WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Picks

Best of the past week: American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #4 – It’s a testament to the quality of the creative team that this issue is “pick of the week”.  The main AV series is up to issue #30 and this is issue 4 out of 5 of a spin off miniseries.  If any issue could be forgiven for being “transitional”, it would be this issue.  However, writer Snyder and artist Nguyen give us a great tale that establishes a powerful vampire behind the Iron Curtain.  From there he can influence the hearts and minds of humans and vampires around the world.   Given that this story takes place in the 1950s this is clearly about communism and the Red Scare that swept the United States during that period.  Watching Snyder weave vampires into the history of our country is fascinating.

Most anticipated this week: Wow….light week!  This is the first week since I got back into comics as an adult where I have no Marvel OR DC titles on my pull list.

1). The Walking Dead #102 – Even when this series has lapses in quality (as it did in the ~#90-#95 range), it never ceases to be a page turner.  It may seems like Rick and gang have moved on pretty fast from the nasty events of issue #100, but I still want to know what happens next.  I love these characters so much….

2). The Unwritten #41 – I’m still having a hard time wrapping my mind around this most recent story arc.  The story has suddenly gotten pretty deep and that’s made it a little more challenging for the short-attention-span segment of the audience to keep up.  But what makes this series special is that it is trying to be great.  Many series are just trying to tell an entertaining story and there are some that aspire to be “memorable”, but not many current ongoing series are actually wrestling with the complex issues of The Unwritten.  Even when I don’t “get it”, I know there is a LOT waiting for me on the reread.  This issue promises to fill in some of the blanks of the “missing year” after the War of the Words.

3). Elephantmen #43 – One of the more enjoyable couples in comics (for me) is that of Sahara and Obadiah Horn.  She’s the beautiful and gentle aid worker who helped to rescue the elephantmen from servitude under the MAPPO Corporation and he’s the hulking, rhino-based hybrid who has become a ruthless businessman/crime boss.  Watching the complexities of their relationship as they deal with each other and the prejudices of the outside world is always interesting.

4). Fatima: The Blood Spinners #4 – The finale to this comic by Gilbert Hernandez sees Fatima and her companions trapped in the future and trying to save the world.  It isn’t as good as Love and Rockets, but it is still pretty awesome and these four issues have been a wonderful intro to Gilbert’s work if you’ve been curious, but found L&R intimidating (which it isn’t….)

– Dean Stell

Previews – May 2012

Maybe we’ll start this as a new feature?  I’ll flip through Previews, tell you what I think is worthwhile and you can tell me I’m a moron.  Sound like fun?

DARK HORSE

– Axe Cop: President of the World #1 – At some point, this odd comic that is written by 8 year old Malachai Nicolle and illustrated by his brother, 31 year old Ethan, will lose it’s magic.  Someday Malachai will probably “grow up” too much or become too self-aware, but until that happens we should enjoy the ride.  Here’s a link to my review of last Spring’s Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth #1.

– Early issues where you can hop on before it’s too late.  Fatima: The Blood Spinners #2 by Gilbert Hernandez, Mind Mgmt #3 by Matt Kindt and The Massive #2 by Brian Wood.

– Eerie Comics #1 brings back the beloved old Warren Publishing title.  It’s really hard to go wrong with a horror anthology in black and white.  Of course, don’t miss the big brother: Creepy Comics #9.