Well I started my new job and it’s going very well. Waking up at 4 to get to work by 6 is rough, but getting off at 3 is nice. I got caught up on 2 weeks worth of comics yesterday and here are some stand outs.

That first issue was a lot better than I was expecting. It’s pretty cool they put Leia in the action like that. I never considered Leia one of those “damsel in distress” types. I think her character is much cooler when she is more active and aggressive. From the looks of the final few pages, that could continue.

It’s not often a book makes you say “what the fuck.” Scott Snyder’s Batman had a ton of em. I guess it’s fitting since it is a Joker story. Capullo is also a huge part of what makes this book so crazy and creepy. This is the perfect combination of plot and art. The story isn’t complete but I’m going to go ahead and say this will top the Court of Owls story in terms of awesomeness. Oh is everything thinking the same thing as far as what is on the platter?

The current arc of Fairest has some of the eye exploding-ly beautiful art of any book on the shelf. Inaki Miranda has been drawing some really cool scenes. I think the best so far was Rapunzel in the well. That has some excellent use of color, space, and mood. This book has been a lot of fun to read.

Captain Marvel had some very cool art. I dig that cartoony sketchy style. Kelly Sue really has a good grasp of Carol’s voice and Jessica’s for that matter.

And well Savage Wolverine has Frank Cho in his element which is Shanna and dinosaurs. What’s not to like? I do wonder how long this book will run though. Seems like a finite story on the surface.

That would be very cool. It didn’t occur to me but the cast of the movie has potential to really expand through a second and third movie. I wonder if everyone would remain if Captain Marvel is cast? That’s a lot of superheroes on the screen and obviously would be a lot of fun to watch. If Carol does appear I hope she keeps the Captain Marvel title, I don’t know why she wouldn’t, but I think Captain Marvel sounds better than Ms. Marvel when talking about the Avengers and the scale of the movie and stories.

September is close and fall will be here before ya know it. I’ll admit I’m looking forward to some cooler weather; mainly because I like wearing hoodies. Lots of good stuff to look forward to in the fall too. A lot of video games will be coming and some good comic book stories will be underway. Here’s my quick list of what I’m getting this week.

• TMNT Micro Series
• Justice League
• Avenging Spider-Man
• AvX VS-Black Panther vs. Storm! Lovers quarrel! I’m rooting for Storm
• Captain Marvel
• American Vampire-I pity the fool who doesn’t read American Vampire!
• Gambit
• Wolverine and the X-Men
• Uncanny X-Force-This book is so damn good it should be twice a month.

It’s a Marvel heavy list this week. I’m really looking forward to reading UXF, Captain Marvel, American Vampire, and Wolverine and the X-Men. What are you looking forward to reading?

geeked101:

Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) (Art by Corran Brownlee)

Coming out of AvX the X-titles look like they’ll be really exciting. Anyone else find it weird certain names are missing from the X-Solicitations? (Emma, Colossus, Magik, Hope)

X-MEN #38
Brian Wood (W) • David Lopez (A&C)
• It’s Domino vs the X-Men!
• Domino has always been lucky…or maybe the people around her are just unlucky.
• Start reading here!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I don’t know what it is about Domino that I find so cool. I think it’s just the way she is written. Maybe it’s the white and black! Undertones of racial harmony? Either way a spotlight story on her is welcomed.

UNCANNY X-FORCE #33 & #34
RICK REMENDER (W) • PHIL NOTO (A)
CoverS BY JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO
• FINAL EXECUTION races to its thrilling conclusion!
• X-Force brings the attack to the Brotherhood, but there is dissension in the ranks.
• Genesis faces the truth about Apocalypse and his destiny!
32 PGS. (EACH)/Parental Advisory …$3.99 (EACH)

I’m certain someone will be dying by the end of this. If it’s a villain it’s probably going to be brutal and if it’s another X-Force member it will be terrible and tragic. Noto is doing the art again. Yes!

