WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Avenging Spider-Man #2 – This was a quality comic, but it did kinda surprise me that it was the “best”.  But, all the other comics had some obvious flaws and it wasn’t a very heavy week for me anyway.  So….backhanded compliment is concluded.  You could summarize this issue as: Zeb Wells is writing a very fast-paced and humorous Spidey/Rulk team-up and Joe Madureira is drawing the hell out of it.  Great stuff!  Runner-up: Glamourpuss #22 – Dave Sim’s art is always gorgeous (No shit….it is great, great stuff), but this comic leaves me conflicted: He’s either a genius or he’s crazier than a bag full of weasels.  Maybe both?

Most Anticipated: The Walking Dead #92 – I was pretty hard on issue #91, but in the last few weeks I’ve mellowed.  Surely Robert Kirkman is just starting to build things up towards issue #100, right?  I think what made me excited for this issue was reading the solicit text for the issue #94 (currently in Previews).  Usually TWD’s solicit text just says something like, “He has gone too far!” or “How will they survive?” so some other vague nonsense.  But for issue #94 it says, “As the ramp up to the monumental 100th issue continues, Rick and his group are led into new territory, with new rules, new advantages and new threats.  Can they survive in this larger, changed world?”  That sounds like a TWD story I want to read and hopefully this mystery man who appeared at the end of last issue is going to lead us there.

Other Picks: American Vampire #21, Batwoman #4, Unwritten #32, Snake-Eyes #8, Blue Estate #8, Severed #5, Avengers X-Sanction #1, SHIELD #4, Atomic Robo: Ghost of Station X #4

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Moon Knight #8 – While there may have been technically better books this week, this month’s issue of Moon Knight was rock solid, and particularly important for the series.  After a very mediocre beginning, it’s been steadily improving and now, with this month’s issues, I can safely say that Bendis and Maleev’s Moon Knight has found its groove.  It’s a solid book and Bendis and Maleev are really beginning to live up to their potential on this series.

Most Anticipated: Journey into Mystery #632 – First off:  look at that cover.  Wow! That said, there’s really only one thing you need to know: this is a Kid Loki Christmas issue.  Frankly, that is something that just NEEDs to exist, and with Gillen’s penchant in this series for both fun and heartfelt writing, I’m sure this is going to be a homerun.  I’ve often found holiday issues to be a bit gimmicky, but Journey into Mystery seems absolutely perfect for a Christmas issue.

Other Picks: Batwoman #4, Demon Knights #4, Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #4, American Vampire #21, New Avengers #19, Green Lantern #4

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: The Defenders #1 – Seeing the Defenders back together after so long was fun and tipped the scale for me on best of the week. The art was great and the writing quirky. Let’s see where Marvel takes this.

Most Anticipated: Warlord of Mars #13 – Oh yeah! Warlord of Mars #13 is the start of the Gods of Mars! John Carter will return to Barsoom, but not in his old stomping grounds, but in the polar regions of the dead, where he will be pitted against the deadly plant men and run into some dear friends in terrible danger!

Other Picks: Avengers: X-Sanction #1, Avengers 1959 #4, Captain America #6, Journey Into Mystery #632, Magneto Not a Hero #2

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Atlas #5/ Avengers: Prime #3 – It was a thin week and nothing really floated to the top for me, but if forced to take a stand, I’d say Atlas #5 (for the continuing originality) or Avengers: Prime #3 (for the art alone).

Most Anticipated: Brightest Day #11 – return of the Black Lanterns, origin of the new Aqualad and the secrets of the Firestorm Matrix revealed? Are you kidding me? Sign me up! PS: I know some people (including me) have been dissatisfied with the speed at which Brightest Day is rolling out, but issue #10 really felt like the wind had filled the sails again.

Other Top Picks: Other Top Picks: Uncanny X-Force #1, Chaos War #1, JSA All-Stars #11, R.E.B.E.L.S. #21

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Avengers Prime #3 – Fun stuff.  This comic had the moment of the week (for me) when Steve Rogers with a makeshift sword and shield saves a naked Tony Stark (who is riding a horse bareback) from ogres.  And, the Steve, Tony & Thor are now together.  This should be a lot of fun going forward.

Most Anticipated: S.H.I.E.L.D. #4 – This is just a packed week, but I’m most excited about seeing the next chapter in Hickman’s mind-bending story starring Leonardo da Vinci.

Other Top Picks: American Vampire #7, I Zombie #6, Scalped #41, Orc Stain #5, Chaos War #1, Uncanny X-Force #1, 28 Days Later #15, Incorruptible #10, Taskmaster #2

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Action Comics #893 – Action Comics is quickly becoming my favourite book from DC.  The main feature was as good as always, awesome robot Lois and all.  That and it reaffirmed my love for Gorilla Grodd and also proved that he is completely underused.  Of course, at this point, Action Comics’ high quality isn’t news.

The real story here though is Nick Spencer’s Jimmy Olsen back-up, which was pure and unadulterated fun accompanied by equally fun artwork.  It was utterly delightful and I also really enjoyed Spencer’s take on Chloe Sullivan.

Most Anticipated: American Vampire #7 – With a cliffhanger like last month’s, I can’t wait for the next installment of Scott Snyder’s vampire epic.  I’m really curious to see how Sweet and Pearl fit into this new arc and what they’ve been up to.  If you haven’t been following this title, get to it!  It’s really, really good and one of the best new series of the year.

Other Picks: Wolverine #2, SHIELD #4, Madame Xanadu #27, Unknown Soldier #24, Sweet Tooth #14, Secret Six #26, Brightest Day #11, Scalped #41

Joe’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: The Stuff of Legend: The Jungle #2 – Mike Raicht, Brian Smith and Charles Wilson III have created a children’s tale for adults that can be best described as a mash-up of the plot of Toy Story with the dark and serious tone of The Neverending Story.  Wilson’s sepia-toned artwork never ceases to please and the script jumps from one nail-biting moment to the next as our heroes confront some dangerous foes this time around.  Not only will I be reading his again and again down the years, but my future kids can count on their dad reading this to them as well.

Most Anticipated: Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit HC – In a week where American Vampire, Uncanny X-Force and Secret Six are all released, you’d think it’d be difficult to choose which new comic I’m extremely excited about.  Darwyn Cooke proves that thought wrong by unleashing his second hardcover adaptation of Richard Stark’s Parker series upon the world.  Cooke’s clean, stark (pun intended) interpretation of Stark’s film noir world is a tour de force, and the artwork alone is worth the hype.  Lucky for us we get a kick-ass story, too, all wrapped up in a beautiful hardcover.  Wednesday can’t come soon enough.

Other Picks: Avengers Academy #5, S.H.I.E.L.D. #4, Shadowland: Spider-Man #1, Taskmaster #2, Uncanny X-Force #1, Wolverine #2, Back Issue Magazine #44, American Vampire #7, Brightest Day #11, Red Hood: Lost Days #5, Secret Six #26