[New post] This week at your comic shop – 4/17/13

dailypop posted: "For the complete list of this week's comics, click here. Not sure where your local comic shop is? Try comicshoplocator.com! (note: all information including ad copy is from the publisher) If you can't make it to the shop, just click on any of the i" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on The Daily P.O.P. This week at your comic shop – 4/17/13 by dailypop For the complete list of this week's comics, click here. Not sure where your local comic shop is? Try comicshoplocator.com! (note: all information including ad copy is from the publisher) If you can't make it to the shop, just click on any of the images below to be taken to an online retailer. I don't get any referrals for these sales, I'm just doing my bit to spread the word on some neat products. _____________________________________ Batman Year One Hundred TPB New Printing Batman Year One Hundred TPB New Printing By: Paul Pope A new edition of the acclaimed title from writer/artist Paul Pope! In Gotham City, 2039, a federal agent is murdered, leaving The Batman, a forgotten icon from the past, wanted for the murder. This title collects BATMAN YEAR ONE HUNDRED #1-4, plus a story from BATMAN CHRONICLES #11. _____________________________________ HP Lovecraft Case Of Charles Dexter Ward GN HP Lovecraft Case Of Charles Dexter Ward GN By: H. P. Lovecraft, I. N. J. Culbard Young Charles Dexter Ward is fascinated by the history of Joseph Curwen, his wizard ancestor of the 17th-century. Curwen was notorious for haunting graveyards, practicing alchemy, and never aging! Ward can't help his fixation: he himself looks just like Curwen. In an attempt to duplicate his ancestor's cabbalistic feats, he resurrects the fearsome Curwen - and then the true horror begins! _____________________________________ Daredevil #25 Daredevil #25 By: Mark Waid, Chris Samnee The hidden foe behind DD's troubles plays his trump card! Foggy's life is on the line! Plus: Who is Nelson & Murdock's mysterious benefactor--and what does he want? _____________________________________ Art Of Steve Ditko HC New Ed Art Of Steve Ditko HC New Ed Steve Ditko, the co-creator of Spider-Man and Dr. Strange, remains an enigma, though this book draws us closer to the artist and gives us a better understanding of his amazing work. Introducing the very best of rare and striking Steve Ditko comic book stories and original art, this large-format beautifully showcases Ditko's work, with many reproductions of original art pieces by the master comic book artist. Edited and designed by Craig Yoe (Secret Identity), with essays by P. Craig Russell, John Romita, and Jerry Robinson, plus an introduction by Stan Lee. _____________________________________ Dial H TPB Vol. 01 Into You Dial H TPB Vol. 01 Into You By: China Mieville, Mateus Santolouco Hugo Award-winning novelist China Mieville joins DC Comics-The New 52 with the first collection of DIAL H! In the town of Littleville, CO, a troubled young man stumbles upon the lost H-Dial and all the power it possesses. Can our hero manage harness the power of the H-Dial and protect it from falling into evil hands? Or will this newfound power plunge our hero into madness? This title collects DIAL H #0-6! _____________________________________ Cable And X-Force #7 Cable And X-Force #7 By: Dennis Hopeless, Salvador Larroca Cyclops comes face-to-face with his son Cable. Colossus isn't faring well in prison. _____________________________________ House Of Secrets Omnibus HC House Of Secrets Omnibus HC By: Steven T. Seagle, Teddy H. Kristiansen In this hardcover collecting HOUSE OF SECRETS #1-25, a story from VERTIGO: WINTER'S EDGE #1 and the 2-part FAÇADE miniseries, teenage runaway Rain Harper becomes part of a supernatural justice system in a haunted mansion. Five spirits known as the Juris summon people to judge them for their secrets. Acting as a 'witness,' Rain must try to save the defendants from their sentences. _____________________________________ Iron Man 2020 TPB Iron Man 2020 TPB By: Various, Bob Wiacek The armor is familiar, but the man inside isn't who you'd expect! He's Arno Stark, the cold and hard-hitting Iron Man of the future -- and Tony Stark's descendant has quite a legacy to live up to. Catch all the futuristic action as Arno battles Spider-Man and Blizzard in a time-traveling adventure to stop a nuclear terrorist; faces Machine Man at the behest of Tony's old foe Sunset Bain; and clashes with the original Death's Head, industrial saboteur Wellington Marcus and the high-flying Commodore Q! Can Arno overcome his foes -- and himself -- to become the hero he's modeled himself after? This title collects AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL (1964) #20, MACHINE MAN (1984) #1-4, DEATH'S HEAD #10, IRON MAN 2020 #1, ASTONISHING TALES: IRON MAN 2020 #1-6 and material from WHAT IF? (1989) #53. _____________________________________ Frankenstein Agent Of Shade TPB Vol. 02 Secrets Dead Frankenstein Agent Of Shade TPB Vol. 02 Secrets Dead By: Jeff Lemire, Alberto Ponticelli S.H.A.D.E. protects the world from supernatural threats-but what happens when the world nearly comes to an end? Frankenstein and his team give their all to help save the world from THE ROT! This title collects FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #0, 8-16 and MEN OF WAR #8. _____________________________________ Dark Avengers #189 Dark Avengers #189 By: Jeff Parker, Neil Edwards, Joe