WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best of the past week: Fantastic Four #605.1 – I probably should give this to Saga #3 and can’t believe that I’m giving any honors to an issue with art by Mike Choi (because his art was very pedestrian in this issue), but Jonathan Hickman did enough to get it over the hump.  The story is basically an alternate history that shows Germany winning World War II and what a Nazi Fantastic Four would look like…..only to see that this story was really about one of the many Reed Richards from the Council of Reeds.  Very clever.

Top 5 this week:

1). The Unwritten #37 – I can’t wait to see what this story does next.  We’ve finished the “War of the Words” storyline that had all kinds of big events for the characters.  Last issue we had one of those done-in-one issues featuring that foul-mouthed bunny rabbit.  So, this issue will finally show us where the main story will go.  Lots was accomplished in the finale of “War of the Words” and I’m very curious to see if this series acts like it is going to wrap up OR if it will settle into another long story cycle.

2). Prophet #25 – If you’re looking for trippy science fiction storytelling, Prophet is the place to be.  We’ve now moved beyond our “wasteland Earth” setting of the first 3 issues into more of a space opera.  The storytelling and art have both been wonderful in this series so far.

3). Mind Mgmt #1 – Matt Kindt doing a monthly comic series?!?  Sign me up.  This is the guy who gave us the excellent OGN’s Super Spy, Revolver, and 3 Story, as well as the art on the OGN The Tooth–and did that great fill-in arc on Sweet Tooth a few months ago.  I don’t even really care what this is about.  I’m just excited to see how Kindt does with a monthly comic (much the same way I was eager to see how Jeff Lemire would do with Sweet Tooth when it launched a few years ago).

4). Elephantmen #39 – Last issue brought in a character I never thought I’d see in the contemporary Elephantmen storylines: Yvette!  And, that’s after years of seeing her character in these old flashbacks about “the war”.  Elephantmen never disappoints….it’s always interesting, the art is always pretty and the production values are unparalleled.

5). Hero Comics 2012 – An original TMNT story by Kevin Eastman?  An original Elephantmen story by Richard Starkings with art by Dave Sim?  With a J. Scott Campbell cover?  Plus, lots of other goodies from name creators and all the profits benefit the Hero Initiative?  These Hero comics are always good and the money goes to a great cause.

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Alex’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: The Manhattan Projects #3 – It was between this and Saga, but ultimately, the awesome, European, Heavy Metal style artwork totally won me over.  Top this with ridiculously kooky characters, and you have a winner.  However, what made this issue special was that Jonathan Hickman actually made the bombing of Hiroshima comedic.  Seriously.  That alone is a massive achievement.  It was certainly irreverent, which can be said about this series in general, but not at all tasteless.  Between this and that FF done-in-one with  Spidey and Johnny as room-mates, Hickman is showing himself to have a surprisingly great handle on comedy.

Picks:  First up would have to be Justice League Dark #9.  Next to Catwoman, JLD was the biggest disappointment of the new 52 for me.  I loved the concept, the characters, and the art, but the book just wasn’t clicking for me, much that  having to do with the glacial pacing.  Now Jeff Lemire, a guy on my “buy anything he writes list” is taking over.  JLD is a winning concept and Lemire should be the man for the job.

Next up would be Fantastic Four #606.  With his major story wrapped up, Hickman seems to be spending the rest of his run with done-in-ones, each with a clear creative idea.  This week takes the team to Wakanda and if the done-in-ones last month were any indication, this should be fun.

Secret Avengers #27 continues what is so far my favourite AvX tie-in.  It’s last-stand heroism, the return of Mar-Vell, cosmic adventuring/politics, double-crosses, and Renato Guedes putting out some of the best work of his career.

Batman Incorporated #1 seems like a bit of an outsider these days, as Scott Snyder has so firmly taken control of the Bat-verse.  Still, it’s Grant Morrison doing his thing, which should provide a nice counter-point to Snyder’s Batman and provide a high-quality bat-book sans owls.

Finally, while I said that Justice League Dark was among the disappointments of the new 52, The Flash has been one of the nicest surprises of the relaunch.  It’s been nothing but lush artwork and old school gleefulness from Manapul and Buccellato.  The Flash #9 sees the Flash end up in Gorilla City, which is just the sort of wacky, old school “comics” thing that this creative team seems to dig.  Better still, it’ll mean Grodd, a sentimental favourite of mine.

Saga #3 – Review

By: Brian K. Vaughan (story), Fiona Staples (art)

The Story: Perfect timing—Marko and Alana could really use some spiritual help right now.

