WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best of the past week: Fashion Beast #7 – I actually had a pretty heavy week of comics and none of them approached the complex storytelling of Fashion Beast #7.    It is often said that, “Alan Moore is the greatest writer of comics ever” but comics like Fashion Beast really drive home the truth of that statement.  I mean, this is a failed screenplay that he wrote almost 30 years ago and even this discard is noticeably better than most other comics.  If you aren’t on-board yet, make sure to not miss the collected edition whenever that comes out.

Most anticipated this week: 1). The Walking Dead #108 – I was on one of my favorite comic forums recently, arguing with people who were “done” with TWD.  They mostly didn’t like the brutality of issue #100 and felt that Negan “is just The Governor 2.0”.  I think that really, really misses the point.  If you look at this current story in TWD, it is just an allegory for the growth of centralized governmental systems and the morality thereof.  Negan is so much better than The Governor.  I mean, The Governor was just a violent thief.  Negan is a smooth talking politician with a violent steak.  He wants to tax the populace.  If Negan gets what he wants, he’ll provide some basic services of dubious value that you didn’t ask for.  If he doesn’t get his taxes, he’ll start smashing heads with a baseball bat.

2). Batman #18 – We’re done with “Death of the Family” now and it looks like it’s time for a guest artist.  Andy Kubert is no Greg Capullo so this will be an interesting time to consider how much we enjoy Scott Snyder and how much we love the regular creative TEAM on Batman.  I generally don’t like these issues where characters deal with the “fallout” of the last story, but Snyder is too talented of a writer do the expected.

3). Star Wars #3 – This series hasn’t been “great” so far, but it’s just so damn nice to read a story about the Star Wars characters that I actually know and enjoy.  All that Old Republic stuff is boring.  I want to read about Luke, Han and Leia and this book is scratching that itch.

4). The Manhattan Projects #10 – This series is always a good read and it’s gotten more interesting since the team of super-scientists fought back against the AI-version of FDR.  I guarantee that the story will be clever, literate and irreverent.

5). Wolverine #1 – Alan Davis drawing Wolverine?  Sure….I’ll buy that.  Plus, Paul Cornell is a very talented writer.  This should be good and I have more room in my life for a solo Wolverine series since I dropped most of my other Marvel titles and don’t have to hurt my brain thinking about how Wolverine can do all this stuff at one time.

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Hugo’s Top Picks

Pick of the week: Hellboy in Hell #4 – This series as a whole has been satisfying on many levels, but the finale of the first part was really something to behold. Explanations, potential, gorgeous art and some neat connection to the whole tapestry and mythology Mignola has created throughout the years made this issue the book of the week for me.

Most anticipated this week: 1) Thor: God of Thunder #6 – This issue is supposed to explain the origin of Gorr, the god butcher. Considering this character has only grown in scope during the initial arc, I am curious to see what Jason Aaron will do with him and how he will explain most about this character here. While this issue is not drawn by Esad Ribic, the very competent Butch Guice can surely do a great job as well.

2) Threshold #3 – This issue is the big official intro of Captain K’rot, the gritty and supposedly humorous reimagining of an old beloved and silly character. This and the fact that it is Keith Giffen doing science-fiction just like in the Annihilation day’s makes me want to read it.

3) Sledgehammer 44 #1 – Mike Mignola does a super hero in armor, like Iron Man, set in his own universe during the Second World War. With the art of Jason Latour, that’s pretty much the only thing I need to know to want to pick this up.

4) Secret Avengers #2 – The first issue of Nick Spencer’s take on this concept was pretty strong in a lot of ways, showing us the dirty side of espionage and S.H.I.E.L.D while adding a bit of side humor to this take. It is also the first issue featuring Taskmaster, a character I pretty much love, although I sincerely hope he will take after Fred Van Lente version of the character as a basis.

5) Star Wars #3 – This is a very good take on Star Wars so far, with Brian Wood paying homage to the original movie, while adding some stuff of his own. With this issue being a bit more about Han Solo, I am eager to see just how well he can write one of the most lovable rogues in the history of cinema.

Wolverine #1 – Review

By Jason Aaron (writer), Renato Guedes (artist), Jose Wilson Magalhaes (inker), Matt Wilson (colorist)

The Story: You know it was bound to happen sooner or later: Wolverine awakens to inexplicably find himself Hell. Yep, Hell. But if he’s been cast into the Pit, who now walks the Earth bearing his likeness and signature claws, and why is he brutally eliminating Logan’s friends and loved ones?

