It’s SDCC 2010, and while Josh and Elisabeth are getting you cool news from San Diego, I’ve got your weekly peek at what’s new.
It’s still July, and that means it’s still Image Month here at TFAW, so I’ll kick things off with The Walking Dead #75. Tensions are growing between Rick and Douglas and it’s anyone’s guess how it will end up. I felt a little surprised by how quickly I reached the end of the issue, but was pleased to find that there is a color back-up story and a picture gallery of the cast of the upcoming AMC series. If, like me, you’re a latecomer to The Walking Dead you’ll be able to get closer to caught up with the latest TPB. The Walking Dead Volume 12 hit shelves today too, collecting issues 67-72. The survivors finally reach D.C., and things look like they might calm down for a little while. The art and writing in The Walking Dead is excellent all the way through. I have to recommend it. If you’re unconvinced by me, check out our interviews with The Walking Dead creator Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn.
Dark Horse features Janet and Alex Evanovich’s entry into the comics world with the graphic novel Troublemaker Book 1 this week. This hardcover, with art by Joëlle Jones, is the third adventure of Alex Barnaby and Sam Hooker, following on the New York Times bestsellers Metro Girl and Motor Mouth. The art is crisp and vibrant and builds a great sense of environment that adds to the story. The story itself is full of action, mystery, and voodoo. Check out our exclusive interview with Janet and Alex Evanovich, and then go pick up their book.
Also making a crossover into comics this week are Charmed #1 from Zenescope and True Blood #1 from IDW. The Charmed Ones continue on into happily ever after with Paige teaching at the school and Phoebe and Piper trying to deal with the kids. Of course, happily ever after isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. The story is as strong as any Charmed episode so it’s well worth it for any fan to pick it up. If you prefer vampires to witches, stop in to Merlotte’s for this first issue of True Blood. This one seems like a first issue worth picking up. The action starts right up with some truly well-drawn beasties and blood, and while the dialog is a little rough, you still want to read on. The exclusive David Messina poster included in this issue is a nice touch too.
DC offers up Time Masters: Vanishing Point #1. This is the first of a six-issue miniseries that sends Superman, Green Lantern, and Booster Gold through time with Rip Hunter in the search for Bruce Wayne. I’ll be honest with ya, I haven’t been following Batman’s adventures. I had no problem getting into this story though, and I plan to follow it. Dan Jurgens does a great job with the time travel story and all the details that go along with it. The art is bright and dynamic and the pacing of the story builds plenty of interest. Order this one, and while you’re at it go ahead and get in your pre-orders for the rest of this story.
For the Lantern Fans, there are two new hardcovers this week as well. Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps and Blackest Night: Rise of the Black Lanterns continue the Blackest Night collection. You can order them and a ton of other Blackest Night stuff from our Blackest Night page.
And not to leave the Mighty Marvel off this week’s list there is the Lady Deadpool one-shot pitting Wanda Wilson against Captain America in a fight over the right to enjoy Food Porn. That’s right, Lady Deadpool is fighting for your rights to watch the cooking channel and enjoy your bacon-wrapped porkchops! As always the not-so-subtle satire of a Deadpool story is worth reading, though this one-shot doesn’t have quite the same feeling to the writing as most of the other Deadpool titles running currently.
If Deadpool isn’t your kind of story, The New Avengers #2 has a bit more superhero action in a story that may just end the world as we know it. The entities after the Eye of Agamotto have possessed Luke Cage to try and get it, and the New Avengers trash Avengers Mansion trying to stop the possessed Cage, Dr. Strange, and Daimon Hellstrom. We still don’t know who is after the Eye, but if they get away with it Everything may just be over. This story is action, start to finish. Heroic Age indeed.
Finally, not to be forgotten, or possibly to be un-forgotten, Amazing Spider-Man #638 starts One Moment In Time. Will Peter and MJ’s life be set right again? This issue is an interesting mix of new story and art with panels and pages from ASM Annual #21 in which Peter and his bride-to-be prepare for a wedding now undone. This issue started a bit slowly, but it picked up steam by the end. This one isn’t an ideal jumping-on issue, but if you are or have been a Spidey fan pick it up and see where it goes.
What do you think of these titles? What are you going to read this week that I didn’t mention? Leave your comments below.
We’re leaving on a jet-plane for beautiful, sunny San Diego to cover SDCC ‘10. We need your help to cover the “big show,” so get on Twitter and tell us what you’d like to see!
Every month, we choose a few outstanding product reviewers and send them free stuff as part of our Product Review Contest. After poring through some amazing product reviews from June’s submissions, we narrowed the field to three victors.
The show may be long gone but with this book you can extend your enjoyment and pretend that it’s still on the air. It’s like seeing a long-lost friend once again. It’s a must have for Firefly fans.
Dixon from Tennessee reviewed Green Hornet Year One #2. Here’s what he had to say about the issue:
I gave this one four stars because I’m just really enjoying the comic. Wagner and co are hitting all the right beats for me with this year one story. I love the vintage setting and the way the color pallet and art work bring it to life so vividly. The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is because it reminds me so much of the Lone Ranger origin books Dynamite – not to mention Batman Begins.
However, I don’t say that in a bad way! This is a great retelling of the Hornet’s origin with a crackling good “Kato-only” adventure paralleling it.
Think Batman Begins type story telling set in Indiana Jones’ time with Elliot Ness’ Chicago backdrop. High fives all around for Wagner and crew!
I ordered the first 2 TPB of this series because it sounded really good but then I got it and it was regular book(ish) paper and I thought all graphic novels were printed on glossy magazine paper so I was sad but then I started reading and I was enthralled. It’s about people who are given a briefcase with 100 untraceable bullets, a gun, and evidence proving someone ruined their life. The rest is up to them. Really good series so far.
All three of this month’s winners will get $25 TFAW gift certificates to pick up anything they want! Thank you to everybody who submitted product reviews last month and congratulations to the winners.
As always, we’re choosing our product reviews carefully, so please don’t submit duplicate reviews or submissions from other merchant websites. You don’t have to like the product to snag a winning review, so feel free to rant or gush.
So submit your reviews and help your fellow collectors, and us, sort out the “HOT” from the “NOT”! Who knows, you may be one of next month’s winners.
HOW TO SUBMIT A PRODUCT REVIEW:
It’s simple! Just visit any product page and look for this:
Click on it and our product review form will appear in a popup. Just fill out the pertinent information and submit your review, and you’re done! We’ll take a look at your review and get it up on the product page soon thereafter!
There’s also a really easy way for you to call up everything you’ve ever ordered from us and review it. Simply log in to your account and go into the Order History Section. Next to each item, you’ll see a “Review it!” link.
CHECK OUT THIS WEEK’S ARRIVALS
