One study in contrasts this month are the Batman: Endgame collections, which seem to nicely collect the main and tertiary stories in two trades with no overlaps, versus the Green Lantern: Godhead trades, which seem to collect certain parts in a special collection that otherwise overlaps with other books. More on that down below:
• Batman Vol. 7: Endgame HC
• Joker: Endgame HC
The final post-Convergence collection of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman, collecting issues #35-40. I love long creator runs, and I'm thrilled that every time there seems to be a jumping-off point, i.e. Convergence, Snyder and Capullo keep on going. I hope Snyder's shooting for 100 issues, at least.
As with Death of the Family, the Joker collection includes the Endgame tie-in issues (backups from Batman #35-39, Batman Annual #3, Gotham Academy: Endgame, Batgirl: Endgame, Detective Comics: Endgame and Arkham Manor: Endgame. Some of the Bat-titles used Death of the Family better than others, but in all I kind of tire of these constant interruptions to the Bat-titles, and I don't mind at all that they went with specials this time instead. It also doesn't seem like any of the material here is being reprinted elsewhere, which I also like; I don't mind, for instance, the Batman backups being here so long as they're not also in the Batman book.
• Batman Noir: Hush HC
• Batman RIP Unwrapped HC
• Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Deluxe Edition HC
So you can have your Batman "Noir" (pencilled and inked, but black and white), or you can have your Batman "Unwrapped" (pencilled only). I guess I don't really have to ask what the difference is -- with "Unwrapped," you get the penciler's true, unaltered artwork -- though I do wonder what the benefit is of a black and white version of a "new modern" and "superheroic" story like Hush (I understand it a little better for Long Halloween). And does the thinking go that Batman equals "moody," therefore it's most suited to black and white? What about a Superman for All Seasons "Noir" or a Cliff Chiang's Wonder Woman "Noir"?
I guess we're not wondering any more why Dark Knight is suddenly getting a deluxe collection ...
• Constantine Vol. 4: The Apocalypse Road TP
The final collection of Ray Fawkes's Constantine before the series is rebooted post-Convergence.
• G.i. Zombie: A Star-Spangled War Story TP
No doubt Jimmy Palmiotti (with Amanda Conner) has struck gold with Harley Quinn, but the other side of the coin are the two war comics that Palmiotti has launched with Justin Gray in the New 52, both which were quickly canceled (three so far have come and gone in the New 52 if you include Ivan Brandon's Men of War). I didn't think enough of their "Unknown Soldier" story in GI Combat to pick up GI Zombie, though I appreciate that the writers are trying again with one story instead of an anthology series. My curiosity is mildly piqued by the Futures End story, but not enough to actually buy this on first release.
• Gotham By Midnight Vol. 1: We Do Not Sleep TP
Looking forward to this one, which I think would have maybe gotten a boost if the Constantine shows had done better and Corrigan could have been more prominent. My guess is Constantine might be back for a second season but not more than that (between Hannibal and Daredevil, clearly there's a template for a Constantine show done right, and so why they've chosen a format more akin to NCIS I don't know). Anyway, among minor hopes is that Gotham By Midnight makes cohesive some of the Spectre's disparate appeances in Constantine, Phantom Stranger, etc.
• Green Lantern/New Gods: Godhead HC
• Green Lantern: New Guardians Vol. 6: Storming the Gates TP
The final collection of Green Lantern: New Guardians, issues #35-40, including the "Godhead" crossover tie-in, and then also the bulk Godhead collection. Thus far no collection other than Godhead includes the Green Lantern/New Gods: Godhead #1 issue; DC's collecting Batman: Endgame right, but I hope the Godhead collection schema doesn't turn out as problematic as Superman: Doomed.
Godhead collects Green Lantern/New Gods: Godhead #1, Green Lantern #35-37, Green Lantern Corps #35-37, Green Lantern: New Guardians #35-37, Red Lanterns #35-37, Sinestro #6-8 and Green Lantern Annual #3.
• Justice League Dark Vol. 6: Paradise Lost TP
Final collection of Justice League Dark, canceled before Convergence. Collects issues #35-40 and Annual #2.
• Lobo Vol. 1: Targets TP
I for one don't mind so much this idea of a more character-based, less outrageous Lobo for the New 52 (Harley Quinn having inherited the 1990s Lobo's crown as chief parody-maker and fourth-wall-breaker of the DC Universe). I also like the meta-context of the "old" Lobo still existing in the New 52 and being in opposition to the new Lobo. I'll check this out eventually; good sign that it's still around post-Convergence.
