Best of the Weeks...Yeah, I said Weeks.

Well, it's been awhile since I posted something new. I guess I underestimated the amount of time running a D&D game stacked with everyday life actually takes up. Still, I have not yet been defeated! This time out though, since I haven't posted any Best Of articles (or any reviews whatsoever for that matter), I figured that just for fun I'd throw out a few capsule reviews of some issues to books that have really stood out over the past couple of weeks. There's no rhyme or reason to the list, they're simply books that kicked a lot of ass and provided copious amounts of entertainment. Without further ado...Tally-Ho!

Beasts of Burden #1 of 4
Writer: Evan Dorkin
Artist: Jill Thompson
Company: Dark Horse Comics

First and foremost: Jill Thompson. She's an A list artist in every sense of the term. Her style is animated, memorable, and it literally brightens my mood. To date, her Little Endless book (which you should most certainly seek out) ranks as my favorite, but with Beasts of Burden, a book that began its existence in the Dark Horse Book of Hauntings, she turns in some inspired work. The story, put together by Milk and Cheese creator Evan Dorkin doesn't disappoint either. It's basically a take on a Hellboy like story, one where supernatural horror and investigation is the meat and potatoes of its existence, but in this case all of those characters have been replaced by talking animals. It sounds cheesy but Dorkin is able to really create an eerie and scary world, one that instantly resonates with readers. And really, seeing animals take on giant death frogs is reason enough to take a gander. And if you're not convinced, which you really should be, might I direct you to take a look at this.

G.I. Joe: Cobra Special #1
Writer:Mike Costa
Artist: Antonio Fuso
Company: IDW Publishing

Ambitious. Crazy. Off your rocker. Yeah, that's close to what I would say to anyone wanting to replicate what Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons did in the 5th issue of Watchmen. But Costa and Fuso did it. They mirrored the story frame for frame, while at the same time shoving the blunt end of a crowbar into the minds of the famed Cobra twins, Tomax & Zamot, spilling out their dirty little secrets. And when all things are said and done...It's beautiful. The story is dark and commanding and Costa hits all the right beats, baring these two driven and somewhat tortured souls for all to see. Fuso also does a splendid job, making the grim and the grit look just as real as it ought to while at the same time making this very character centric story pop with as much tenacity as if there was nothing but explosions and gun battles happening on every panel. Any fan of G.I. Joe should check this one out, but there's a lot here to like if you're just a fan of comics in general too.

Gotham City Sirens #3
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artist: Guillem March
Company: DC Comics

Who would have ever thought that a book starring Harley, Ivy, and Catwoman would ever hit the nail on the head of great entertainment as hard as Gotham City Sirens has? I sure didn't and to be honest, I'm glad that I was wrong. Every issue has been good so far but this one, focusing on The Riddler and a series of intriguing challenges that involve the deaths of several members of high society, is not only enjoyable but it's also quite an achievement. Why? Because not only is it the best portrayal of Edward Nigma that we've seen in several years, it perfectly plays up the somewhat ludicrous notion of him being a good guy in some interesting ways. March, at least for me, has come out of nowhere and in a very short time, has made a name for himself. His style, a concoction that reminds me of both Jesus Saiz and John Romita Jr., is brilliant. It's fluid, action oriented, but isn't too overdone to forget about the importance of emotion and the little details that are always so key in telling a good story. Really, he's probably the best new artist that I've seen in years.

Daredevil #501
Writer: Andy Diggle
Artist: Robert De La Torre
Company: Marvel Comics

To be perfectly honest with you, I gave up on the tail end of Brubaker's run on Daredevil. It was a bleak landscape that he had created and while Daredevil has always been on of my favorite characters, I doubted that I would be able to return to his stories for quite some time. And then Marvel did something. They gave the book to Andy Diggle, and after that, I knew that I had to return. Diggle just has that style of storytelling that grabs the reader. It's exciting and different from everything else. But still, even though the writing in this book is fantastic, the status quo of Daredevil and his involvement with The Hand is a jagged little pill to swallow. But in Diggle I trust and he makes this a perfect jumping on point for anyone who wants to get in on the ride. The art, provided by De La Torre (Iron Man), works well the story. He captures the mood of the story perfectly and sells the action with a deft hand, making the spectacle of Daredevil and Co. jumping around on rooftops seem like something new.

