Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: American Vampire #15 – Wowie!  What a strong week for comics: AV #15, Detective #877, Butcher Baker #3, Walking Dead #85, Astonishing Spider-Man/Wolverine #6….  When there is a murderer’s row of comics like that, I tend to break the tie by which comic was the most memorable and this week is was AV #15.  This series is showing NO signs of letting up and there is no excuse to not be reading this excellent series that hasn’t had a single grade lower than B+ during it’s run.  Snyder’s script of U.S. Marine/Vampire Hunters on a Japanese held island during WWII coming into contact with some funky and feral vampires really gives Rafael Albuquerque a chance to show off.  Wow.  Runner-up: Butcher Baker #3

Most Anticipated: Criminal: Last of the Innocent #1 – A LOT of anticipated books this week, so I’m going to go with one that is least likely to let me down.  I don’t think I’ve ever read a poor issue of Criminal.  Even when the story isn’t grabbing me, it is always noirish as hell and has great art by the Sean Phillips/Val Staples team.  Comics would be better (and taken more seriously by other adults )if we had fewer Batman, X-Men and Flashpoint titles and more comics like Criminal.

Other Picks: 50 Girls 50 #1, Haunt #16, Turf #5, Fear Itself #3, SHIELD #1, Who is Jake Ellis #4, Thunderbolts #158

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Mighty Thor #2 – Everything really just came together this week for Matt Fraction’s Thor.  Tone-wise and character-wise everything was in place and I felt that we were now getting a Thor book that not only more forged ahead than rode JMS’ coat-tails, but also one that I could see continuing for years to come.  That alone is praise enough, but when you factor in Olivier Coipel’s fantastic art and my love of Thor, well, this is an easy choice for me.

Most Anticipated: Fear Itself #3 – It was neck and neck between Fear Itself and the first issue of the new Criminal.  Yeah, I know, the two books couldn’t be any more different. But I went with Fear Itself (*boo* *hiss*, I know) because, much like Flashpoint, it’s an event that’s succeeded in making me excited and wanting to read more.  Granted, that’s for entirely different reasons than Flashpoint.  For Fear Itself, it’s because this looks like an event that actually puts story first, and not status quo changing events or stuffing as many characters and as much flashy action on the page as possible.  So yeah, with Fraction’s promising a major event/twist in the story with every issue, I’m really curious to see what he’s got coming up this Wednesday. But wait….Flashpoint #2 is coming out as well?  Well…um….I’ll go with Fear Itself because….I’m the one reviewing it?

Other Picks: Criminal: Last of the Innocent #1,  Flashpoint #2, Secret Six #34, Amazing Spider-Man #663, Moon Knight #2, SHIELD #1, Uncanny X-Force #11, Sweet Tooth #22

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Kirby Genesis #0 – The third installment of Carbon Grey was a strong contender, with a wild story and great art, but there was an irrepressible exuberance to Kirby Genesis #0 that really felt like I was watching something great being revealed. Kirby’s bursting creativity has been gone for a long time, but his inheritors are giving his works life again.

Most Anticipated: X-Men #12 – This is the second installment of the Evolutionaries story that began in Giant-Size X-Men #1 and left us on a cliff-hanger as Scott remembered an encounter with these genetic shepherds way in the past of the original X-Men. I’m eager to see where Yost is taking this high-concept piece and loving the art.

Other Picks: Criminal: Astonishing X-Men #39, Dark Tower: The Gunslinger – The Battle of Tull #1, Ozma of Oz #7, Uncanny X-Force #11, X-23 #11

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Pick of the Week: Blackest Night #8 – Just freakin’ awesome! Johns sewed up a tight, cosmic plot in a way that satisfied me intellectually, while delivering some heavy emotional punches! My first epic rating ever!

Most Anticipated: Batman and Robin #11 – Batman versus Robin! What else have you got to say to a Grant Morrison title?

Other Top Picks: Red Robin #11, JSA All-Stars #5, The Flash: Secret Files and Origins #1, Uncanny X-Men #523.

Joe’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: X-Men: Second Coming #1 – It was a close race between this and Blackest Night #8, but Kyle, Yost and Finch pull ahead based on energy alone.  While BN #8 seemed a bit too preoccupied with launching Brightest Day and not enough with finishing Blackest Night, this issue hit all the right beats to make me ravenous for more.

Most Anticipated: Uncanny X-Men #523 – I’m trying really hard not to be a total x-whore here, but I just can’t help it!  I’m eager to find out what happens next in this storyline and this is the place to go!  I only hope the momentum lasts.

Other Picks: S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, Flash Secret Files 2010, Red Robin #11, Demo #3, Avengers The Origin #1, Deadpool & Cable #25, Wolverine Weapon X #12, Turf #1

Alex’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: Unknown Soldier #18 – I said it in my review: this was an easy pick of the week.  This was probably the best issue the series has seen since the end of the first arc.  Emotional and volatile, this hit all the right buttons and came with some really great art as well.

Most Anticipated: S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 – Jonathan Hickman fully unleashed on the Marvel Universe.  In other words, espect insanity.  I am prepared to have my mind completely blown and thus far, having seen previews of Dustin Weaver’s art on the comic, I’m already halfway there.

Other Picks: The Flash: Secret Files & Origins 2010, Wolverine: Weapon X #12, Sweet Tooth #8, Invincible Returns, Batman & Robin #11

Dean’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: Second Coming #1 – Great start to an event that has been building for years!  I really loved everything about it.

Most Anticipated: Turf #1 – Jonathan Ross and Tommy Lee Edwards doing a story about 1920’s mobsters and aliens?  Sign me up!

Other Picks: Uncanny X-Men #523, SHIELD #1, Wolverine Weapon X #12, Cowboy Ninja Viking #5