QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 01-16-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 01-16-08
By John Judy
(Support Striking WGA Writers! Buy their comic books!)

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #547 by Dan Slott and Steve McNiven. Nevermind the plot, I just want to see if they can really get this thing out three weeks a month. Betting pool? BTW, Dan Slott rocks and it looks like Spidey’s fighting ninjas or Yakuza or possibly those poor, metal-faced Persians from “300.”

ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL #3 by Joss Whedon, Brian Lynch, and Franco Urru. Illyria’s back. Hijinks ensue. Recommended.

BONE COLOR EDITION VOL.7: GHOST CIRCLES HC & SC written and illustrated by Jeff Smith. The Bone Epic continues and (despite the name) is appropriate for all ages. Your bookshelf awaits.

BOOSTER GOLD #6 by Geoff Johns and Dan Jurgens. The one we’ve been waiting for. Can Booster save Blue Beetle? Fingers crossed.

DISNEY’S DUCKTAILS BY MARV WOLFMAN: SCROOGE’S QUEST SC by MW and Various Artists. Gemstone Publishing has brought this back into print for the first time since 1990. It’s Scrooge McDuck by the guy who re-invented the Teen Titans, among other things. Gotta look.

DMZ #27 by Brian Wood and Nathan Fox. So what do people do for night-time fun in post-apocalypse New York? Pretty much what they do now except with even more gunplay, if such a thing is possible. Not for kids, recommended.

DOOM PATROL VOL. 6: PLANET LOVE SC by Grant Morrison, Richard Case, and Friends. The final volume of Morrison’s legendary run on the junkyard dogs of DC’s super-teams. Collecting DP #58-63 and DOOM FORCE SPECIAL #1. Recommended.

EC ARCHIVES: CRIME SUSPENSTORIES, VOL. 1 HC by Feldstein, Wood, Craig, Ingels, Kurtzman, Kamen, David, and Roussos. The EC Gods of 1950-51 have willed us these 24 twisted masterpieces. The first six issues of this series are all here. You must have this book.

FELL #9 by Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith. “Detective Richard Fell: Hostage Negotiator.” Do you really need to know more? Highly recommended.

GRENDEL: BEHOLD THE DEVIL #3 of 8 written and illustrated by Matt Wagner. The story is good but the art is A Gift from On High. The world is better for the presence of Matt Wagner and his drafting table. Recommended.

IMMORTAL IRON FIST #12 by Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, and David Aja. Okay, it’s taken a year but now some of the intrigue is starting to clear up and it looks like a great fight is in the works. Putting the “Capital!” back in “Seven Capital Cities of Heaven!” Recommended.

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #113 by Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, and Khoi Pham. While the Red Hulk is off doing his thing, Herc’s keeping this series going with a little help from the Smart Asian Kid who IS NOT a surrogate for any comic writer we know of so put that idea right out of your mind, Mister-Man! This issue touches upon some of Herc’s classical Greek back-story so that’s kind of cool. Also, a family reunion with Ares occurs.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #17 by Several People. Two stories, no waiting! Big fight up front, mystery in the back. Something for everyone!

THUNDERBOLTS VOL. 1: FAITH IN MONSTERS SC by Warren Ellis, Mike Deodato, and Others. Collecting T-Bolts #110-115 and a couple of miscellaneous
Stories showing how Ellis transformed this team into The Dirty Dozen on crack. Recommended, but too violent for younger kids.

WOLVERINE ORIGINS #21 by Daniel Way and Steve Dillon. Deadpool guest-stars as this title explores what may be its proper place in the universe: As an “Itchy and Scratchy” cartoon.

ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS VS AMAZONS #2 of 3 by Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood. Exactly what it says, kids. Not for kids.

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