The Review: We talk a lot about “twists” in fiction, but what are they, really?  They can’t be just surprises, because there are plenty of things that surprise you, but you wouldn’t call them twists—like when your pals throw you a birthday party three weeks before your birthday because they forgot exactly when your birthday is.  Same thing with things that shock you; you wouldn’t exactly call a disastrous car accident a twist either.

My theory: a fictional twist, particularly a good one, is when the writer upsets expectations you didn’t even know you had.  So really, the impact of the unexpected event comes not from the occurrence itself, but from a lot of purposeful groundwork beforehand.

WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Batman #9 – This wasn’t the best issue of Batman we’ve gotten from Snyder and Capullo, but still serves as evidence of their quality as creators.  Even in an off week, they’re still taking home the cheese.  It seems that not even a stupid crossover event can thwart these guys!  The story is still neat and well-written and the art is gorgeous.  Runner-up: Mystery in Space #1 (Don’t stop with these Vertigo anthologies.  I love them!  I just wish they had a more sensible naming/numbering system.)

Most anticipated this week: Saga #3 – This comic has the complete package right now: great writing, great art and – since we’re only on issue #3 – it still has that “new series smell”.  Heck, even the subject matter (space opera) is something I really enjoy.  Don’t miss!

Other Picks:

Scalped #58 – Like the top choice, this comic also features great writing and art, but rather than “new series smell” it gains extra points for being the third to last issue in the series.  I’m going to MISS Scalped when it is gone, but we’ll all enjoy whatever bloody conclusion Aaron and Guera have in store for us.  It’s too late to “jump onboard”, but you should definitely read this series if you like comic books for grown-ups.

Saucer Country #3 – I’m really enjoying the general theme of this series: female candidate for President is an alien abductee and wants to use the power of the highest office against the little gray bastards.  Neat, huh?  Combined with that interesting premise has been some very strong character work by writer Paul Cornell. After only two issues, we have a LOT of developed characters who seem like real people.  The art by Ryan Kelly has been very good and is only going to get better as it seems like he’s still figuring out working with a colorist.

The Manhattan Projects #3 – So far, this series has been Hickman at his best: wacky sci-fi ideas combined with a tinge of perversion.  This is the kind of stuff he couldn’t write at Marvel even if he felt like giving away his really good ideas.  The basic premise is that during World War II, the government has gathered a group of super-scientists to take on secret projects … of which the atomic bomb was only one.  The cool thing is how all the scientists are warped versions of their namesakes.

Dancer #1 – Honestly, I don’t recall the pitch for this comic beyond it involving assassins, but I remember that the creative team is Nathan Edmondson (who I’ve enjoyed on The Activity and Who is Jake Ellis) and Nic Klein (who I LOVED on Viking a few years ago).

AvX Vs. #2 – Why did I put this on my pull list when I knew there was a good chance of it being utter shit?????  If you’re into seeing fights that don’t end the way they really should and have equivocal pro-wrestling style endings, look no further!  I think we owe it to Marvel to make fun of this property.

 

Alex’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: Fatale #5 – Complete and utter mayhem as the Ed Brubaker/Sean Phillips pulp horror book reaches a boiling point.  Stunning twists and a redeeming, heart-rending character moment take this book to another level, as Brubaker and Phillips let us gaze upon the face of Fatale’s Lovecraftian horror.

Most Anticipated: Saga #3 –  This is the “hot” book on stands right now, and rightfully so.  In two issues, Vaughan and Staples have created a fully realized, elaborate world with compelling, sympathetic characters and lush artwork.  An absolute must-have and if it’s not on your pull-list, you might be doing this whole “comic book thing” wrong.

Other Picks:

Manhattan Projects #3 –  It’s basically Jonathan Hickman unchained, with wild, big concepts in a book that’s basically mid 20th century history on a cocktail of LSD and way too many energy drinks.  The art also reminds me of my high school days reading/watching Heavy Metal and Frank Miller’s Hard Boiled.

Avengers vs. X-Men #4 – Another sure thing for me and not only because it’s the big Marvel event.  It’s a big Marvel event that’s actually FUN and doesn’t suck.  It’s the best Marvel event in a very long time, one that’s more character-based, which makes the high stakes feel all the higher.

Invincible Iron Man #517 – This is also going to be going home with me.  Put simply, this book has been absolutely killing it lately.  Full of poignant character moments, edge of your seat action, emotion, and dramatic twists, the book has never been better than it is right now, which says a lot given that a few short years ago, it was a fully justifiable Eisner-winner.

Winter Soldier #5 – This book basically has been Brubaker doing the sort of Marvel comic that he excels at.  Inky noir meets spy-thriller Cold War shenanigans, along with possibly my favourite Marvel character of all (Dr. Doom).  A shadowy, gripping read that has a timeless quality to it in both writing and art.