[REVIEW] ‘CONAN VOLUME 7: CIMMERIA’ HC

“Trade Show” reviews?! Oh yeah, I gots another one to post…

CONAN VOLUME 7: CIMMERIA HC

DARK HORSE
They say you can never go home again, but when you’re a near unstoppable, sword-wielding warrior, you go where you damn please! In this homecoming story written by Timothy Truman, Conan forsakes the scantily clad beauties of past volumes for a visit to the cruel country he came from: Cimmeria. Stumbling upon a lost love, a pack of warriors and an angry sorcerer before returning to his village, Conan’s flashback interludes come illustrated by the incomparable Richard Corben, and tell tales of Conan’s grandfather Connacht and his exploits that further enlighten readers to the titular hero’s current struggle. Cimmeria rechristens the barbarian badass anew.
JUNE 3 | $17.95 • JIM GIBBONS

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Also, especially if you dig Conan, check out EnemyOfPeanuts.com!

[REVIEW] ‘HOUSE OF MYSTERY’ VOL. 2

Yet another “Trade Show” entry from this badass blogger right here…

HOUSE OF MYSTERY VOL. 2

DC/VERTIGO

This second installment of Matthew Sturges and Bill Willingham’s reinvention of a DC classic raises the bar from quirky horror storytelling to the threshold of a sprawling epic on par with their work on Fables and Jack of Fables. Featuring an arsenal of wicked artists such as Mouse Guard’s David Petersen and Swamp Thing’s Bernie Wrightson alongside series mainstay Luca Rossi, this volume delves into what goes on below the House in its enigmatic basement as lead heroine Fig learns about her father’s secrets and a bit more about her reticent love interest, barkeep Harry. As engaging as any comic on stands today, House of Mystery has cryptic rooms left to explore while still begging you to step back into each collection in search of more clues.
JUNE 3 | $14.99 • JG

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Also, check out EnemyOfPeanuts.com!

[REVIEW] ‘Daredevil: Lady Bullseye’

Another “Trade Show” joint from yours truly…

DAREDEVIL: LADY BULLSEYE

MARVEL

Ed Brubaker brings a brand-new villain into Daredevil’s world with the first story spotlighting the dangerous Lady Bullseye. As the female killer who emulates the classic DD baddie allies herself with The Hand in order to get a shot at Murdock, a cadre of Marvel street-level heroes come together to defend themselves from the ninja threat. With great art by Clay Mann and Michael Lark, this seedy crime book converts to a classic kung fu tale with appearances by Iron Fist, Black Tarantula, White Tiger and the mysterious, badass and blind Master Izo. The team-up dynamic really makes this action-packed and psychological storyline a nice change of pace, yet continues the high quality readers have to come to expect from ol’ Hornhead’s title. MAR 25 | $14.99 • JIM GIBBONS

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Also, check out EnemyOfPeanuts.com!

[REVIEW] ‘Amazing Spider-Man: CRIME AND PUNISHER’

From “Trade Show”…

SPIDER-MAN: CRIME AND PUNISHER

MARVEL

On the heels of the epic “New Ways to Die,” this Amazing Spider-Man trade features shorter tales about Flash Thompson, Spidey’s run-in with an amped-up Hammerhead and a team-up with the Punisher. Joe Kelly and Chris Bachalo’s Hammerhead story really shines with spot-on Spidey banter and kinetic action sequences, but that’s saying something as Zeb Wells and Paolo Riviera deliver an exciting Punisher tale and Marc Guggenheim and Barry Kitson keep things almost harshly grounded in reality as they relate Flash Thompson’s story covering his time in Iraq. Though the Hammerhead stuff seems to be the only part necessary for readers concerned with “Brand New Day’s” broad strokes, this trade has plenty to enjoy for any diehard fan of the Wallcrawler. MAR 4 | $16.99 • JG

Also, check out EnemyOfPeanuts.com!

My review gets a “thanks” over at “Comics Should Be Good!”

In the most recent issue of Wizard (#213), I wrote up a little review of Brian Cronin’s Was Superman A Spy? which spins out of his “Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed” column at CBR.

If you haven’t seen it in the ish, Mr. Cronin has scanned in the review and posted it over at his blog Comics Should Be Good, so head over there and read it. Once my review-y wordsmith abilities have wooed you, go buy the book!

[REVIEW] ‘Marvel Zombies 3′

Before I paste my Trade Show review of the newest volume of Marvel Zombies—which originally ran in Wizard #211—I thought I’d begin by saying a few things to expand upon the 125 word review.

Firstly, I really enjoyed the first Marvel Zombies series and the Dead Days followup—though enjoyment of DD was thanks almost entirely to the terrifying Reed Richards-centric ending. However, after that the whole concept seemed a little played out.

Then, I heard Fred Van Lente would be writing it—one of my current favs at Marvel thanks to his work with Greg Pak on Incredible Herc—and my hopes soared. It seemed like the addition of Van Lente, plus making the story interact with current Marvel continuity in the 616 would really make this a series worth enjoying.