Sweet Tooth #1
Writer/Artist: Jeff Lemire
Company: Vertigo

In the immortal words of NBA Jam: Vertigo is on FIRE!!! Really though, it's been awhile since Vertigo has had several series that have made such an impact so quickly but right now, with The Unwritten and now Sweet Tooth, things are looking up. Sweet Tooth, a book about a hybrid human/deer entity named Gus that lives in a secluded section of forest with his Pa, is as interesting as they come. The character study of it all, the normality of his life mixed with the utter strangeness and horror, topped off by how the world reacts to him is visceral. And Lemire's artwork, the oddness that it lends the story but the way that it at the same time punctuates it as well is so on the nose. Boiled down, Sweet Tooth is like M. Night Shyamalan's The Village minus the boring parts. For a dollar, can you pass it up?

Detective Comics #857
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: J.H. Williams III
Company: DC Comics

I think that in the past I've touted the extreme talent that J.H. Williams possesses, but with every issue of Detective Comics, he outdoes himself. There's a page in this book that I literally want on my wall (you know, if I was rich and all) because it makes my mouth drop open in utter agog at its sheer awesomeness. Still, Williams isn't the only person doing some stellar work, Rucka is hitting a solid grand slam as well with the story. Yes, there is an oddness to it. I can't dispute that, but the way that he has built Kathy Kane here and the way that he has shown her deal with the situations that she is dealt is perfect. Rucka also seems to have a good handle of the many aspects of Batman lore, as he throws in some characters that I truly thought we would never see again. He delivers one heck of a final scene too, throwing a nice left jab that you never see coming until it hits you. That's the mark of a great writer. All in all, one of the best Bat books at the moment.

Comic Pants Best of the Week 9/13/09

Every week a slew of books grace the shelves of our local comic shops, some good, some bad and some that simply land in the middle of the road, straddling that meh feeling of indifference. Still, it seems every week has that "gem" that really reminds you why you love comics. Now, it might be a single issue that really was a standout, something that went above and beyond or it could be a graphic novel (be it original or reprint) that was simply a blast to read. That's what this feature represents: A release that has captured our attention. As always, we want to hear what your favorite book of the past week was as well.

This week's Best Of is: The Unwritten #5.

The Unwritten #5
Writer: Mike Carey
Artist: Peter Gross
Company: Vertigo

All things considering, this was a very good week for comics. A lot of standouts, but few come close to reaching the heights that Mike Carey and Peter Gross reached with this issue of The Unwritten. Back with it's first issue, I wasn't quite sure where the book was going to go or if it would quickly find its way and become something that could stand shoulder to shoulder with Lucifer, which in my opinion, is Carey's masterpiece.

By the second issue of the book however, something happened. It surprised me and the story simply got under my skin. Needless to say, after that I was hooked. The story here, one that is sublime and challenging and all together engaging, just works on every possible front in a multitude of ways. The story that started out being a quasi Harry Potter-like entity with elements of Fables meshed in has morphed into another animal entirely, and a world of suspense and conspiracy and magic has been erected.

This issue alone gives us a peak behind the veil, a mere glimpse at the true villains of the story, but interweaves that story with the story of famous author Ruyard Kipling. We see his life from the start of his writing, given the promise of great things, to his ultimate decline and fall. Every word on the page bristles with intelligence and energy. Truly, I've never seen Carey this on.

Peter Gross, who's worked on things like Doctor Strange, Books of Magic, and of course Lucifer, continues to strike fantastic panel after panel. He's always been a stellar artist, but the work here, especially in this issue, is exciting. The subtleties of his work; the fluidity of the movement in the panels and the sheer expressiveness of the characters and the worlds that they find themselves in is amazing. There are a few pages at the end, where Kipling is reading a passage from one of the short stories from Just So Stories for Little Children, that are simply stunning. Seeing that story come to life, with such vividness, is a treat all of its own.

Really, check this title out. The first issue is good, very good even, but it builds on itself with every issue and there are ideas here that we've never even seen before. The Unwritten is unique in that regard and I can think of few books at the moment that are hitting as many high notes.

