Hey dudes and dudettes! Anthony here, your favorite host of the insanely popular Comic Issues podcast (comic-issues.com), and I got to thinking! We can’t be a podcast with the word “comic” in it without talking about what’s good on the new release wall at the local comic shop. Thus let it now be told!
I, my dear reader, will let you in on what I feel made up the best of what came out for the week of 2/16/11. I tell you only the best, because comics are a lot like pizza: you never know what you’re gonna get.
- Top Pick: Avengers Academy #9 Creative Team: Gage (writer), McKone (penciler), Buchman (inker), and Cox (colorist)
I actually almost dropped this book after the last story arc. The angst of the to-be heroes or villains was starting to get dull and I’ve yet to really connect with any character in the book. I originally only picked it up for its concept since I thought it was one that had a lot of promise. This all changed in the last issue when the Avenger Cadets decided to take out a tall order of vengeance on Tigra’s tab. This didn’t make her a happy kitty and the last issue closed with her expelling Striker, Hazmat, and Veil. This issue picks up in the same moment as an enraged Tigra storms off with her fur ruffled.
What I really liked in this issue was the character development of Finesse and her search for her possible father, the long time Avengers villain Taskmaster. She gets the help of the annoying Quicksilver and together they track Taskmaster down only to reveal, after a very good looking fight scene from Mike McKone, that the Taskmaster has lost his ability to remember anything other than his fighting moves.
Personally I’d like to see more stories like this. The whole cast of this book are messed up characters, the kids who’ve been manipulated by Osborne, and the teachers who have all had their fair share of troubles. I saw lets have an Avengers book with a bit of a dark edge to it and cut back and the students whining.
- Runner Up: Uncanny X-Force #5 Creative team Remender (writer), Ribic (penciler), Lucas (inker), and Wilson (colorist):
After an awesome start Uncanny X-Force seems to be continuing it’s rampage with a peak into Fantomex’s home life and apparently some strange “World”. Easilly the coolest part for me was the “Deathlok-ed” heroes. Esad Ribic’s art has definitely been a drawing point for this book and Matt Wilson’s muted colors is adding a feel to this book that the previous super slick looking X-Force didn’t have. The only complaint that I do have for this book is that Rick Remender still hasn’t gotten a handle for writing Dealpool, but this hasn’t stopped Uncanny X-Force from being a book I look forward to every month.
And here’s the honorable (most of them) mentions for the week:
Hulk #30 – A one-and-done-shot with a gimmick. I’ve been enjoying this book, but I’ve been enjoying the Rick Jones back-ups even more.
Green Lantern #62 – The road to War of the Green Lanterns looks like a tough one for Hal Jordan. When’s this dude gonna catch a break?
What if Venom possessed Deadpool? – The Watcher as Boy George and the power of the Cosmic Jheri Curl are about the only things that do anything for this book. Really, I just got sucked in by Skottie Young’s cover.
If you have any books that you recommend the let me know in the comments section below. I can’t be everyone at once, but if I can turn you on to a new book then it’s all worth it.