WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Batman #9 – This wasn’t the best issue of Batman we’ve gotten from Snyder and Capullo, but still serves as evidence of their quality as creators.  Even in an off week, they’re still taking home the cheese.  It seems that not even a stupid crossover event can thwart these guys!  The story is still neat and well-written and the art is gorgeous.  Runner-up: Mystery in Space #1 (Don’t stop with these Vertigo anthologies.  I love them!  I just wish they had a more sensible naming/numbering system.)

Most anticipated this week: Saga #3 – This comic has the complete package right now: great writing, great art and – since we’re only on issue #3 – it still has that “new series smell”.  Heck, even the subject matter (space opera) is something I really enjoy.  Don’t miss!

Other Picks:

Scalped #58 – Like the top choice, this comic also features great writing and art, but rather than “new series smell” it gains extra points for being the third to last issue in the series.  I’m going to MISS Scalped when it is gone, but we’ll all enjoy whatever bloody conclusion Aaron and Guera have in store for us.  It’s too late to “jump onboard”, but you should definitely read this series if you like comic books for grown-ups.

Saucer Country #3 – I’m really enjoying the general theme of this series: female candidate for President is an alien abductee and wants to use the power of the highest office against the little gray bastards.  Neat, huh?  Combined with that interesting premise has been some very strong character work by writer Paul Cornell. After only two issues, we have a LOT of developed characters who seem like real people.  The art by Ryan Kelly has been very good and is only going to get better as it seems like he’s still figuring out working with a colorist.

The Manhattan Projects #3 – So far, this series has been Hickman at his best: wacky sci-fi ideas combined with a tinge of perversion.  This is the kind of stuff he couldn’t write at Marvel even if he felt like giving away his really good ideas.  The basic premise is that during World War II, the government has gathered a group of super-scientists to take on secret projects … of which the atomic bomb was only one.  The cool thing is how all the scientists are warped versions of their namesakes.

Dancer #1 – Honestly, I don’t recall the pitch for this comic beyond it involving assassins, but I remember that the creative team is Nathan Edmondson (who I’ve enjoyed on The Activity and Who is Jake Ellis) and Nic Klein (who I LOVED on Viking a few years ago).

AvX Vs. #2 – Why did I put this on my pull list when I knew there was a good chance of it being utter shit?????  If you’re into seeing fights that don’t end the way they really should and have equivocal pro-wrestling style endings, look no further!  I think we owe it to Marvel to make fun of this property.

Alex’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: Fatale #5 – Complete and utter mayhem as the Ed Brubaker/Sean Phillips pulp horror book reaches a boiling point.  Stunning twists and a redeeming, heart-rending character moment take this book to another level, as Brubaker and Phillips let us gaze upon the face of Fatale’s Lovecraftian horror.

Most Anticipated: Saga #3 –  This is the “hot” book on stands right now, and rightfully so.  In two issues, Vaughan and Staples have created a fully realized, elaborate world with compelling, sympathetic characters and lush artwork.  An absolute must-have and if it’s not on your pull-list, you might be doing this whole “comic book thing” wrong.

Other Picks:

Manhattan Projects #3 –  It’s basically Jonathan Hickman unchained, with wild, big concepts in a book that’s basically mid 20th century history on a cocktail of LSD and way too many energy drinks.  The art also reminds me of my high school days reading/watching Heavy Metal and Frank Miller’s Hard Boiled.

Avengers vs. X-Men #4 – Another sure thing for me and not only because it’s the big Marvel event.  It’s a big Marvel event that’s actually FUN and doesn’t suck.  It’s the best Marvel event in a very long time, one that’s more character-based, which makes the high stakes feel all the higher.

Invincible Iron Man #517 – This is also going to be going home with me.  Put simply, this book has been absolutely killing it lately.  Full of poignant character moments, edge of your seat action, emotion, and dramatic twists, the book has never been better than it is right now, which says a lot given that a few short years ago, it was a fully justifiable Eisner-winner.

Winter Soldier #5 – This book basically has been Brubaker doing the sort of Marvel comic that he excels at.  Inky noir meets spy-thriller Cold War shenanigans, along with possibly my favourite Marvel character of all (Dr. Doom).  A shadowy, gripping read that has a timeless quality to it in both writing and art.