Comic Pants Best of the Week 8/30/09

Every week a slew of books grace the shelves of our local comic shops, some good, some bad and some that simply land in the middle of the road, straddling that meh feeling of indifference. Still, it seems every week has that "gem" that really reminds you why you love comics. Now, it might be a single issue that really was a standout, something that went above and beyond or it could be a graphic novel (be it original or reprint) that was simply a blast to read. That's what this feature represents: A release that has captured our attention. As always, we want to hear what your favorite book of the past week was as well.

This week's Best Of is: Fantastic Four #570.

Fantastic Four #570
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Dale Eaglesham
Company: Marvel Comics

This week there were literally a dozen books that I could have picked. Guardians for it's surprising and utterly cool ending. Nova for being...Well, Nova. Green Lantern for it's hardcore action and the out of the box fight between Sinestro and Carol Ferris. Or maybe Detective Comics for the beautiful and always jaw dropping artistic prowess of JH Williams III. But nope, I went with FF. Why? Because I am an FF fan at heart and it fills me with great joy to actually read an issue that shines like a beacon of awesome and hits every note that you could hope for.

For those who may not know who Jonathan Hickman is, he's the co-writer of the new series Secret Warriors. He's also done things like Nightly News and Pax Romana, which are a bit off the beaten path from anything even in the neighborhood of superheroes. Truth be told, while I do enjoy Hickman's writing, he can occasionally be too wordy and get bogged down in the details. With FF though, he finds a nice balance that fuses the scientific world that he obviously loves with the high adventure that Fantastic Four should always have. Because of that fusion, we get a neat reinterpretation of The Wizard, great bantering between Johnny and Ben, high concepts that feel right in the wheelhouse of what you want, and a Reed Richards that is exciting (which is no simple feat).

On the flipside, the art, provided by Dale (Justice Society of America) Eaglesham, is just as fantastic as the story. I will say that at first the bulked up Reed and Johnny seemed a might strange, but you get used to it, and really there is a veritable island's worth of other things to enjoy. His attention to the small details that sometimes get overlooked: The way that he doesn't just write off the backgrounds and instead makes them a treasure trove for the mind and eye, the ability to capture an emotion with such clarity and elicit a real response from the reader, and really, just the way he makes the action and adventure pop. These are the markings of a truly talented artist, one that bears watching out for.

In the end, I haven't been this satisfied with an issue of Fantastic Four since Mark Waid first came onto the book. Seek this one out. I guarantee you'll be entertained.

Sunday Number Ones 8/30/09

Sunday Number Ones is a weekly feature here at Comic Pants. We take the books that are premiering a first issue from that week and give a quick opinion on them. From time to time we may also include more than issue number ones in this feature. If a noteworthy one-shot or the first issue of a new story arc is released, we may talk about it in this feature.

This week, we will cover 28 Days Later #1, Batman Widening Gyre #1, Blackest Night Titans #1 of 3, and King City #1.

Nick Budd Read and Thought:

28 Days Later #1
Writer: Michael Alan Nelson
Artist: Declan Shalvey
Company: BOOM! Studios

Well, let me just say that if the creators of the 28 Weeks Later film had bothered to consult writer Michael Alan Nelson (Hexed) or maybe even allowed him to pitch in on the script, the outcome of that movie would be much different. To be blunt, despite the fantastic opener to the movie, the rest of it sucked. This comic, which feels more in tone with the first film, does not suck. Nelson's notion of continuing one of the original character's stories works very well, as does the suspense and tension that he builds as the story of that character returning to a world that she outright hates. The eerie tone set forth by Shalvey and colorist Nick Filardi is perfect for the dark and moody territory that this book encompasses. Shalvey's style reminds me a lot of a few of the guys who worked on Queen & Country, specifically Leandro Fernandez. All in all, a well executed start.

