WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best of the past week: American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #5 – This issue really hit all the right notes.  It was scary (or at least appropriately creepy), well written, featured wonderful art and added something to the ongoing American Vampire story.  Whenever this is released in hardcover, it’ll make a great read even for non-AV readers.

Most anticipated this week: When you’ve almost completely disowned the Big 2, it makes for some light weeks.  But, while I’m trying to finish The Twelve this week, here are some of the comics I’m looking forward to.

1). The Unwritten #42 – There’s nothing that isn’t quality about this wonderful series from Vertigo.  This issue starts a new story arc as Tom Taylor ventures into the land of the dead in an attempt to rescue a friend.  I can’t wait to see what inventive stuff the creators come up with.  I mean, if a character can be plucked out of a novel (the words become flesh) what does that mean when such a character is dissolved into words.  Do they vanish?  Do they go back to the character they were before?  Are they some amalgam of their prior self PLUS whatever experiences they accrued in the real world?

2). Mind Mgmt #6 – We’re getting some early answers in this mind-twisting series.  I don’t really want to spoil things in a mere preview for the issue, but this comic is doing an very interesting job of examining some of the reality altering powers that started to drive Dr. Manhattan nuts in Watchmen.

3). Fables #122 – As much as I love Vertigo ongoings, I’ve never been able to stick with Fables.  BUT supposedly, Fables and The Unwritten are crossing over soon, so it would probably be worthwhile to check out the current status quo of the Fables universe.  Who knows?  Maybe this will be the time I get hooked?

4). Amazing Spider-Man #696 – I’m enjoying the build-up to issue #700 when something BIG will obviously happen.  I don’t think I have any interest in reading this new Superior Spider-Man from Marvel NOW! (despite some kick-ass artistic talent: Stegman AND Ramos!), but I could be convinced otherwise.

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Alex’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: Hawkeye #3 – Not even close.  There is no other comic like this on the stands and Fraction and Aja are putting out a superhero book that is quick, witty, action-packed, and a whole new kind of superhero comic altogether.  If you’re reading Marvel comics and you’re not picking this up, you really need to rectify that.

Most Anticipated:  Invincible Iron Man #527 – There are a lot of farewells to lengthy runs this week, but this one takes the cake for me.  While I know others feel strongly otherwise, this is my favourite Iron Man run and really the definitive Iron Man for the 21st century.  I’ve loved this series throughout, and while there was a period around Fear Itself where the series dragged a bit, it’s ended up closing the show just as strongly as it opened it.  I loved Fraction’s take on Tony and friends and will miss this run/series tremendously, particularly given that I’ve been reviewing it for years, having done my first review of it not long after starting here at WCBR.

Punisher: War Zone #1 – And so Greg Rucka’s swansong on the Punisher begins, a book that was criminally under-appreciated by the marketplace.  This was a fantastic book and given how intimate and “small” it was, I’m curious to see how Rucka tackles a big, Avengers slugfest story with this series.

FF #23 – Another farewell to a lengthy run that will go down as one of the best in the franchise’s history.  Much like Fraction’s Iron Man, this will be a tearful farewell for me.  Hickman got me back into Marvel’s First Family and now I can’t imagine ever leaving them.  And Hickman’s leaving with a Franklin issue?  Sounds good to me.

Captain America #19 – Yet ANOTHER final issue for a long (8 year!), character-defining run.  While I’ve been pretty up-front in saying that I think Brubaker’s run out of gas and has been mailing it in lately, with original artistic pal Steve Epting on board and just one more issue, I think Brubaker can conjure some of the old magic just to say goodbye in this one issue.  And hey, no more Cullen Bunn co-writing; that should be a good sign that I’m right (particularly given how awful the last co-written arc was).

Journey into Mystery #645 – Yup, it’s another final issue.  All I can say is thank goodness Gillen is writing a Kid Loki-led Young Avengers, or I’d be inconsolably sad about the ending of this series.  This has truly been among the very best Marvel comics of the last decade, a ripping fantasy yarn with great character-work throughout.  Young Avengers or not, I’ll miss this one.

Hawkeye #3 – Review

by Matt Fraction (writer), David Aja (artist), Matt Hollingsworth (colorist), and Chris Eliopoulos (letterer)

The Story:  Clint decides it’s time to label his arrows and goes out to buy some tape.  Not only is the store out of tape, but he meets a woman with an awesome car, buys said car, and ends up in a wild car chase through town as Eastern European “bros” with fully automatic weapons try their best to make him and his new friend dead.  Just another day in the life of Clint Barton.

The Review:  Lots of new series put out a fantastic first issue and then gradually slide into routine, descending into a more mediocre level of quality.  Three issues in now and Hawkeye is as much of a revelation as the very first issue.  Much as was the case with the second issue, this issue is just as good as the first and may very well be better.  Regardless, it’s remarkable that Fraction and Aja have kept the level of quality so ridiculously high, particularly given that once again, this is a done-in-one story.  Put simply, this comic is pure craftsmanship by two masters of the medium.

With respect to Fraction’s script, the characterization absolutely sparkles.  Clint is the lovable rogue, flying by the seat of his pants, and it’s impossible not to love him.  He’s the classic character who can’t help but stumble into trouble no matter, even when going about the most mundane activities.  Fraction’s Barton is just so damned likable and, frankly, if Clint were always written like this, I don’t think you’d ever hear ANYONE talk about his being boring.  Moreover, Kate Bishop is a fantastic asset for this series.  Her back-and-forth dynamic with Clint is absolute gold and had me laughing and smiling throughout the issue.  The two have an incredible chemistry and their dialogue is one of dueling wits and light-hearted ribbing.  Their dynamic really sets the tone for this issue: fun.

