Five-by-Five

All I want for Christmas is for my weekly comic read pile to make me go Wow. Is that too much to ask for? Anyway, unfortunately this week I did not feel it as much as in weeks past and that is disappointing when looking at the “A” list titles shipping. That being said, I still found five books for you to take a look at, including two I highly recommend.

For the second-straight month, X-Men: Spider-Man was able to get it done for me as issue two takes place about 10 years or so after issue number one. Last we saw our favorite web-head and the uncanny ones, they teamed up to take on the Blob and Kraven as Sinister was working the puppet strings in the background.

This week, the plot thickens as we see the impact of Sinister’s plans and how they play out in the time period the issue takes place. I am really looking forward to see when the next time jump will land and what the story will surround. This series is a ret-con special, filling in the possible blanks of old stories now that we know Sinister has been behind the scenes all this time. For some, that is just wrong, but this series is fun and the writing (Christopher Gage) and artwork (Mario Alberti) are both superb and will almost definitely end up on my bookshelf when it is collected.

Part seven of the New Krypton storyline drops this week in Action Comics #872. This is a Geoff Johns issue and expectations were high that it would be a good one and I was not disappointed. I don’t know if it is because we are seven issues in (more if you count the Braniac storyline and Jimmy Olsen one-shot), but the series feels like it is dragging a bit for me. This issue was good, and some fun stuff happened as we saw a little more of the Lex-Braniac story unfold. But for the first time I have to admit, I am not that excited for the next installment.

And now for a blast from the past, DC Comics in a stroke of genius has decided to re-release The Watchmen as it originally appeared, in a monthly comic. I have been waiting to re-read this classic and this was the opportunity I was looking for, to do it the same way I did back in the day. It still holds up. If you have not read The Watchmen yet (and why not) or were waiting for a reason to do so, this is your excuse. Alan Moore shoves so much into each issue, that this is the best way in my opinion to experience The Watchmen, allowing you to fully soak in each chapter.

One of my second look selections a few weeks ago, Captain Britain and MI13 delivers its usual steadiness as issue eight his shelves this week. This issue has it all, a little betrayal, a nice touching moment between the undead and oh yeah, a little more background on this new and improved Brian Braddock. Paul Cornell and Leonard Kirk continue to give us a book that is interesting with characters who have been out of sight, out of mind for too long.

Wrapping up my week is Batman Confidential #24. Part three of the current Joker story, Andrew Kreisberg has done a strong job so far with both the story and his portrayal of the Joker. There are a lot of different writers out there right now outing their own twists on the dude with green hair and a permanent smile, and Kresiberg’s version is a twisted-insane one who obviously knows what he is doing. If you have yet to read this story arc and are bog fans of the Bat and the Joke-Man, pick this one up at issue #22 and read through to this week, you will thank yourself in the morning.

Until next week …

How About a Six Pack This Week?

Instead of my normal five comic book reviews, this week I give you a six-pack. And sorry about missing last week’s books, there was some good stuff there, but I got tied up with all that delicious turkey and pumpkin pie.

My actual pick this week is the long-awaited return of Illyana Rasputin in X-Infernus #1. Last we saw Colossus’ little snowflake, she was taking a piece of Pixie’s soul to help the New X-Men. That was 18 long months ago and it turns out Pixie is all sorts of messed up from the experience as Nightcrawler finds out in issue one.

My friend and I were a little nervous about this mini-series because we are such big fans of Magik/Darkchilde, but C.B. Cebulski put our fears to rest with a spectacular introduction. The stage is set as Illyana is looking for her lost soul sword (do you remember where, or in whom, she left it?), but another player has come out to challenge her for the rule of Limbo. Giuseppi Camuncoli provides solid pictures.

As one mini-series, another (sort of) ends in Secret Invasion #8. This has been a tough ride because for me it always seemed like not much was happening each month. There was always one big wow moment in each issue. Well, the conclusion put any ill feelings out the door for me as Brian Michael Bendis delivered an epic story.

When last we saw our heroes and the Skrulls, they were getting ready to battle it out in NYC. However, the battle is done when we get issue eight in our needy hands (this was the first book I read this week). I thought it was a brilliant stroke of story telling to narrate what had happened and what we missed. The entire story was well done, but the last panel was the pay-off moment that no one can say they were expecting.

Now to find out what happens, we must read Dark Reign, but really, who is complaining about that?

Let’s stay in the Marvel U and NYC and take a look at how our friendly neighborhood wall crawler is doing in Amazing Spider-Man #579. When we last saw him he was trying to save a bunch of jurors in a mob trial from the Shocker and a subway cave-in. Mark Waid’s two-part story concludes and continues the fun from the previous book. Marcos Martin adds his unique pencils which really work for me on this book.

As maligned as Brand New Day is (and my aforementioned friend made a good point, could this story been told with Spidey married) the best stories that have come out of the relaunch have been the ones that just concentrate on Spidey being Spidey and not Peter Parker’s messed up life. They are good stories, but eventually we will lose out what makes this character so special and that is Pete’s messed up life.

I am going to cap off a heavy Marvel-favorite week with Cable #9. My boy Duane Swierczynski continues to give me those I can’t believe Bishop just did that moment as this week our favorite time-travelling betrayer plays the X-Men and gives them a nice little treat in his effort to find Cable. Bishop has attempted a scorched Earth technique destroying the future so Cable has no where to hide.

Turns out Bishop did not need to do a lot of work as Cable’s recent hiding place has been infiltrated and he needs to teach the little red-head girl (Rachel Summers anyone?) how to be a soldier. Boy does she make a Daddy proud. As always, Duane gives us another great chapter in this story and I SO can not wait for the next issue.

For the second time in three weeks, I have to give the nod to Image Comics I Hate Gallant Girl. Issue two continues to deliver as Renee begins her crime-fighting career with a new moniker. And it really is making Gallant Girl mad. Jim Valention plotted this baby out and Kat Cahill filled in the rest of the words and by issue’s end you will not have any thing figured out.

I really like this mini-series so far and I can not believe it is only three issues. I am going to be disappointed when it ends. A good old-fashioned comic book story, Gallant Girl also has a great message to young girls about body image.

And to wrap it up I go with a DC kid’s comics, Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade #1. Granted, I am a super-whore when it comes to Superman and Supergirl (although I am having a real hard time getting through Superman/Supergirl Maelstrom – ugh!). Anyway, the eight grade version of Kara is fun. Remember, it’s a kids comics, try not to take it too seriously and enjoy it for what it is, you will not be disappointed.

That’s it for now …