Blackest Night Titans #1
Writer: J.T. Krul
Artist: Ed Benes
Company: DC Comics

As much as I've been enjoying the main Blackest Night series and several of the other "tie-ins", Blackest Night Titans falls short in a lot of ways. To start, artist Ed Benes, someone who's work has a very up and down, roller coaster-like feel to it, just doesn't bring his A game. Sure, there are some interesting splash pages and some decent stuff here and there, but there's nothing extremely exciting happening on the page, even when there is supposed to be. J.T. Krul, best known for his work on Fathom, provides the story, and even though he gets the proper points across, it too is lacking punch. I do appreciate seeing Hawk and Dove used though, as I like all of the incarnations of those particular characters, and let's not forget the uber creepy that is the cover. If you're really riding the high of Blackest night and got to catch them all, you know, like the fans of Pokemon, then you'll probably want to snag this one. If not though, and don't care much for the Titans, then it's a safe skip.

Batman: Widening Gyre #1 of 6
Writer: Kevin Smith
Artist: Walter Flanagan
Company: DC Comics

I think a person's enjoyment of this comic completely hinges on the question: Do you like Kevin Smith? His crude sense of humor, the same sort of stuff that was in Clerks and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, can be found throughout the entire issue as we watch Batman go up against people like Baron Blitzkrieg and Poison Ivy. For me, the humor is extremely lacking. The jokes don't register, and more to the point, they seem completely out of place and constantly takes the reader out of the story. Still, just because the story side is a tad disappointing, doesn't mean everything is bad here. Flanagan has really stepped it up here. The level of detail is fantastic, his anatomy is spot on and the flow of his panels is perfect. Never once are you confused about what is happening on the page and he entertains your eyes, which is nice. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention his great depiction of Etrigan. He really nails that. So yeah, if you like Kevin Smith or really enjoyed Batman Cacophony, then Widening Gyre is going to be right up your alley.

King City #1
Writer/Artist: Brandon Graham
Company: Image Comics

For those not in the know or who were not lucky enough to grab this book when Tokyopop was distributing it, King City is a futuristic tale about a man named Joe and his transforming Cat. It sounds simple, for sure, but if you've ever read anything by Graham you know that there is always something more to it that keeps you turning the page. Really though, it's hard to get across just how good this book is, but heck, let's give it a try anyways. King City is quite simply the epitome of cool. Graham's ideas, things like Triple Level Minotaur Lock Vault Doors and Launch Boxes, are brilliant and the way those clever ideas are laid out on the page (in ways so unlike traditional comics) is entirely refreshing and unique. The humor and the action of the thing doesn't hurt either. Oh and let's not forget that this edition of the series is oversized, letting the art have more room to breathe. Overall, it's awesome that Image picked this series up. You can not get more entertainment for you buck anywhere else, believe me.

Sunday Number Ones is a weekly feature here at Comic Pants. We take the books that are premiering a first issue from that week and give a quick opinion on them. From time to time we may also include more than issue number ones in this feature. If a noteworthy one-shot or the first issue of a new story arc is released, we may talk about it in this feature.

This week, we will cover Blackest Night Batman #1, Dominic Fortune #1, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1, Ultimate Comics Avengers #1, G-Man Cape Crisis #1, Red Herring #1and Adventure Comics #1.

Nick Budd Read and Thought:

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Lafuente
Company: Marvel Comics

Billed as a new number one, this comic is really Ultimate Spider Man # whatever in disguise. It's a direct continuation of the last series, and while it does sport some striking and gorgeous art by David Lafuente, it's not the best comic "first" issue that it could have been. Why? Well, the one thing it doesn't do is make it that easy for new readers to just pick it up and understand everything. Sure there's a recap on page one, but it doesn't cover everything and doesn't explain some of the smaller things that have happened to the young Peter Parker and friends. There are also a few of the Bendis tics in the writing, that while sometimes can be masked by great ideas and great execution, were prominent in this one and hard to ignore. Really, take a glance for the art alone. Lafuente knocks it out of the park.

Red Herring #1
Writer: David Tischman
Artist: Philip Bond
Company: Wildstorm

A bit on the predictable side of things, but not in a bad way, if that makes any sense. David Tischman, of Bite Club fame, puts his own spin on conspiracy theories and the people who facilitate said plots, and for the most part, he hits the nail right on the head of entertaining. The characters all feel genuine and real, but the thing that really makes it different is the effortless pace of the story. It's not a slam bang, here's a big action or gun fight scene to start things off. Nope, instead he lets the characters do the talking and it really engages the reader. Also, having Philip (Invisibles) Bond on art makes the visuals all purdy. His style is perfect, as he makes the mundane miraculously interesting. All in all, one of the best first issues from Wildstorm in a long while.