On a more technical level, I also loved the care that Fraction took in structuring this issue.  Through being so meticulous, he gets so much done in one issue, telling a complete story, with a seeming passing remark about a boomerang arrow at the very start of the issue becoming crucial to its ending…coming back like, well, a boomerang.  Fraction also jumps back and forth in time in a manner that is effortless and, surprisingly, never jarring or confusing.  He mostly manages this through structuring the issue around Clint narrating a list of stupid things he’s done in one day.  It only emphasizes Clint’s bumbling rogue nature while also serving to keep this beast of an issue on the rails, keeping it a tight, narrative machine.

As for Aja’s art, what can be said?  It’s wonderfully evocative of the seventies action tone that Fraction wants.  Aja’s action scenes are incredible, his layouts, particularly his use of small panels to relay details of the overall action, is genius and, much like Fraction’s script, there’s a constant wink and nod sense of humour to his work.  Like Fraction’s script, Aja’s work is geared towards creating a fun comic that keeps you smiling throughout.  Also, the fact that he gets to draw an extended car chase is awesome: Aja’s action always rules and this car chase will have you on the edge of your seat throughout the issue.  Also: trick arrows.  Both Aja and Fraction manage to use a huge barrage of these to emphasize just how ludicrous an archer character can be…while also making it creative and badass.

WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best of the past week: Punk Rock Jesus #4 – There were some other good comics last week.  Batman #13 was outstanding, but when two comics have equal measures of writing and art, my first tie-breaker is, “Which had the higher degree of difficulty?”  Not only is the story of PRJ engaging and fun and not only is the art superb, but Sean Murphy is actually making some biting commentary on religion.  Have you ever been around a person complaining about religion and religious people?  Even if you agree with them, they usually sound like hateful boors.  The point is: Murphy is doing an excellent job of tackling touchy subject matter without coming off as nasty.

Most anticipated this week: 1). The Walking Dead #103 – Even though last issue had some weird moments (Rick & Jesus suddenly being secret plan buddies?), this comic compels me to read unlike anything else on the market.  Every Wednesday that TWD comes out, at lunchtime I actually walk across the office suite to where the Wi-Fi is better and download this to my iPad.  Heck….sometimes I actually check at 9:00 in the morning to see if the Image app has updated (it never has).  Very few comics ever rise to that “read at work” level of importance for even a single issue, but TWD does it every month.

2). American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #5 – This spin-off miniseries has been outstanding, but it takes on added importance with the news that the main AV series will be going on hiatus so that Snyder and Albuquerque can work on “other projects at DC”.  Sigh…..even if these guys are doing Justice League, it isn’t a replacement for AV.  Anyway, with that hiatus news, each installment of AV becomes a little more precious because you never know how a hiatus will go.

3). The Sixth Gun #26 – As I mentioned last month, this has been another outstanding series that I was able to catch-up on through a sale on Comixology.  It’s great.  I can’t wait to see how Drake and Becky escape this snowbound mess they are in.

4). Chew #29 – Ha….it’s another series that I caught up on via a Comixology sale.  Chew is outstanding.  There isn’t a funnier comic on my pull list.  Even my non-comic friends kinda like the jokes and the wonderously inventive food-based superpowers that the creators devise.

5). Saucer Country #8 – Wow.  Has it already been 8 months since this and those other Vertigo series debuted (New Deadwardians & the dreadful Dominique Laveau were the others)?  I really enjoy Saucer Country.  It isn’t the best comic on the stands or anything like that, but I could see it being kinda like DMZ where it is very strong for a long time.  Plus, who doesn’t like reading about alien conspiracies?

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Alex’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week:  Batman #13 – Seriously, holy shit.  This was one HELL of a way to write the Joker and Snyder and Capullo are firing on all cylinders.  With one issue, they’ve outdone everything they’ve done prior, which says a lot, given how good their Court of Owls stuff was.  If you thought Snyder’s Batman was good, you haven’t seen anything yet.

Most Anticipated:  Hawkeye #3 – With Journey into Mystery and Uncanny X-Force winding to their conclusions, Hawkeye is fast arising to its spots as my favourite Marvel book.  This really is unlike any Marvel book out there with Fraction and Aja making the most out of the medium.  If you aren’t reading this, but you are picking up other Marvel Comics, you’re doing it wrong.

Wonder Woman #13 – Azzarello’s Wonder Woman is basically always going to be on this list given that it’s probably in my top 3 as far as DC’s new 52 goes.  However, after that epic, out of nowhere New Gods cliffhanger in #12?  You bet your ass I’ll be grabbing this one.

Mighty Thor #21 – Well, it took right up to the very last arc, but with Everything Burns, I can finally say that Fraction’s Thor is actually really good.  This crossover has been all kinds of high fantasy awesome and I’m excited to see how Fraction and Gillen wind it all up.  Alan Davis’ art doesn’t exactly hurt either.

Daredevil #19 – It’s Mark Waid and Chris Samnee on yet another issue of my favourite superhero.  Daredevil is, generally, remarkably consistent in its high level of quality and Samnee’s art really has been a perfect fit for the book.

Justice League #13 – Yeah, I was hesitant to include this one.  However, I really liked the Shazam zero issue and I’ve found that Johns’ Justice League, while still not the greatest book in the world, improved drastically in its second arc.  While this is just the first issue of a two-parter, and not another long arc, I’m interested to see if that upward momentum continues.  I’ve also quite enjoyed Tony Daniels’ art since the relaunch and I’m rather interested to see what Daniels’ art looks like when inked by Richard Friend.