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #20 & 21
Issue 20 – Jason Aaron (w) • Steven Sanders (a)

Nick Bradshaw (c)
Issue 21 – Jason Aaron (w) • Nick Bradshaw (a & c)
• STORM joins the faculty of the Jean Grey School!
• Wolverine is a clown? Iceman is a fire swallower? Rachel Grey a fortune teller?
• Frankenstein’s Murder Circus comes to town!

Sweet! Storm only makes this book even better. Was she ever a good fit on Cyclops team anyway?

CAPTAIN MARVEL #7
KELLY SUE DECONNICK (W) • DEXTER SOY (A)
Cover by Jamie McKelvie
• Captain Marvel goes head to head with… Captain Marvel?
• Former Captain, Monica Rambeau returns! But what’s her problem with the Earth’s Mightiest Hero?
• Find out why Captain Marvel is the most talked about series of the year!

Marvel vs. Marvel. Should be interesting.

AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #14
CULLEN BUNN (W) • GABRIELE DELL’OTTO (A&C)

Horizon Labs take a field trip to the Savage Land! But when has a trip to the Savage Land ever gone right?
When a horde of super-powered lizards attack, it’s up to Spider-Man, Devil Dinosaur, and Moon Boy to save the day!
Raptors are bad enough, but can Spidey overcome a prehistoric language barrier, too?

This sounds like it will be a fun issue. Art by Dell’otto is a nice bonus.

A+X #2
KAARE ANDREWS & PETER DAVID (W)
KAARE ANDREWS & MIKE DEL MUNDO (A)
Cover by KAARE ANDREWS
Variant Cover by ED MCGUINNESS & TBA
Sketch Variant by ED MCGUINNESS
• Spider-Man and Beast fight zombies in a story by Kaare Andrews (AVX: VERSUS)!
• Iron Man, Kitty Pryde and Lockheed fight the Brood in a story by Peter David and your favorite artist!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

What exactly is A+X?

UNCANNY Avengers #2
RICK REMENDER (W) • John Cassaday (A&C)
Variant Cover by MILO MANARA
Sketch Variant Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
• What are The Red Skull’s new powers? How did he become the most powerful man on Earth?
• Can Havok and Thor defeat the spreading influence of Honest John, The Living Propaganda?!
• Rogue and Scarlet Witch trapped on the Isle of the Red Skull’s S-Men!
• Wolverine & Captain America: uncover the truth behind the worldwide mutant assassination epidemic!

Havok and Thor. Two characters I’d never thought I’d see work together. Given Remender’s history with UXF I’d be concerned for these characters. But this book won’t be as grim as UXF right?

Well now after months of waiting and looking at awesome teaser images the first issue finally arrived. I’m happy to say it was a very enjoyable first read. I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I read Carol’s last solo title which was titled “Ms. Marvel” and ran for 50 issues and that was a really good run. Brian Reed handled Carol pretty well sending her on all kinds of great adventures and even digging into her past.

Now that KSD has a shot it appears she hits the ground and it works well. I’m glad she didn’t spend too much time explaining the new suit. Maybe there will be more detail in coming issues, but all Carol says about it is that it’s Stark designed and impermeable. That’s enough for me.

One thing I did notice is that Carol is very assertive from the start. She shouts orders at Captain America and even gets a “Yes Ma’am” and a “Sir” from the de facto superhero community leader. And it all feels so natural and smooth. As I read it I wasn’t thinking, “hey wait she can’t give orders to Cap. He’s Cap!” I think that speaks to her popularity and standing within the Marvel Universe.

Her interaction with Spider-Man was a bit more humorous (it usually is). Their scene was a nice balance to the serious tone of the rest of the book. Carol seems tougher and definitely more confident in herself.

Dexter Soy is a great artist. He reminds me a little of Sana Takeda in that the art looks like pastel and has a tiny blur to it, if that makes any sense. I love the progression of the helmet coming together over Carol’s face. It’s just a fantastic looking book all around.

A great start for Captain Marvel.

Everyone buy a copy of Captain Marvel this week. I really want this book to do well and have a very long run.

