WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best of the past week: Fashion Beast #10 – It was close between this and East of West #3, but in the end, it’s hard to turn down a comic that managed to weave 5-6 really compelling items into a standard-length comic.  I’m not quite sure I have all the pieces properly assembled, but I’m not sure this is a story you’re intended to 100% understand on the first reading.  If you didn’t catch this series in single issues and you like comics that make you think, make sure to catch the collected edition (or try that new digital thing…).

Most anticipated this week: Very light week on my pull list.  I DO have more than 5 titles, but don’t have much nice to say about anything below #3.

1). American Vampire: The Long Road to Hell #1 – Welcome back, old friend!  Even though Scott Snyder and Rafa Albuquerque were very clear that AV was only going on hiatus; even though they said it was only to allow Albuquerque to work ahead so they needed fewer guest artists; and even though they told us we’d have some one-shots (like this one) in the interim, it’s still really nice to actually see this issue.  It leaves a void when a great series like AV goes on vacation.

2). Batman #21 – This will be Scott Snyder’s third Batman epic.  The first two (Black Mirror and Court of Owls) are modern day classics.  Now he’s going to tell us some kinda Batman: Zero Year story over the next 11 issues.  Probability is very high that this will be special.

3). The Walking Dead #111 – Even though TWD really spun its wheels last issue, there’s always the potential for brutality around the corner.  More than any other title, TWD always has me compulsively checking my iPad to see if the new issues are available yet.

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Hugo’s Top Picks

Pick of the week: Dial H #13 – There were some seriously amazing comics this week: Winter Soldier #19, Daredevil: End of Days #8, East of West #3. However, none resonated as much as China Miéville strange story about a man with open-window powers trying to comfort a child from a chalk-based world that just lost his parents. It was touching, it was funny, it was conceptually awesome and it just showed that even the most ridiculous of characters can be treated with respect, making them automatically awesome. Open-Window Man is quickly becoming a favourite of mine and I’d be really sad to see him go after this title cancellation.

Most anticipated this week: 1) Thor: God of Thunder #9 – Three Thor, each wishing to fight against the god butcher as drawn by Esad Ribic. I have said so before, yet I have to say it once more: this is one of the best titles Marvel has currently and every issues cements that fact and I do believe this issue will be no different.

2) Manhattan Projects #12 – This title has been absolutely insane and I love it just for that. Clever ideas, interesting situations, original development and an artistic direction that I just love, it’s hard not to be excited about a new issue of this excellent series.

3) Suicide Squad #21 – The latest issue had been really good, giving us a new vibe and a much better presentation of its main cast. If issue 20 was an indicator, this series should see a sharp enhancement in quality and I really wish this issue would confirm it.

4) Six-Gun Gorilla #1 – A book about a gorilla carrying guns around in a dystopian future with a western vibe. This is a weird concept, yet it contains so many things I normally enjoy I cannot be apathetic toward it. I am honestly very curious toward this book and I sincerely hope I will enjoy it.

5) Guardians of the Galaxy #3 – This is it. The true test. It sounds a bit harsh, but after this issue, we’ll have seen the end of the first arc by Bendis and we’ll be able to see where he might want to lead this team. I have to be honest, I’m still a bit unsure about the direction and whether or not I’m excited about this title, as I just loved the Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning run that came before this one and Bendis is very, very different in tone. I seriously hope that Bendis can convince me here and give us something that is true to what these characters should be about: cosmic adventures.

Dial H #13 – Review

By: China Miéville (story), Alberto Ponticelli (pencils), Dan Green (inks), Richard & Tanya Horie (colors)

The Story: Parents really need to stop taking their kids on shortcuts through dark alleys.

The Review: Well, you can’t say DC didn’t give this series a fair shake.  While I do find it interesting that Dial H is getting canned even though it seems to perform just as well or better than, say, Batwing,* I can’t deny that for a distinctly oddball little title, it’s lasted quite a lot longer from a mainstream publisher than anyone would expect.  It’s just a shame that Dial H must end just as it’s finally reached its full potential.

Obviously, though, the title had to navigate several humps before it got to this point, and it probably couldn’t afford that kind of growing pains.  You had Nelson, a brand-new protagonist who didn’t exactly fall into the usual standard of superhero.  Dial H also seemed determined to chug along on the power of its own concept, without much help from bigger-selling guests.  And then there was Miéville’s idiosyncratic writing style, which was (at least at first) too unusual and indirect for a mainstream audience to appreciate right away.

WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best of the past week: The Wake #1 – Some weeks it is like comics gives us a big “Easy Button” when it comes to making pick-of-the-week selections.  The combination of Scott Snyder, Sean Murphy and underwater science/horror is pretty hard to resist.  I need to know what the creature does and where it comes from and why it is in this state!  Engaging story and world-class art!

Most anticipated this week: 1). East of West #3 – When the first two issues have been pick-of-the-week, it’s pretty safe to say that the third issue will be highly anticipated.  The combination of apocalypse plus alt-history (alt-Civil War to be specific) and some wonderful art make this a can’t miss.

2). Fashion Beast #10 – Seeing how unread and uncovered this excellent series has been really makes me want to get on my indie-comic high horse, but readers of this site already know that I love it and think it has featured some of the most complex and deep storytelling going on right now.  This is the finale of the series and that means the collected edition of this Alan Moore series shouldn’t be too far behind.

3). Kick Ass 3 #1 – The Kick Ass story might be a little played out, but this miniseries is supposedly the final chapter and I’m curious to see what lengths/depths Mark Millar will go to just to get a rise out of the readership.  Did you ever think that we’d ever see John “Mr. Marvel” Romita, Jr. drawing so many depraved things?  Most of the things that happen in Kick Ass would be off-panel in a Spidey comic.

4). Rachel Rising #17 – This series is kinda going through a “middle-act lull” right now.  We’ve gotten the basic shape of the story and characters out of the way, but we really haven’t begun a march toward the climax–yet.  Even if we have another month of slowness, it’s still nice to look at Terry Moore’s artwork.  The guy draws women soooooooo wonderfully.

5). All-New X-Men #12 – When I was a kid, I was a huge X-Men fan.  My first issue off the spinner rack was Uncanny #162, so it was right in the heart of the classic Claremont era.  When I got back into comics as an adult, I immediately wanted to see what the X-Men were up to.  Unfortunately, this was during the mid-400’s of Uncanny and the comics pretty much sucked.  I mostly blamed the failure on the fact that there were “too many X-titles” and groused about that for years.  But, now, we’ve got about all those titles and most of them are really good.  I don’t know if they’re as good as the classic stuff: different comics for different eras.  But, I haven’t been sorry I paid money for All New X-Men yet.

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Hugo’s Top Picks

Pick of the week: Transformers: More Than Meets The Eyes #17 – There were some good titles this week, but none that personally satisfied me as much as the continuing adventures of those changing robots. With their continuous adventures and the genuine development that they receive each month, I’m always surprised by how much I’m enjoying this title. If this first issue is any indicator, the title will continue its run of excellence as a new arc begins.

Most anticipated this week: 1) East of West #3 – This apocalyptic sci-fi western that seems to be going in an almost political tone filled with mystery is just too tantalizing for words. I have no idea where this series is going, yet the superb artwork of Nick Dragotta coupled with the various revelations given to us by Hickman in the last two issues have made me very eager to see each and every issue being released each month.

2) Daredevil: End of Days #8 – This is it. It’s the final issue where everything will be revealed as we see just what ‘’Mapone’’ means along with the other mysteries imagined in the future vision of Bendis for the Daredevil corner of the Marvel universe. With the pacing, the angle and the art always being top-notch, I am both curious and sad to see the end of this superb series.

3) Dial H #13 – While the news of this title’s cancellation was a hard pill to swallow, I will not abandon such a unique and creative title, especially since the concepts introduced are so captivating. How will Nelson react to the fact that there is a whole team with dials? How did they just find theirs? With a plot as compelling as this, I will stay onboard until the bitter end.

4) Winter Soldier #19 – Another final issue, this one starring one of the better reworked character from the past ten years. While I’m not sure if the story will be able to top the latest issue in its conclusion, I am confident in the fact that Nic Klein will be able to do what he does best: surprise me. His art has been the best part of this title and I do hope that he’ll do some of his best work here.

5) Green Lantern #21 – This is more curiosity than anything on my part, as I do not know if Robert Venditti will reach the same height that Geoff Johns once did with his tenure on the title. Still, with Billy Tan on art and a whole new direction with Hal Jordan and the corps, I do hope that I’ll be pleasantly surprised.