought he had control over this new Clayface, he's proven wrong. Dead wrong! And when is one Clayface too many?
On sale Oct 19 o 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US
Written by Grant Morrison; Art and cover by Dave McKeanI'm embarassed to admit I've never read this, but I will be rectifying that in October! Maybe it'll be the Morrison story that finally wins me over?
In celebration of the 16th anniversary of the critically acclaimed Batman story that helped launch the U.S. careers of Grant Morrison and Dave McKean, DC Comics is proud to present a softcover edition of the ARKHAM ASYLUM ANNIVERSARY EDITION, reprinting the now-classic confrontation between the Dark Knight and his archnemeses the Joker, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, and more in the black heart of Gotham City's house for the criminally insane.
On sale October 5 o 212 pg, FC, $17.99 US o MATURE READERS
Written by Andersen Gabrych; Art by Pop Mhan & Jesse Delperdang; Cover by Tim SaleMy favorite Bat-book not called Gotham Central, I'm really liking what Gabrych's been doing here. But yet another Mr. Freeze appearance? WTF?!!?
Don't miss the debut of new penciller Pop Mhan (ROBIN) and cover artist Tim Sale (BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN)! Encased in ice by Mr. Freeze and held hostage by Nyssa, Batgirl is offered a choice: regain her destiny with the legendary League of Assassins or die a slow, frozen death!
On sale Oct 19 o 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US
Written by Judd Winick; Art by Doug Mahnke, Tom Nguyen and others; Cover by Matt WagnerYeah, right! F' you, Winick. Lazy hack. Not even for free!
Shocking revelations and age-old foes make this new collection - featuring BATMAN #635-641 - a must-have! Batman is confronted with a hidden face from the past - it's the return of the Red Hood! With Black Mask controlling the Gotham underworld, what role will Red Hood have when all is said and done?
On sale Oct 26 o 176 pg, FC, $9.99 US
Written by Greg Rucka & Ed Brubaker; Art by Kano & Stefano Gaudiano; Cover by Sean PhillipsI'm just happy to NOT see "Final Issue" in the solicitation text! Why aren't more people reading this series? Idiot fanboys. You deserve your House of Infinite Constipation crossovers!
The conclusion of the "Dead Robin" storyline! The cops have a dead kid in a Robin outfit, and the evidence is pointing inescapably toward Batman. But how can they catch the Dark Knight? Plus, the leak within the GCPD is revealed!
On sale Oct 5 o 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US
Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Phil Jimenez & Andy Lanning; Covers by Jim Lee & Sandra Hope and George PérezUgh! Speaking of "idiot fanboys," guess who'll be buying this despite avoiding all of the lead-in minis? Yeah. I suck.
On sale October 12 o 1 of 7 o 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by Scott Beatty; Art by Keron Grant; Cover by Ed McGuinnessMy issues with the art aside, this is a fun comic book! I mean, Monkey-in-the-Middle and Dino-Mite? How you can pass this stuff up and then look yourself in the mirror as you bag and board your copies of House of Infinite Constipation? C'mon y'all!
Featuring a cover by Ed McGuinness (Superman/Batman)! With the evil Witchazel, Monkey-in-the-Middle, and Dino-Mite hot on his heels, things are looking pretty bad for Mikey Devanté - especially since the Coalition of Crime thinks he really is the son of Vulcan!
On sale Oct 5 o 5 of 6 o 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Carlos D'Anda & Marlo Alquiza; Cover by Tony S. Daniel & AlquizaPhew! Glad I'm dropping this one when Liefeld comes onboard. I refuse to endorse this Red Hood nonsense in any way, shape or form. F' you, Johns, for playing along with that lazy hack Winick! (I should add here that Juniper Lee is actually pretty decent, though Danny Phantom is way better!)
The Red Hood pays the Titans a visit to claim his rightful place…over Robin's dead body! And what does Donna Troy's return mean for the team?
On sale October 19 o 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US
I enjoyed Dark Age #1, so I may pick this up, or one of the previous TPBs, out of curiosity.
Written by Kurt Busiek; Art by Brent Anderson; Cover by Alex Ross
The fifth volume in the ASTRO CITY collection includes ASTRO CITY VOL. 2 #21-22, ASTRO CITY: LOCAL HEROES #1-5 and the ASTRO CITY special, plus the the short story from DC's SEPTEMBER 11th VOL. 2 and the promotional story done to announce the LOCAL HEROES miniseries! This softcover edition features a new painted cover by Alex Ross!
On sale Oct 12 o 256 pg, FC, $17.99 US
Written by Brian Azzarello; Art and cover by Marcelo FrusinThis actually sounded really interesting at the Vertigo panel in Philadelphia last month, so I may check it out.
Wes Cutter is a wanted man running from a violent past - the horrors of the Civil War, a brutal stint in a Union prison camp, and the savage fallout of Reconstruction. Now he's on a quest for the one thing in short supply: peace. Joining Wes is his beautiful wife Ruth, a woman who has been to hell and back herself - and hides dark secrets of her own. The road they travel will be a bloody one, leaving a trail of bodies stretching from Missouri to the Pacific Ocean. This is a tale only Azzarello - the mind behind some of the hardest-hitting comics of the last decade - could tell.