The Good: Sigh, oh Wolverine. What the hell kind of world do we live in where a diminutive, psychopathic Canadian brandishing not one but six really sharp knives and a talent for using them has become as beloved and iconic a character as such pillars of heroism as Captain America, Superman, and Spiderman? Beats me, but it is a better world and we are better human beings for having him in our lives. Listen, I’ll level with you: in my opinion, Wolverine has always been a rather shallow character. Beyond the claws, healing factor, and never-ending struggle to control his lust for violence, what else is there about this character that any of us identify with? Little to nothing, I’d argue, but in a way that’s kind of the point. That’s kind of what we like about the little rascal. This is a comic book of clearly-defined clichés and a narrative formula that has changed little in the thirty-six years the Canucklehead has been kicking ass and taking names, and we keep coming back for more because that simple combination of the claws, healing factor, and violent tendencies, in the hands of a competent creative team, is usually a wicked and entertaining experience, and sometimes that alone is worth the price of admission.

So, with that in mind, I can safely say that all the elements are in place to make this a great addition to Wolverine’s stable of comics. Aaron does an outstanding job here of walking that fine line between delivering all the classic elements of a typical Wolverine comic while at the same time finding new aspects of Logan’s character to bring to the light. As a returning reader who hasn’t picked up a Wolverine comic in about fifteen years, I was intrigued with Logan’s confession to Wraith that, while he’s now able to deal with the darkness that lurks in him, he feels ill-equipped to handle the idea of living a life with hope, which is ironic as he’s spent his whole life fighting to attain that very thing. In Wraith, Logan has found a kind of moral and spiritual counterpoint that is poignant and especially relevant to the kind of story Aaron is attempting to pull off here. My only hope right now is that, pending the conclusion to this story, Wraith will be a mainstay on this book.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Batman #702 – Captain America made a strong showing, but Morrison’s moody writing, viscerally close to Batman, pushed Batman #702 over the top. Also, while there are a lot of storylines running right now, this one really was a prelude to the Return of Bruce Wayne, which is just around the corner.

Most Anticipated: Brightest Day #9 – Brightest Day #9, hands down! We’re into the meat and potatoes of Brightest Day now and with all the mini cliffhangers, I don’t even want to blink. Plus, Aqualad? What the diddly?

Other Top Picks: Other Top Picks: Gorilla Man #3, Thor: For Asgard #1, JSA All-Stars #10, Freedom Fighters #1, Secret Six #25, Captain America: Forever Allies #2.

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Avengers #4 – In a week where many books were “good,” but nothing was “great,” I think I most enjoyed Avengers.  The story seems to be pure chaos as the timestream has been seriously screwed up and I cannot wait to find out what future Tony Stark was doing to his younger self at the end of the issue.

Most Anticipated: Last Days of American Crime #3 – This week is just STACKED with books I’m looking forward to, but I’m very eager to see how Rick Remender wraps up his very original (and much delayed)  story set in a world where crime is about to be made impossible by futuristic technology.

Other Top Picks: Stumptown #4, Wolverine #1, Avengers: Children’s Crusade #2, Haunt #9, Choker #4

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Fantastic Four #582 -Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four is one of the best books at Marvel.  This book continues that trend with big happenings, wildly imaginative going-ons, and a really awesome young Dr. Doom.  Once again, FF is right at the top of my stack.

Most Anticipated: Scarlet #2 -Despite my lukewarm grade of the first issue, I still love the concept of this series and it’s main character.  I can’t wait to see where Bendis goes with this and I hope he gets the story going this month so I can get a better idea of his vision for this series.

Other Picks: Secret Six #23, Sweet Tooth #13, Wolverine #1, Shadowland #3, Brightest Day #9, iZombie #5

Joe’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: X-Factor #208 – David’s script hits all the right character beats, making this issue more interesting because of the interpersonal relationships than any action going on.  While some might consider X-Factor, and this issue in particular, a low key title, in a week of underwhelming releases, the second-tier X-title delivers the goods where others failed.

Most Anticipated: Scarlet #2 – I love me some Bendis/Maleev comics and, although I picked up the first issue hesitantly, I walked away from it fully onboard.  While I suspect this series will read better in trades (much like most of Bendis’ work), I’m eager to get in on the ground floor of the floppies, if only for the first arc.

Other Picks: Brightest Day #9, Secret Six #25, Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #2, I am an Avenger #1, Incredible Hulks #612, Origins of Marvel Comics: X-Men #1, Shadowland #3, Wolverine #1, Wolverine: The Road to Hell, X-Men: Curse of the Mutants – Smoke & Blood #1, Taskmaster #1, Back Issue #43