Dominic Fortune #1
Writer/Artist: Howard Chaykin
Company: Marvel Comics

Truth be told, my knowledge of Dominic Fortune amounts to the bits and pieces of his bio from the old Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe that I remember. And as I haven't looked at his page since I was a kid, I have to admit that there wasn't much left bouncing around in my noggin. But having Howard Chaykin writing and drawing something always peaks my interest, so I was looking forward to it. And what I found was a opener that bordered merely on the okay side of things. It wasn't without a few bright points of raucous laughter and brutal violence though, as you might expect. There's also some nice history thrown into this Marvel Max labeled story that offers up political intrigue, action, and copious amounts of boobage and blood. The art however is what makes the book for me. Not since his work on the Guy Gardner book a few years ago has Chaykin been this on. The story flows so easily from panel to panel and there is true distinction and creativity in everything that the eye can see. If you're a Chaykin fan, this is a must read.

Ultimate Comics Avengers #1
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Carlos Pacheco
Company: Marvel Comics

Again, right along with Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, this one is not quite the greatest entry issue for new readers. There are a lot of threads from Ultimatum that this books picks up on, and if a person hasn't read that, they might feel a little confused. The one thing that this book has that its companion book was lacking though is: ACTION. And that is with a capital A too. If there is one thing that Millar can do, and do very well, it's write action like nobodies business. Seeing Hawkeye and Captain America take on a helicopter of A.I.M. agents is popcorn entertainment done right, and the spin that he has put on the whole Red Skull story, for the Ultimate Universe, is intriguing. Pacheco's work here is some of his best. There's a real sense of kinetic energy crackling from his action and the details, everything from the skylines to the unique way that he lays out the punches on the page, make for a comic that's worth reading.

Blackest Night Batman #1
Writer: Peter Tomasi
Artist: Adrian Syaf
Company: DC Comics

It's true that Peter Tomasi is a very hit and miss writer. He's done both great and mundane things with his run on Green Lantern Corps and Nightwing. That said, he was most certainly on with this issue. Not only does he do the character of Deadman real justice here, giving him some cool body hopping and general great character bits while seamlessly tying him into the ongoing story of Blackest Night, he also gives a real sense of character to Damian. And sure, Morrison has coined the whiny bastard child riff, but here we see some actual emotion bleed into being, almost as if the stuff he's dealing with here is effecting him (and it should). Adrian Syaf, of The Dresden Files adaptations, handles the art with his own definitive style. What action there is works and even though there are a few moments where the backgrounds get lost or a bit hazy, for the most part everything looks nice and is easily identifiable. All in all, if every Blackest Night tie-in is handled with the same degree of success as this, then we're in for some great reading.

G-Man Cape Crisis #1
Writer/Artist: Chris Giarrusso
Company: Image Comics

Chris Giarrusso and G-Man strike again! Best known for his work on the Mini Marvels backups and collections, Giarrusso knows a thing or two about what makes an all ages comic book tick. The antics of G-Man strike that happy medium of being adorably awesome and laugh out loud hilarious. This time out, the kids of G-Man's school are out to steal his super powered cape, and though it's a relatively simple setup, the delivery of the story and the situations the characters find themselves in make it something much more than that. Also, it would be an egregious error not to mention the art of this book. Giarrusso's animated style is so vibrant and appealing. It's fresh in a way that few books are. Overall, if you're looking for some solid entertainment or are searching for that next book to give to your kids, you won't go wrong with G-Man

.