It’s gonna be another big week. This is like the 3rd week in a row of really good books. Check out my list

Avengers Vs X-Men #8 - The saga continues. I’m waiting for some to kick the bucket. I originally was on the side of the X-Men, but now I’m not on either side really.

Batwoman #11 - This has been a very long but very good story. Kate has run into all sorts of craziness in the search for the missing children. I’m excited to see how this plays out.

Birds Of Prey #11 - So many questions! Just like the first arc Swierczynski keeps the details close to his chest. It’s an effective writing style if you don’t mind waiting for answers

Captain Marvel #1 - Finally the wait is over! This will probably be the first book I read. Don’t know if I’m more excited for DeConnick’s story or Soy’s art.

Catwoman #11 - The plot thickens and twists as Selina’s relationships seem like that could complicate things. Her partner in crime Spark is working for dirty cops and she is also working for an honest cop. There’s also some creepy serial killer turning victims into dolls.

Daredevil #15 - I kinda chuckled at the last page of issue 14. Poor Matt has had his senses dull and he’s kinda “powerless” and clueless about his surrounding. Not to mention whatever Foggy found in Matt’s desk. I was debating dropping this book, but I’m glad I didn’t.

Justice League #11 - Well what happens next after it appears the league was bested by a new enemy?

Rachel Rising #9 - My favorite book I want more people to read because it deserves a ton of readers. Moore is writing a really really good story in this one. Horror fans should not miss this title.

Uncanny X-Men #16 - Somehow Gillen has made Mr. Sinister interesting. He was a villain I felt got used too much. He’s like a cockroach. You think you killed em but they keep coming back. Anyway his own city beneath the earth’s surface full of clones was fascinating.

Wonder Woman #11 - A new story and Cliff Chiang is back! Awesome. I think Tony Akins did a fantastic job. His pencils got better and better as his run went on.

Preview of Captain Marvel #1 which drops next week. It’s gonna be awesome! The art looks fantastic. It almost looks like it was done with pastels. Cap addressing Carol as sir made me grin.

Well this is where the big changes start! Here are some books from Newsarama that seem groin grabbingly good.

 ENLARGE

UNCANNY AVENGERS #1
RICK REMENDER (W) • JOHN CASSADAY (A&C)
Variant Covers by ADI GRANOV, DANIEL ACUNA, SKOTTIE YOUNG & TWO MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!
Sketch Variant Cover by JOHN CASSADAY & TBA
Deadpool Call Me Maybe Variant by TBA
Uncanny & Avengers Variants also available
Blank Cover also available
ALL NEW ONGOING!
• THIS IS IT! The greatest era of the Marvel Universe starts here! From the ashes of AvX an all-new, all-different Avengers assemble!
• Captain America begins his quest to create a sanctioned Avengers unit comprised of Avengers and X-Men, humans and mutants working together – so why is Professor Xavier’s dream more at risk than ever?
• The first attack of the most loathsome villain in history will quake the Marvel Universe forever!
• The funeral of one of Marvel’s greatest heroes!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

This will definitely be one worth checking out. I’ll take some more X-Men on the Avengers even if they aren’t my favorites. I have faith that Remender will make it interesting.

 ENLARGE

NEW AVENGERS #31
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • MICHAEL GAYDOS (A)
COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
END TIMES HAVE ARRIVED!
• The final explosive arc for long-time Avengers writer Brian Michael Bendis.
• Now that the New Avengers have sacrificed all they had to fight the Phoenix, many are asking hard questions: Is it time for New Avengers to call it quits?
• Meanwhile, one of the New Avengers deadliest foes hatches his elaborate plot for revenge!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

 ENLARGE

NEW AVENGERS #32
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • CARLOS PACHECO (A)
COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
END TIMES CONTINUES!
• The New Avengers are thrown into disarray as one of their deadliest enemies has returned.
• Many hard and permanent choices need to be made in this final arc of the New Avengers saga.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Looks like Brother Voodoo’s brother is back for revenge. Or is that Brother Voodoo himself? Anyway this story was hinted at on that huge display in that Avengers story from years ago.

