Anthologies, Shakespearean heroes, and a joke DC is trying to turn into a real hero are the three books we’re most looking forward to this week.
Vibe #1
Vibe was a joke, and for excellent reason. When he was introduced, he was largely a symbol of how out of touch and clueless DC editorial was about the people they were trying to reach. George Perez infamously hated him so much, he deliberately only drew his legs as he fell off the edge of the panel in JLA/Avengers.
So DC deciding to not just bring Vibe back, but give him his own monthly series, feature him in Justice League, and put him on a team book, Justice League of America is… gutsy, certainly. But we trust Geoff Johns, and if nothing else, DC is substantially more racially sensitive than it was nearly thirty years ago.
DC has sent us an issue, which we’ll read shortly, and we’ll have a review posted tomorrow in the Pull List.
Kill Shakespeare: Tide Of Blood #1
The basic idea of this book is that Romeo, Juliet, Hamlet and Othello team up to go around bumping off classic Shakespearean antagonists like Richard III and pursuing a wizard exerting control over their lives. One guess who that is.
It’s essentially Classics Illustrated gone hilariously, horribly wrong. It’s also crammed full of little gags and riffs on Shakespeare while being a fairly action-heavy book, so regardless of how literary you are, you can enjoy it.
Now Conor McCreery and Andy Berlanger are back, and this time, the team is after Prospero. Heh, sold.
Dark Horse Presents #21
This book consistently earns its eight dollar price (of note, it’s eighty pages, so it’s not like you don’t get value for your money), and this month looks to be no exception. Michael Avon Oeming has more Victories, Alabaster from Caitlin R. Kiernan continues, Neil Gaiman and Paul Chadwick team up on a story called The Day The Saucers Came… we always look forward to this one, and this is no exception.
What’s the one book you’re looking forward to this week? Take a look at the full list and let us know.
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How have I never heard of Vibe before this moment? He looks vaguely like some of the over-stylized art of Starlord during the Annihilation storylines.
Meanwhile, I’m down for Wonder Woman #17, Hellraiser Darkwatch #1, Cap, Thor, Hulk, Savage Wolvie… Nova #1? I was not aware. Maybe that.
Odd looking JLA lineup. I might try issue #1 to see what on Earth DC is doing.
I can’t comment yet, but check in tomorrow.
Only Justice League #17 for me, see how this Throne of Atlantis arc ends up.
I have that for review also; it’ll be on the Pull List column.
Meh, if DC wants another active Latin Superhero, at least they didn’t try to revive Extraño.
Looking forward to Justice League, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Red Hood.
I may have to go Red Hood or Nightwing just to spend more money
OH SNAAAAP the Crossed 2013 Annual comes out tomorrow, by Spurrier! jolly day!
How come I am the only one here who reads Crossed? it’s amazing.
JLA… jesus that’s a lot of covers.
Image – another great Image week. Morrison’s HAPPY finishes up, Thief Of Thieves, SAGA, Revival. good stuff.
crossed, eh, mayhaps the annual is a good time for me to start, eh?
nothing about the first volume of Crossed is “eh.” seriously. it’s probably some of the best comics writing (and illustration bc Jacen Burrows is brilliant) I’ve ever read, ever… and I’m a fiend. it’s that fucking good. everything since Garth Ennis’ Crossed Vol 1 has been here and there, some good and some not so much, but all of the Ennis and Spurrier written material is fucking gold. Which is part of the reason why I’m so excited about the Annual, bc Spurrier did it. and it’s also telling the backstory of an extremely interesting character from Spurrier’s Crossed webcomic, Crossed: Wish You Were Here (crossedcomic.com).
They’ve actually been saying how part of the reason for the Annual issue was to be a ‘perfect jumping on point for new readers’ so sure, I guess. although if you really want to experience the genius that is Crossed from the beginning, I would highly, highly recommend picking up Ennis’ Crossed Vol 1. I can’t express enough how good of a book it really, really is. Am I expressing it enough? LOL. seriously though buy it.
It has entered my list. I’m a pretty new comic reader (well this time around, I read a lot in the early 90s, but was lapsed for nearly 20 years). I’m really liking everything of Spurrier that I’ve read. X-Men Legacy has been one of my joys.
awesome! which has entered your list, the Annual or Vol 1?
also, awesome that you’re a new comic reader too! I did the same as you – I was big into comics when I was in my teens, pre-teens and all that, I steadily starting getting back into it in 2003-2004 and in the past year or so I’ve been full speed ahead. got a subscription box at my old local comic store, filling out order forms from PREVIEWS every month, and everything. so, welcome back. you won’t regret it. Dan Seitz makes some great recommendations, as do I.. haha.
lastly, I usually never do this but I feel the need to in this instance; be aware that the CROSSED Series is probably the most graphic shit you’ll ever read. if we’re talking in movie terms, Crossed wouldn’t even be R-Rated, it would be NC-17. it’s partly due to the storyline and subject matter (the Crossed virus is decidedly NOT a virus whereby getting infected makes you want to knit sweaters and engage in effective gardening techniques), but you’re talking about gore like you’ve never experienced before, rape, murder, you name it. it’s explicit and although Burrows illustrates all of it brilliantly, they pull no punches. I can see some people who are faint of heart getting a bit affected by it.
Word.
I’m probably going to pick up the Annual first b/c of Spurrier and then see where I’m at after that. I’m a mail order guy for some of my comics, which was a mistake I made because I didn’t have a good relationship with my local shop. (The guy who works the after work shift is overly stand-offish.) Since then I’ve been going during my lunch break at work, which was a better choice and have set up a nice report with the guys. So I’ll probably set up a pull box on a wednesday that isn’t so fucking busy…
I’m fine with graphic nature stuff. I just want to make sure I mix it up with lighter stuff, lest my wife think I’ve lost my damn mind.
awesome.
my only other suggestion then, especially if you like Spurrier so much (like Dan and I do) would be to check out his entire Crossed: Wish You Were Here storyline, which is 100% free and can be found over at http://www.crossedcomic.com
it’s FREE! and awesome! start from the beginning and enjoy. plus the Annual tells the backstory of a character named Jackson who turns up in WYWH randomly about halfway through. exceptionally entertaining stuff.
I’m excited for Happy to finish up, bummed it took this long for a christmas themed story, but you know. It’s about time for me to catch up on the Thief of Thieves.
I’m gonna give JLA and Vibe at least a browse.
I’m most excited this week, however for Black Beetle #2, and Thor #5.
Finally, Morbius #1 wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, in fact I found it rather enjoyable. I’m gonna give it a second shot, as well as Nova #1. I loved Richard Ryder, I’m a little apprehensive about the new Nova, but it gets a shot.
Black Beetle, Justice League, and Wonder Woman
And maybe Dark Horse Presents if I like what I see after flipping through the pages.