Adventure Comics #1
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Francis Manapul
Company: DC Comics

Are you a Legion fan? If you are, chances are you'll probably enjoy this book. Same goes if you're a fan of Conner Kent, this era's Superboy. If you aren't a fan of either of those things, I still would recommend giving this one a shot. Why? Because it feels as if Johns has captured the essence of the classic comic book (something that seems to be disappearing), put his own unique character centric spin on it, and printed it for the masses. Seeing Superboy reinsert himself into his previous life is brilliantly accomplished without being confusing and there are simply enjoyable moments spread throughout the entire issue, even in the three Legion backups that appear. All of the artists perform their jobs nicely as well, with Manapul handling the bulk of the issue. His rough style gives things a nice presence and he may in fact draw one of the best versions of Krypto that I've ever seen.

Chew #3

Writer: John Layman
Artist: Rob Guillory
Company: Image Comics

Originality. That in a nutshell is what a lot of people look for in comics. Sure, there's no denying that we all crave a bit of costumed tomfoolery from time to time and like to see people being thrown football fields in length to their doom while they're on fire. And let me tell you, there's not a damn thing wrong with that. Still, at least with me, it's nice to step outside our comfort zone and try something new every once in awhile. If there is one book that is worthy of this action, it is Chew.

Chew is gross. Chew is hilarious. Chew IS original.

For those not in the know or have yet to hear the buzz on this book, Chew chronicles the life and times of a police detective turned FDA special investigator named Tony Chu. Sounds normal, right? Well, the one thing that sets our Mr. Chu apart from everyone else is that he has a neat little gift. He's cibopathic. What exactly does that mean? It means that when he eats something, be it a fast food burger or Uncle Lou's rancid big toe, he psychically knows everything about said object. Sounds cool, right? It get's better, believe me.

Layman has expertly created a believable yet crazy new world setting where the Avian Flu has become a nightmare, where the FDA are the big wig FBI agents who are able to do whatever they please, and a place where secret Chicken Speakeasies are the hip and cool place to eat at. Just don't get got going to one or you may wind up visiting the Big House or the morgue. Really, this world is an immensely rich playground, one where new and different things can be found around every corner.

And Layman proves that with this third issue. In this done in one tale, we are introduced to a new romantic interest for Chu. Not only that, but we are also given a new phenomenon to chew on, something called a saboscrivner, which is someone who has the power to describe food so well in written form that you can actually physically taste it. To say that he puts this odd power to good use in the issue is an understatement to the Nth degree. Really, Layman's ability to just write in a way that grabs your attention is phenomenal. The character development in this issue is perfect, the dialogue between Chu and his cohorts at the FDA is rich and humorous and believable, and that it goes hand in hand with Rob Guillory's splendidly animated artistic style just makes the whole package pop even more.

To be perfectly honest, there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best book by far that Image Comics is producing right now. Don't believe me? Try it out and see for yourself. You'll be glad that you did.

Pants Stampede 8/10/09

What is Pants Stampede? Pants Stampede is an occasional feature on the site where the members of the Panteon take a gander at the week's releases and give a quick hit and run review of each one. Now, we may not cover everything, as some of them are already covered in our Wednesday Number Ones and some we may not have access to, but we'll get to as many as we can. As always, we're curious what you thought of this week's books. What were the standouts for you? Was any book so atrocious that you threw it across the room? These are the things we want to know! Anyways, without further ado, let's get to the reviews.

Nick Budd Read and Thought:

Agents Of Atlas #9: To be honest, while the last couple of issues have been pretty good, they haven't been as utterly fantastic or as memorable as the original mini for Agents of Atlas. This issue, however, gets the series back on track in a spectacular way. It's classic Parker. The action is fresh and larger than life, and the back and forth between Jimmy Woo and his counterpart in a new secret organization is pitch perfect and enticing. I am sad to see the artistic side of this book change with such regularity, but Dan Panosian does a bang up job with the proceedings.

Amazing Spider-Man #601: The return of the MJ and Peter relationship! Let the fans rejoice! Wait...Uh, that's not MJ in Peter's bed...WTF? Yeah, for all of the great issues that Mark Waid has done for post "Made a Deal with the Devil" Parker, this issue isn't one of them. It's droll and boring and sort of makes Peter look like a cad. However, the Bendis penned and Quesada drawn back-up story was one that felt right on in every regard. It put forth the quintessential Parker and has a neat little back and forth between him and Jessica (Cage) Jones that while simple, works.