On sale October 26 o 40 pg, FC, $2.99 US o MATURE READERS o Edited by Will Dennis
Written by Andy Diggle; Art and cover by JockSounds like it's finally coming to an end. I'm really going to miss this book. *sigh*
Part 1 of "Endgame." It's all been building to this: With New Jerusalem behind him, Max lays it all on the line - his plans, his origins, and the stakes, which are nothing short of global. Now it's Max vs. the Losers with the world hanging in the balance, and the Losers will have to play every card in their hand to win.
On sale Oct 26 o 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US o MATURE READERS
6. The Avengers were Earth's Mightiest Heroes, a status they achieved because they don't give up no matter the odds. Please explain why Captain America handed over the body of his friend to a mutant terrorist who had attacked New York City in the not recent past and who was thought to be dead. If, as has been claimed in some online interviews, Magneto snatched her body too quickly for him to react (despite the art showing Cap handing the body over), why didn't the Avengers take a day to recoup and then try to find and rescue her?*sigh*
He handed a daughter to his father. Or did he?
Written by KEITH GIFFEN; Pencils and Cover by EDU FRANCISCOMARVEL MONSTERS: FIN FANG FOUR
When the supernatural proves too difficult and dangerous for SHIELD, Nick Fury fights fire with fire! Introducing the top secret weapon in the battle against other worldly threats, the HOWLING COMMANDOS, a special covert “shock and awe” unit made up of Marvel’s greatest horror characters. Join Warwolf, the Living Mummy, Frankenstein, the Zombie, Vampire by Night and a whole army of the macabre in this fantastic first issue! This series will have far reaching ramifications in the Marvel Universe!
32 PGS/T+ SUGGESTED FOR TEENS AND UP ...$2.99
Written by ROGER LANGRIDGE & MICK GRAY; Penciled by ROGER LANGRIDGE; Cover by ERIC POWELLTwo of my favorite recent mini-series get sequels:
Four giant monsters—incarcerated for years for their crimes against humanity—now find themselves shrunk to human size and working at the home of the very people who captured them: the Fantastic Four! Meet Googam, Son of Goom (and the Baxter Building’s parking lot attendant), Elektro (the robot with a forbidden love), Gorgilla (expert window-washer) and Fin Fang Foom (head chef at a classy Chinese restaurant)! But when Goom’s mad plan to rescue his father goes awry, the quartet must put aside their differences and become—the Fin Fang Four! Join Eisner and Harvey Award nominee Roger Langridge (Fred the Clown, Knuckles the Malevolent Nun) in this wild romp through the Marvel Universe! Plus: Witness the first appearance of Fin Fang Foom in a classic story by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers from Strange Tales #89, October 1961!
48 PGS./T+ SUGGESTED FOR TEENS AND UP ...$3.99
Written by RICHARD K. MORGAN; Layouts by SEAN PHILLIPS; Finishes & Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZX-MEN AND POWER PACK #1 (of 4)
32 PGS./ PARENTAL ADVISORY ...$2.99
Written by MARC SUMERAK; Pencils and Cover by GURIHIRUThought this one was interesting, considering how I feel the X-Men: Reloaded stunt crippled the book. An unexpected acknowledgement of that, and an apologetic tip of the hat to Weir and DeFilippis, perhaps?
32 PGS./ALL AGES ...$2.99
Written by CHRISTINA WEIR & NUNZIO DEFILIPPIS; Penciled by GEORGES JEANTY; Cover by AARON LOPRESTIWhich ones are you looking forward to?
The New Mutants are at their absolute lowest. Will the kids be able to work out their problems and become a team again?! A special issue celebrating the run on New X-Men by writers Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir! Featuring Handbook-style entries on all your favorite New Mutants and Hellions characters!
48 PGS./T+ SUGGESTED FOR TEENS AND UP ...$3.99
Jim Aparo is one of the first artists I have a distinct memory of from my earliest days of collecting comics, and his version of Batman remains to this day one of my favorites. He was one of the first artists whose styles I could recognize at first glance and who could get me to pick up a comic book I normally wouldn't, including Aquaman!
Batman Begins got off on the right foot from the start by signing its director, Chris Nolan. The film was the beneficiary of a lot of buzz before its release, followed by positive reviews from critics and fanboys alike. Warner Bros. has had everything fall into place to make this film the critical and box office success that it is. I have no hesitation in saying that Nolan and the studio have succeeded in making the greatest super hero film of all time. The latest figures show that Batman Begins has earned $174 million domestically since its release 28 days ago.
Fantastic Four, however, is the polar opposite. This movie was DOOMED (I couldn't resist) to fail. Tim Story...who the &*#@ is Tim Story?!? Don't get me wrong, Barber Shop was good, but name another movie he directed...
Now lets apply standard box office math. With a customary 50% 2nd week box office drop-off ($28 million), FF will have have earned back roughly 80% of its budget domestically. I don’t think this is going to happen, though. My guess is FF will struggle to earn $20 million this coming week. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was less. All the mixed reviews will finally catch up with it and pinch sales.
Debbie Huey's Bumperboy!