• Secret Origins Vol. 2 TP
I found the first volume of Secret Origins too simplistic, basically rehashing what I already knew about the characters (more "origins" than "secret"). This second volume has some items of interest, however, including a Wonder Woman origin by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang, and the much-discussed Batgirl origin by Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher, so I'm probably in for this one. Final collection of the series.
• Swamp Thing by Scott Snyder Deluxe Edition HC
As I've said before I'd feel better about this one if it was accompanied by a deluxe edition of Jeff Lemire's Animal Man, too, but oh well. I am glad to see this collection has the relevant Animal Man issues in it, however, so it will be a complete reading experience in and of itself.
• Teen Titans Vol. 1: Blinded by the Light HC
Collects issues #1-7 of the Will Pfeifer/Kenneth Rocafort series. Troubled as Teen Titans series have been of late, I'm surprised DC is releasing this initially in hardcover, but I guess they've got high hopes for it.
• Wonder Woman Vol. 7: War-Torn HC
The first collection of the Meredith Finch/David Finch run, and the book's last collection before Convergence. Collects issues #36-40 and Annual #1.
That's what I'm looking at this month. Leave your picks down in the comments section.
Marvel Modern: http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/secret-wars-rages-on-with-spider-island-siege-more-in-marvels-july-2015-solicitations
ReplyDelete*Star Wars Vol. 1: Skywalker Strikes TPB—The recent trailer for “The Force Awakens” really brought out the old Star Wars fan in me after I felt a little alienated when the Expanded Universe was jettisoned. The creative team is solid to boot.
* New Avengers by Hickman Vol. 2 HC—Forgive me Hickman for I have sinned; I’m behind on my “New Avengers” reading due to monetary concerns and trade-waiting. Unlike the “Avengers” hardcovers, this is probably worth the money.
*Deadpool: Paws Prose Novel HC—Due to the… unique… nature of the solicit, I’m not entirely sold. I’ll have to take a look at Stefan Petrucha’s other work first.
*Avengers: Ultron Forever TPB—Al Ewing’s riff on “Avengers Forever” is only one issue in right now but it’s already a favorite title. It has Walt Simsonon’s Thor as a cast member for Pete’s sake!
*Angela, Asgard’s Assassin: Priceless TPB—Not only is this series getting major press, but it’s a Kieron Gillen title so it’s a definite buy from me. The idea of Marvel importing a well-known Image character and using her in a successful series is just… bizarre.
*Operation S.I.N. Agent Carter TPB—The original mini-series was released to coincide with the “Agent Carter” television series, and lo and behold, this comes out a week or two after the DVD boxset drops. I’ll be picking up both the book and the DVDs to support the buzz for another season.
*Captain Marvel Vol. 3 TPB—There’s a mistake in the solicit; they forgot to include Warren Ellis’ co-writing credit. It’s also a surprisingly short trade released very quickly; if they put it out in August it could include the Carol/Kamala team-up in “Ms. Marvel”.
*The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 1: Squirrel Power TPB—As one of the headliners of Marvel’s humor segment (along with “Howard the Duck”), I have to say that this is one adorable title that seems to have really hit it big.
*Avengers World: Before Time Runs Out TPB—I’d call foul on some of the details of “Time Runs Out” being shifted over to “Avengers World”, but I know that it’s helped bring attention to the book while giving Hickman more page time. In next week’s review I’ll go into some of the plotting difficulties of the event.
*Deadpool: Flashbacks TPB—I own every single issue in this trade… but I may have to buy it for the ease of putting all of the inventory issues in one place (and in chronological order to boot) You’ve heard me promote this book multiple times, but if you still don’t believe me, this trade is the one to try.
Skywalker Strikes is the first new Marvel Star Wars collection? Is that a lead-in to Force Awakens or is that the one set after New Hope. Funny for me to say, but I want to read some of this Marvel Star Wars stuff but I don't know where to jump in.
Delete"Skywalker Strikes" is the Jason Aaron/John Cassaday trade that takes place between Episodes IV and V. Any jumping-in points that I used to recommend (like the adaptations of the Thrawn trilogy) are non-canon so this seems as good a place as any to start.
DeleteMarvel Classic: http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/secret-wars-rages-on-with-spider-island-siege-more-in-marvels-july-2015-solicitations
ReplyDelete*There’s not a different link for “modern” and “classic”, but Marvel puts out so much material that it’s worthwhile to split it up.