 ENLARGE

HAWKEYE #3
MATT FRACTION (W) • DAVID AJA (A&C)
• What is the Vagabond Code?
• Barton and Bishop mean Double the Hawkeye…and Double the trouble.
• Fraction and Aja are back with a chase that will blow not only your mind, but several your ancestors’ minds as well.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Still debating this book. Hawkeye never really was an interesting character. After House of M and what just happened in AvX it doesn’t seem many writers are fond of him either. However, Fraction and Aja make an awesome team. There’s also the Young Avenger Kate Bishop!

 ENLARGE

CAPTAIN MARVEL #5 & 6
KELLY SUE DECONNICK (W) • Emma Rios (A)
COVER BY Terry Dodson
Susan G. Komen Variant Cover by JOE QUINONES
Issue #5
• Carol lives every 99ers dream! Toe-to-toe with some of best pilots in American history!
• Captain Marvel turned thief?!
Issue #6
A battle through time! The shocking conclusion!
• Guest appearance by the classic Captain Marvel, Mar-Vell!
• And an All-New Captain Marvel?!
32 PGS. (EACH)/Rated T+ …$2.99 (EACH)

YES!

 ENLARGE

X-MEN #37
BRIAN WOOD (W) • DAVID LOPEZ (A/C)
• Meet the last living Proto-Mutant!
• The Storm-Cyclops divide widens as the team starts to unravel
• Colossus has his own agenda…will he leave the team to pursue it?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I love the potential Storm-Cyclops rift developing in X-Men. A big part of it is that Storm is finally being put in the leadership role and making big decisions. This type of story for Storm is long overdo. Kudos to Brian Wood.

 ENLARGE

GAMBIT #4
JAMES ASMUS (W) • CLAY MANN (A&C)
• The world-shaking conclusion of the first arc of Gambit’s new ongoing series!
• Cursed by an ancient artifact, betrayed by his only ally, and staring down a Guatemalan god monster accidentally loosed on Earth, it’s going to take all of Gambit’s cunning to win the day this time!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

I really want this book to do well and have substantial run. I’m dying to see what solo adventures are cooked up for Remy.

 ENLARGE

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #18 & 19
JASON AARON (W) • NICK BRADSHAW & STEVEN SANDERS (A&C)
Covers by NICK BRADSHAW
• The second year of the most talked-about new X-Book starts here!
• One of the students is on death’s door and the faculty must 1) try to keep them alive and 2) find who did it!
• With one of the teachers on the outs, a new one must be hired. Who will it be?
• Who is the new student at the school?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Looks like the fun continues in this book. My second favorite X-title.

 ENLARGE

UNCANNY X-FORCE #32
RICK REMENDER (W) • PHIL NOTO (A)
Cover by JEROME OPENA
• FINAL EXECUTION nears its brutal finish!
• X-Force finally faces the new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants all together!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

I always felt Opena’s style fit better with X-Force. I’m not complaining about Noto at all though.

kellysue:

Oh, I love this one 

sahaminiloki:

Captain Marvel. I cant wait for her first appearance! *.*

The hair looks cool.

• I reserved Creator-Owned Heroes last week. I enjoyed the first issue of COH and I think it will be a neat comic magazine.
• I also reserved Captain Marvel. I think the first issue is coming soon and I can’t wait.
• I’m leaving work now to go get the new Linkin Park album. Woo hoo!
• Tomorrow is new comics day! Do you realize how much Wednesdays would suck if it were not for comic books? What a terrible scene that would be right?

Here’s what has me excited.

GAMBIT #3
James Asmus (w) • Clay Mann (a/C)
• Desperately searching for a means to destroy the pilfered artifact that’s cursed him, Gambit journeys deep into the jungles of Guatemala with a mysterious ally, in search of a lost temple. But instead of answers, he may just find betrayal!

Gambit in Guatemala? To be honest not what I expected for a Gambit story, but that’s a good thing. I’m alright with a fresh direction story wise for Remy. And look! Clay Mann does the art!

UNCANNY X-FORCE #31 
RICK REMENDER (w) • Phil Noto (a)
Cover by JEROME OPEñA
• The Final Exectution kicks into high gear
• What is left of X-Force go up against the new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants for the last time.