Black Panther #7: You know, maybe Black Panther is simply one of those characters that you just like even though he's never really had a great solo book. Why do I say this? Because in all honesty, this book is just plain boring. She-Panther is meh at best and the adventures of crippled T'Challa just feels uninteresting. I say give the character back to McDuffie. At least that version of the character was able to put the freaking Silver Surfer in a headlock.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer #27: The cover of this one has Buffy and friends sitting on top of a Nuclear powered Submarine that has been magically dry-docked near a Tibetan Monastery. That my friends, is the best thing this issue has to offer. And I say that with much sadness, as I really enjoy Jane Espenson's writing. This issue however just doesn't have much going for it. It's a setup issue, and even the quirky back and forth banter isn't enough to keep it afloat.

Captain America Reborn #2: Okay, for all intents and purposes, this is a well crafted, well written book. The thing is, it just isn't for me. The grandiose science fiction elements that Brubaker has adopted just doesn't mesh with the uber spy/noir vibe that the Captain America book has been about for over 40 or so issues. Plus...A bullet that has unstuck Steve Rogers in time? That's the big reveal that we've been waiting for. Skull hit him with a time bullet? Where the heck is my own cosmic cube! I needs it now!

Deadpool Merc With A Mouth #2: It's the lovable adventures of Wade Wilson and his other worldly, zombified head. On the surface, it's a great pitch for a Deadpool comic. In action...It's an amusing, slightly overdone comic. But it makes you laugh and has Deadpool fighting Dinosaurs, so come on, that should be all you Deadpool fans need to know. Buy it now! I will however say that it is still second to the current ongoing, Daniel Way written, Deadpool series. That meat suit joke has stayed with me for weeks.

House Of M Masters Of Evil #1: Somehow, even after what? Five years? Somehow we're still visiting the House of M Universe. My god why? Let me tell you why...Because it's awesome. Christos Gage, the modern master of the action based comic, executes a perfect third incarnation to this world and puts his spin on the Masters of Evil as they come to power. This time out, Parker Robbins, a.k.a. The Hood, gets the top slot but none of our b-list favorites are missed, nor are they chumped out. Everyone from Batroc to Absorbing Man to The Constrictor are given great moments that showcase who they are and what they stand for and the general story of the book gets under your skin and stays there. Great stuff all around.

Irredeemable #5: Dark. Sadistic. Evil. Yup, those are the basic words that I would use to describe the main character, the Plutonian, from this book. Other adjectives that I would use to describe the book itself would be: fantastic, entertaining, surprising. Really though, this book that chronicles a group of superheroes who are trying to find footing in a world that is getting smaller and smaller with every passing day is a must read. Everything from Waid's thought provoking scripts to Peter Krause's detailed and beautiful artwork screams first class all of the way.

Secret Six #12: When this comes out, I won't lie to you, it's the first book that I read. It's that good. Mayhem, bloodshed, debauchery, and 40 different varieties of visually stimulating awesome can be found within. This time out, with Wonder Woman gunning for the team and pretty much anyone else in her way, I was surprised at how little a part she plays in this one. Sure, she's there, but the main star this time is Jeannette, everyone's favorite sadistic banshee. Overall, Gail Simone's story + Nicola Scott's superior talent = Best DC book on the shelves right now.

Tyrese Gibsons Mayhem #1: Um...Yeah, I tried. I really did, but nothing about this book screams, "Remember Me, remember Me!" It's pedestrian in a lot of ways, and most of what happens in it are things that we've seen in other comics of this sort. It's not to say that this book is awful, because it isn't. It just sort of blends into the crowd of anti-hero stories with it's overdone narration and blah art.

War Of Kings #6: I've got three little letters that sum up what I'm feeling after this mini-series. W.O.W. I didn't really think it was possible to make me care about the Inhumans and the Shi'ar, but they did. And truthfully I've never outright hated either faction, they've just never wowed me. In walks the tag team duo of Abnett and Lanning, and by their powers combine, they can honestly do no wrong. The work here is smart, always gripping, and the way they sell the characters is especially unique. Anyone who gets me to care about Kid Vulcan and makes Darkhawk a force to be reckoned with has earned a cookie in my book.