Then, the icing on the cake, I found out the series would star Machine Man! I don’t think I ever paid the character much heed until his hilarious run in Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen’s N.E.X.T.wave, but after that it just seemed like every other appearance of the character was suddenly the best guest star I could ask for on the book.

As expected—though I’ll still say “luckily,” as getting psyched about a comic and actually getting a good comic can be two very different things—Marvel Zombies 3 really delivered, thus I delivered it this rave review.

MARVEL ZOMBIES 3
MARVEL
The brain-binging baddies of Marvel Zombies are back and more Marvelous than ever! This third collected mini features the zombie “heroes” dimension-jumping into the 616 and threatening all in-continuity existence! It’ll take a pair of robot badasses–synthetic sweethearts Machine Man and Jocasta–to stop their decomposing derrieres. Writer Fred Van Lente pulls no punches with this third incarnation of costumed flesh feasters, delivering memorable gruesomeness, some “Army of Darkness”-esque chainsaw massacres alongside Machine Man quips and plenty more humor to temper all the gore, which looks particularly grim–thanks to artist Kev Walker–in the Marvel proper. 
Apr 8 | $19.99 • JIM GIBBONS

Originally, my only gripe about this series was that it ended on a cliff hanger, but after one issue, Marvel Zombies 4—which features both Van Lente and Walker continuing their story—is off to a great start. I’m in, yet again!

‘Tiny’ Tune, or “Why I LOVE ‘Tiny Titans’”

This was a super fun little write-up I got to do for the Trade Show section of Wizard #209. Essentially, as one of the office’s most vocal supporters of this all-ages comic, I was asked to sum up in 150ish words what is great about it….here’s what I came up with/what ran in the mag…

‘Tiny’ Tune
It only takes about 12 pages before the realization kicks in: Comics are ridiculous. As readers, we love poring over the exploits of our favorite superheroes, but every diehard cape and cowl fan takes the spandex in stride. However, our willingness to buy into the outrageous plot points of our favorite superpowered adventures is exactly why the all-ages title Tiny Titans—DC ships the first collection, Welcome to the Treehouse, on Feb. 4 ($12.99)—can be enjoyed by even the most grizzled comic enthusiast. Whether observing that Dick Grayson’s original Nightwing costume looks like a disco suit or that changing his codename puts the former Robin in an awkward position as leader of the club of bird-themed Titans, it’s poking fun at the silliness we’ve overlooked that makes Franco Aureliani and Art Baltazar’s send-up a must-read. Take your pull list home and indulge in all the far-fetched yarns you want, but save time to laugh along with Tiny Titans. • JG

[REVIEW] ‘CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13′

From Wizard 209’s Trade Show section…

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13
MARVEL
Collecting one of 2008’s best new series, the first volume of Captain Britain and MI13 shows the inception of the United Kingdom’s new superteam in the midst of the Secret Invasion. Much like it took the Hulk to bring the Avengers together, series writer Paul Cornell uses the mega-event to unite his team with a fitting tribute to Marvel history as Britain’s combined superheroes band together to beat back the Skrulls. Featuring crisp and energetic pencils by Leonard Kirk, this title looks as good as it reads. Cornell’s characters ooze with personality as the team moves to its second terrifying threat, a haunted house with apocalyptic repercussions. A treat for any reader who loves a new, imaginative twist on the classic superhero team book, it’s the foreign import you just can’t miss.
FEB 18 | $16.99 
• JIM GIBBONS

[REVIEW] ‘IMMORTAL IRON FIST VOL. 3: THE BOOK OF THE IRON FIST’

This series of one-shots exploring the history of the Iron Fist of K’un L’un makes a masterful read for those new to the character as well as Marvel historians. With the new Iron Fist series, readers learned that 66 men and women have held the heroic title; these issues highlight their stories, specifically that of the entirely badass Orson Randall. It’s great historical fiction meets slam-bang kung fu action with a sprinkling of film noir for a series of tales that run together into the best old school movie marathon you could hope for in comics! Writers Matt Fraction, Ed Brubaker and Duane Swierczynski all contribute to the book’s tales with a bevy of artistic talent including David Aja, Travel Foreman, Khari Evans, Mitch Breitweiser and Nick Dragotta.
JAN 14 | $16.99

[REVIEW] ‘AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: NEW WAYS TO DIE’ hard cover

Culminating in the first big event since Spidey went single, “New Ways To Die” brought six months of thrice-monthly Spider-Man stories to one helluva climax! With more villains than you can count on one hand, this action-packed, six-issue arc tied every separate plot thread together for a read that fully solidified the Brain Trust’s complete handle and understanding of their new web-slinging world. Dan Slott writes the Wallcrawler through what could easily be called the scribe’s magnum opus, complemented by fan-favorite Spidey artist John Romita Jr., whose kinetic style adds even more action to this non-stop thrill ride that raises as many questions as it answers. Not even doubters of Amazing’s new direction can deny “New Ways To Die’s” awesomeness.
JAN 21 | $24.99