I have every reason to believe Rick is crafting a historically awesome story. Every arc things get a bit crazier and more dramatic. I always wonder what can he possible do next and boom he goes and takes the book to an even higher level. Must. Read.

THE PUNISHER #15 & 16
GREG RUCKA (w) • Marco Checchetto (a)
Cover by Kalman Andrasofszky (#15)
Cover by Marco Checchetto (#16)
• ISSUE #15 – The Punisher vs. the NYPD. Nobody wins.
• ISSUE #16 – The Punisher and Cole reach a shared conclusion. Prepare for the War Zone.

Punisher reads like a gritty and violent television cop drama/thriller show but in a comic book. Rucka is on his A game.

HAWKEYE #2
MATT FRACTION (w) • DAVID AJA (a/C)
• What you need to know: Fraction. Aja. Hawkeye. Kate Bishop. Cars. Guns.
• Stealing from the rich never looked so good.
• Get. Now.

Argh! Still not sure if I want to get this. Not a Hawkeye fan, but this sounds good. Aja and Bishop are big draws for me. I may have to check it out.

CAPTAIN MARVEL #4
KELLY SUE DECONNICK (w) • DEXTER SOY (A)
Cover by Ed MCGUINNESS
• DeConnick and Soy are back as the biggest new book of 2012 erupts into a wild ride that may change the course of History!
• Witness Blazing Battlefield Action as Captain Marvel finds herself in the middle of all out war.

Sounds like it will be an action packed book full of explosions, thrills, whizzing bullets, and overall fun.

AVENGERS VS X-MEN #11
BRIAN BENDIS (w) • OLIVIER COIPEL (a)
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
AVENGERS TEAM VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
KUBERT VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
PICHELLI SKETCH VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
PICHELLI VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
PROMO VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
X-MEN TEAM VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
The final month of AVX opens with the first of two extra-sized issues!
• Fatality!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

AVENGERS VS X-MEN #12 (of 12)
JASON AARON (w) • ADAM KUBERT (a)
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
Variant cover by JEROME OPEñA
AVENGERS TEAM VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
KUBERT VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
OPEñA SKETCH VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
OPEñA VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
PROMO VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
X-MEN TEAM VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
Extra-sized final issue!
• It’s all come down to this! The final battle—as the world burns!
48 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

So who is gonna kick the bucket? Avenger or X-Man? Nightcrawler died recently. So are the Avengers due? Or will another mutant fall?

Avx: Vs #6 (of 6)
KIERON GILLEN & VARIOUS (w) • JIM CHEUNG & VARIOUS (a)
Cover BY JIM CHEUNG • Fight Variant Cover by STUART IMMONEN
• The premiere AVX tie-in comes to a rip-roaring conclusion!
• SCARLET WITCH VS. HOPE straight out of AVX #12!
• And two fights weren’t enough for the last issue, so we packed in as many fights and fan-favorite characters as possible!
• Mini fights from the best creators in the business! Jeph Loeb, Arthur Adams, Stuart and Kathryn Immonen, Jason Aaron and many others!

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

Kelly Sue DeConnick was kind enough to answer a question I posed to her about Captain Marvel’s helmet via tumblr a couple days ago. I’ve seen a bunch of illustrations where she was drawn with and without the helmet. So it got me to thinking what’s the story behind it. The helmet design has some clear Kree influences, but as far as that I couldn’t surmise much else. Here’s what Kelly Sue…Kelly…KSD…Ms. DeConnick said..

The helmet deploys and retracts, depending on whether she wants it or not. As I see it, the helmet serves a couple of practical purposes: 1) it provides some level of increased comfort is she’s, say, flying face-first into space and 2) it’s an intimidating signifier of a warrior — something akin to war paint. Symbolically, it also calls back to the Kree and the source of her powers. It comes up when she wants it; it’s part protection (she’s nearly invulnerable, but that doesn’t mean the atmosphere doesn’t sometimes chafe) and part show. Like war paint.

— kellysue