QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 10-10-07

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 10-10-07
By John Judy

ABSOLUTE SANDMAN VOL.2 HC by Neil Gaiman and Too Many Art Gods to Mention. Collecting issues #21-39 of the classic series along with all kinds of extra goodies in an over-sized format worthy of the material. To paraphrase Robin Williams “Absolute Editions are God’s way of saying “You got too much money!””

BLACK ADAM THE DARK AGE #3 of 6 by Peter Tomasi and Doug Mahnke. DC’s best-loved mass murderer fights Hawkman. Good thing the Big H is into reincarnation.

BLACK SUMMER #3 of 7 by Warren Ellis and Juan Jose Ryp. Bodies everywhere, super-heroes on the run, and a U.S. President in the morgue. The series that’s gonna get Ellis water-boarded in an undisclosed location. Read it before they burn down the comic stores! Not for kids. Recommended.

BOOSTER GOLD #3 by Geoff Johns, Jeff Katz, and Dan Jurgens. Our Hero goes back to the Old West and meets Jonah Hex, as everyone who goes back to the Old West is wont to do. If you miss HBO’s “Deadwood” this will just remind you how bad it hurts. It’s a time-travel story that doesn’t suck. Recommended.

CAPTAIN CARROT AND THE FINAL ARK #1 of 3 by Bill Morrison and Scott Shaw! The anthropomorphic JLA is back and the they brought The Funny with ‘em! It might be possible to read this book sober but I wouldn’t advise it. Gotta look!

EC ARCHIVES: VAULT OF HORROR VOL.1 HC by The Elder Gods of Horror. Collecting the first six issues from 1950-51. Twenty-four spine-tingling, subversive tales with a foreward by R.L. Stine. You must own this book. Highly recommended.

FANTASTIC FOUR #550 by Dwayne McDuffie and Paul Pelletier. Somebody in Marvel Editorial really wants us to care about a minor character named “Gravity.” It’s time to let it go, Somebody. We’re just not that into him. Also guest-starring the Silver Surfer and Dr. Strange, pre- or post- “Civil War.” Can’t tell anymore.

FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #24 by J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada. “One More Day”, chapter two of the Aunt may death-watch can be found here.

GARTH ENNIS CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD SC by GE and Jacen Burrows. A rollicking good six issues of blasphemy from Ireland’s favorite son. Featuring a brain-damaged Rasta Jesus, a talking rabbit, and an Aussie Pope. It’s great, but absolutely NOT FOR KIDS. Recommended.

GREEN LANTERN #24 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. Hal’s still fighting the Sinestro Corps War but this issue features one of those classic “Screwed-Up Statue of Liberty” covers that have been a staple of fantasy adventure ever since Charlton Heston had the worst walk on the beach ever in “Planet of the Apes.”

I KILLED ADOLF HITLER GN by Jason. Okay, what if a hitman traveled back in time to kill Hitler but somehow Hitler got away and came to the future? Wouldn’t it have made those “Back to the Future” movies way more interesting? Especially if the crazy actor who played George McFly got to play Hitler? From Fantagraphics.

NEW AVENGERS #35 by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Yu. Something bad appears to happen to Tigra the Were-Woman beyond being named “Tigra the were-Woman.” Guest-starring “Wol-Venom-Rine” if we are to believe the cover.

PUNISHER #51 by Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov. How hard is it to get a sitter if the Barracuda’s got your baby? Looks like a seriously dark story-line even by Garth Ennis standards. NOT for kids.

PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #12 by Matt Fraction and Ariel Olivetti. Frank puts on a insane exo-skeleton super-suit and fights aliens in this “World War Hulk” cross-over. Because isn’t that what the Punisher’s all about?

RUNAWAYS #28 by Joss Whedon and Michael Ryan. Your semi-annual dose of Joss Whedon-y goodness can be found here! Lotsa twists and turns in yet another of the few time-travel stories that doesn’t suck. Recommended.

SIMON DARK #1 by Steve Niles and Scott Hampton. Gotham City has a new guardian creature of the night. Okay, it’s kind of like opening next to a Wal-Mart, but the creative team is amazing. Gotta look.

SUPERMAN #668 by Kurt Busiek and Rick Leonardi. “The Third Kryptonian” story-line begins here, although because the mystery-supe is a new character he or she should properly be called “The 6th or 7th Kryptonian.” Of course that doesn’t sound as cool…

WOLVERINE #58 by Marc Guggenheim and Howard Chaykin. Did you know that every time Logan gets really messed up his soul goes to heaven to fight an angel who hides his real name in an anagram? See? This is why you’re not part of Marvel’s on-going “Who Can Write the Stupidest Wolverine Story EVER?!” contest.

WONDER WOMAN #13 by Gail Simone and Terry & Rachel Dodson. At long last we have Gail Simone writing this title! Between that and the Dodsons’ art we are looking at this week’s Must-Read. Recommended.

X-FACTOR #24 by Peter David and Pablo Raimondi. Wrapping up the latest story of the latest guy who wants to kill all the mutants.

X-MEN DIE BY THE SWORD #1 of 5 by Chris Claremont and Juan Santacruz. Don’t let the title fool you. It’s “Excalibur Meets the Exiles.” Recommended for people with easy access to whiskey and guns with one bullet. Five issues, dear god….

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