WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Picks

Best From The Past Week: Scarlet #7 – I’m not sure I like the central character very much, but this series is fulfilling a central requirement of something that is “art” in that it can mean different things to different people.  A story doesn’t have to be just about “the STORY” that the creators want to tell, it can also be a bit of empty vessel that you can toss your own experiences and attitudes into.  I think some people see it as a story about the morality of killing corrupt police and it IS that story, but it can also be a story about taking action against any sort of authority figure that loses their moral right to lead.  Check it out…..it certainly has more going for it than your typical Biff, Bang, Pow! comic.

Most Anticipated: Amazing… Since I returned to comics as an adult, I think this is the first week I haven’t had a single Marvel title on my pull-list.  Never thought that would happen…

1. Lazarus #2 – Well, the talent is present (writer Greg Rucka, artist Michael Lark), the setting fits my tastes (dystopian future) and the first issue was a Pick of the Week.  I expect this to be really good.

2. The Massive #14 – Last issue was a big jump forward for the series because the story took a break from this ongoing “find The Massive” storyline and took us to a flooded, post-Crash NYC in search of a hijacked Russian nuclear submarine.  The Massive (the series) is much better when it focuses on the post-Crash world than when it is about people looking for The Massive (the ship).

3. The Unwritten #51 – I really didn’t like the first issue of the Fables/Unwritten story because it was mostly a story that told an alternative version of Fables rather than being an Unwritten story.  Let’s hope they get it right this issue or #52 won’t even be on my list next month.

4. GI Joe: Cobra Files #4 – As I always say, the Cobra-themed book is always the best GI Joe comic.  Much of that is due to Antonio Fuso’s art, but there is also a LOT of cool interpersonal drama and villainous intrigue going on.  There are unclear motives, femme fatales, heroes who might turn traitor, villains who might be going straight……  It’s all good stuff.

5. Star Wars Legacy #5 – This series hasn’t had quite the snap that I had hoped.  I really enjoyed the first Legacy series and while this new Legacy series looks great due to the artistic talents of Gabriel Hardman, the stakes are really small.  I mean, it seems that the good guys and bad guys are squabbling over a communications relay in some outlying system.  I’m unsure why I should care about this story.

Hugo’s Picks

Best From The Past Week: Batman ’66 #1 – While there were certainly some well crafted and pleasant books this week, none surprised me or were as enjoyable as the crazy and fun-filled homage to the zany series from the 60’s by Jeff Parker. This was pitch perfect, as it had comedy, action and matched the tone of the series in a way that was both respectful and satiric. Jonathan Case was also quite great on the art, solidifying this title as a book that is not to be missed.

Most Anticipated:

1. New Avengers #8 – While this book has been consistent in term of quality, this one seems especially nice for one reason: Black Bolt. I rather like the Inhumans and seeing Jonathan Hickman take on the politics of this monarchy with the most enigmatic man in the Illuminati could be very promising indeed. If this issue is like the others, high quality in both writing and art is to be expected, thus earning my number one spot.

2. Uncanny Avengers #10 – The continued difficulties that Remender puts his character through are always entertaining, as he is a writer that does not seem to fear being ambitious in his stories. If this series can gain the amount of greatness that Uncanny X-Force had, which it is on its way to, this could quickly become one of the series to look forward to even more with each passing month.

3. Hunger #1 – While there had been some hardships on the whole Ultimate line, there has been a return to form ever since Joshua Hale Fialkov appeared. With his lack of reservation in playing to the strength of the Ultimate line (anyone can die, things aren’t supposed to be the same as their normal counterparts), I am curious to see what he can do on the cosmic front with a character like Galactus. I do love some cosmic stories and the Ultimate line in general, so seeing the both of them merging together might give us something great to look forward to.

4) Superior Spider-Man #14 – The continued adventures of this controversial character are always entertaining, yet I have to admit that I have no real idea where Slott is taking Otto next. With the way the latest issue ended, the book is open for a lot of opportunities, some of them I sincerely hope Dan Slott will take advantage of. It’s a rare treat not knowing at all what will happen next and this book is certainly able to give us that.

5) Journey Into Mystery #654 – While the latest issue wasn’t nearly as brilliant as some of the previous ones in this series, I still retain some optimism about where this story could go. With Beta Ray Bill, Sif, Valerio Schitti and the always fun writing of Kathryn Immonen, this title can deliver on the fun and I do believe it may be do just that in this issue.