Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Detective Comics #880 – I absolutely loved Scott Snyder’s take on the Joker, a horrific monster who dwells in the very subterranean, dark heart of Gotham.  Not only was the Joker creepy as hell, but Snyder did a great job in fitting him seemlessly into the themes regarding Gotham that Snyder has made integral to his series.  Oh, and the James Jr. slasher flick cliffhanger was pretty fun too.

Most Anticipated: The Punisher #1 – Greg Rucka returns, not just to Marvel, but to comic books in general (seriously, where the hell is Stumptown?). The Punisher has often struggled outside the Marvel MAX imprint.  Too gritty and realistic and he doesn’t quite fit in the superhero abundant Marvel Universe.  Too wacky, and you end up with weirdness like Frankencastle or Frank as an angel. I think Rucka is a writer who will manage to find the balance and, at the very least, I’m sure will get some dark, noir-y goodness. And certainly, the art is going to be absolutely gorgeous.

Other Picks: Flashpoint #4, Batman: Gates of Gotham #4, Scalped #51, Secret Six #36, Wolverine #13, Superboy #10, Sweet Tooth #24, Amazing Spider-Man #667, Moon Knight #4

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Captain America & Bucky #620 – This one comes with a big asterisk as I just came back from vacation and haven’t picked up some primo books from the LCS yet (American Vampire, Detective Comics, etc.), but this issue really illustrated by Chris Samnee and Elizabeth Breitweiser are two of the brightest lights out there on the artistic front.  Sure, the story of how Bucky became THE Bucky is entertaining, but Samnee and Breitweiser are the real stars here.

Most Anticipated: Scalped #51 – With the sad news that Scalped will be ending with issue #60, you just KNOW that Jason Aaron is going to be bringing the heat for the remaining 10 issues.  He’s been pretty unafraid to do bloody and traumatic things to these characters, so I can only imagine what he’ll do now that he isn’t saving anything for future story arcs.  The end starts here!

Other Picks: 50 Girls 50 #3, Severed #1, Infinite #1, Hulk #38, Punisher #1, Rachel Rising #1, SHIELD #2, Sweet Tooth #24

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Thanos Imperative #1 – Brightest Day #3 and and Thanos Imperative #1 tussled for a while in my brain for the number one spot, but the Champion of Death edged out DC’s newest cosmic chapter. Thanos the scene-stealer (which is a lot to say, considering he has to share the book with Drax and Rocket Raccoon) remains true to Starlin’s vision as one of the most frightening, sociopathic, genocidal, multi-dimensional villains in any universe.

Most Anticipated: Batman #700 – Grant Morrison is taking the wheel with a raft of great artists. The big price tag is softened by the big page count. Morrison has done some excellent Batman work (I know there are detractors because his vision of Batman is outside-the-box), and I look forward to seeing where he takes this.

Other Top Picks: Batgirl #11, Daredevil #507, Uncanny X-Men #525

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Sweet Tooth #10 -Whenever an issue of a comic makes me want to write an academic essay on it, that pretty much guarantees it “pick of the week” status.  When that essay would be about the conflict between humanity and science, this is doubly the case.

Most Anticipated: Captain America #606 -Holy crap, it’s Baron freaking Zemo!  YES!  YES!  YES!

Other Picks: SHIELD #2, Daredevil #507, Invincible Iron Man #27, The Unwritten #14, Secret Six #22, Punishermax #8

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Irredeemable #14 – Even with a shipping snafu that caused me to miss getting a load of my books, I have no problems giving Irredeemable #14 some love.  After spinning its wheels for a few months to create a jumping on point for new readers, the story that I love really got back into gear in a major way.  This has become so much more than a “superman gone bad” story.

Most Anticipated: SHIELD #2 – This week is really stacked with books that I’m looking forward to, but after that stellar first issue how could I really pick any other book?  Seriously, if you’ve ever complained that comics don’t create enough new stuff and aren’t going to read this… you’re missing out because this feels more like an indy-comic that is just playing in the Marvel Universe.

Other picks: Batman #700, Hack Slash: My First Maniac #1, Meta 4 #1, Uncanny X-Men #525, Daredevil #507