*Avengers by Busiek and Perez Omnibus Vol. 2—Now this is the book I’ve been waiting for! I have most of the first omnibus in various paperbacks, but I’ve held off on reading the epic “Kang Dynasty” until this book came out. Plus it includes the core issues of “Maximum Security” for full completeness; Vol. 1 similarly collected “Avengers Forever”.
*Guardians of the Galaxy Solo Classic Omnibus—That’s a really long way of saying “a bunch of older issues about the various Guardians”. If you’ve been following the MCU for a while and reading its source material you probably own a lot of what’s collected here. Plus it’s yet another collection of the first big Thanos story. I feel like I need to start a drinking game about that.
*Doctor Strange: Don’t Pay the Ferryman TPB—I haven’t heard a lot about this era of “Doctor Strange”, but it seems to be held in high regard and mostly out of print. There’s a lot of “DS” material coming before the movie hits so starting off with Stern and Buscema (amongst others) seems promising.
*Black Panther by Christopher Priest Complete Collection Vol. 1 TPB—Speaking of movie tie-ins, this is a title that’s finally getting its due. As someone who really disliked Reginald Hudlin’s title it’s a good sign that they’re valuing all of the “Black Panther” eras.
*Secret Warriors: The Complete Collection Vol. 2 TPB—In my analysis of the road to “Secret Wars”, this was the one Hickman title I overlooked. Now it’s even more important to check out as it may be the inspiration for major MCU events, especially on “Agents of SHIELD”.
Still waiting for a Miracle Man Omnibus...
DeleteDark Horse: http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/barb-wire-returns-an-aliens-classic-resurfaces-in-dark-horses-july-2015-solicitations
ReplyDelete*Aliens: Salvation HC—This was one of the best stories in the third “Aliens” omnibus, and it’s one of the few where getting the full-size version will be worthwhile due to Mike Mignola’s art.
*Frank Frazetta’s The Adventures of the Snow Man HC—It’s Frazetta like you’ve never seen him before… cartoony and without a babe or a dragon in sight. This is a unique and inexpensive look at the early work of a master. I’ll have to remember it in a few months for the holiday list.
*Resurrectionists: Near-Death Experienced TPB—I’ve never heard of this book before, but it sounds like a very cool mix of “Thief of Thieves” and “Resurrection Man” with a bit of “Hawkman” when it comes to multiple reincarnations. Plus it’s by Fred Van Lente, who rarely creates a let-down.
*IDW: http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/onyx-star-trekgreen-lantern-begin-in-idws-july-2015-solicitations
*Herb Trimpe’s The Incredible Hulk Artist’s Edition HC—Unlike the Norm Breyfogle Batman trade that was assembled specifically to help him, this looks like it was already in the pipeline before Trimpe’s recent death. His time on the title was perhaps the peak of the “Rampaging Hulk” concept.
*Galaxy Quest: The Journey Continues—To my relief, there’s been a lot of good news about this sequel to the most unofficial (and funniest) “Star Trek” film. It helps that it’s by the writer of “Ghostbusters”.
Image: http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/image-comics-july-2015-solicitations-brings-we-stand-on-guard-bloodstrike-wolf-launches
*East of West, The Apocalypse: Year One HC—I’m still not a big fan of post-apocalyptic westerns, but with “Wasteland” ending there might be enough of a reason to look into this.
*Supreme: Blue Rose TPB—I’ve deliberately kept myself out of the loop on Warren Ellis’ take on “Supreme” to avoid spoilers, so I don’t know how it was received. It’ll be interesting to see Ellis rewriting one of Alan Moore’s classics.
*Bitch Planet Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine TPB—It’s “Orange Is The New Black” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” mashed-up together… IN SPACE! To give you some idea of the scale of this book’s success: by issue two there were already people getting tattoos based on it.
Valiant: http://www.newsarama.com/24222-valiant-comics-july-2015-solicitations.html
*Imperium Vol. 1: Collecting Monsters TPB—Toyo Harada has finally gone all the way into Lex Luthor-style megalomania, assembling his own league of villains to take on Unity. It’s such an utterly cool idea for a book that seems to have paid off.
*Divinity TPB—The first VE title not to be based on a 90s Valiant book seems like it was going to be published through image until Matt Kindt was persuaded to go through Valiant instead. A communist man-turned-spacegod is the kind of weirdness that Kindt often leaves out of his Valiant books.