Quinones They were Earth's Deadliest Villains. They're about to become Avengers. The penultimate chapter of dark heroics is here! Parker & Edwards continue this year's sleeper hit! _____________________________________ Justice League #19 Justice League #19 By: Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis Who is the one person dangerous enough to use Kryptonite against Superman? _____________________________________ Brickjournal #23 Brickjournal #23 BrickJournal, the magazine for LEGO enthusiasts, presents the long-awaited Star Wars issue! We'll use the LEGO Force as we spotlight top builders and their creations from a long time ago and far, far away, including Jacob Carpenter's Imperial Star Destroyer, Mark Kelso's Invisible Hand, and feature a talk with Simon MacDonald about building Star Wars costume props with LEGO elements! We'll also look back at the history of the LEGO X-Wing, from its first appearance in 1998 to the current version over ten years later. _____________________________________ Legion Of Super Heroes #19 Legion Of Super Heroes #19 By: Paul Levitz, Scott Kolins, Keith Giffen The Legion of Super-Heroes is lost and hurtling into the sun-is it possible to save them all? _____________________________________ Dark Shadows Year One #1 Dark Shadows Year One #1 By: Marc Andreyko, Guiu Vilanova, Patrick Berkenkotter The origin of Dark Shadows, finally revealed! How did Barnabas Collins become a bloodthirsty vampire? What tragedies befell the Collins family through the generations? All it took was one night of weakness, and Barnabas cursed his family -- and himself -- forever! The twisted tale of one of pop culture's most iconic and enduring vampires begins here! _____________________________________ Classic Marvel Figure Coll Mag #197 Spider-Man 2099 Classic Marvel Figure Coll Mag #197 Spider-Man 2099 Fully authorized figurines, teamed up with an amazing magazine put this series in a super-league of its own! The hand-painted lead figurines are sculpted by master craftsmen and based on original pieces of Marvel artwork. Measuring 3 1/2'-4" tall, each figurine is individually numbered, comes stamped with the Marvel official logo, and comes packaged in its own box. The magazine accompanying each figurine will provide a detailed history and background on the featured character, including exclusive images and interviews. The fabulous characters featured this month are Spider-Man 2099 (#197) and Wiccan (#198). _____________________________________ Popeye Classics #9 Popeye Classics #9 By: Bud Sagendorf 'This comic book contains the singular most bizarre and hilarious comic book story in the history of comic books and anyone that disagrees with me will feel the wrath of me twister-sock,' proclaims feisty Classic Popeye co-editor Craig Yoe. The comics historian is referring to 'Misermerites -- or -- I'd rather Have Termites!' Bud Sagendorf follows that right up in this ish with a wild Sappo story 'The Experiment of the Sound Pills.' Plus there's a bonus special story with Swee' Pea as a plundering pirate entitled Black Jack! _____________________________________ Nova #3 Nova #3 By: Jeph Loeb, Ed McGuinness It's time for Sam Alexander's Training Day. And with the Guardians of Galaxy' s Gamora and Rocket Raccoon in charge, Nova soon learns that old lesson 'Practice Makes Painful!' _____________________________________ Wonder Woman #19 Wonder Woman #19 By: Brian Azzarello, Tony Akins, Cliff Chiang What is the one way Wonder Woman can stop Orion? _____________________________________ Happy TPB Happy TPB By: Grant Morrison, Darick Robertson Meet NICK SAX - a corrupt, intoxicated ex-cop turned hit-man, adrift in a stinking twilight world of casual murder, soulless sex, eczema and betrayal. With a hit gone wrong, a bullet in his side, the cops and the mob on his tail, and a monstrous child killer in a Santa suit on the loose, Nick and his world will be changed forever this Christmas. By a tiny blue horse called Happy. . . This title collects HAPPY! 1-4 _____________________________________ Age Of Ultron #6 (of 10) Age Of Ultron #6 (of 10) By: Brian Michael Bendis, Brandon Peterson The heroes take the fight to Ultron with a near-broken Captain America taking the lead! Meanwhile, Wolverine takes it upon himself to make one of the most controversial decisions in the history of Marvel comics and you'll never believe who goes along with him! _____________________________________ Captain America #6 Captain America #6 By: Rick Remender, John Romita THE ODD WAR OF DIMENSION Z continues! Steve Rogers is dead--long live Captain Zola! A traitor strikes. Arnim Zola gets everything he wants. _____________________________________ Iron Man #8 Iron Man #8 By: Kieron Gillen, Greg Land THE MINDBLOWING CONCLUSION TO THE GODKILLER Tony Stark, The Godkiller is found guilty! What horrible punishment will the Shi'ard impose? The surprising consequences of Iron Man's role in AVX! _____________________________________ Star Wars #1 (4th Printing) Star Wars #1 (4th Printing) By: Brian Wood, Carlos D'Anda, Gabe Eltaeb, Alex Ross This is Star Wars as you remember it . . . and as you have never seen it before! We're taking you back to those heady, adventure-filled days following the destruction of the Death Star-when the Empire ruled, the Rebels were on the run, and the galaxy was a dangerous place where anything might happen!"Brian Wood and Carlos D'Anda truly have the making of a classic on their hands. If you ever wondered if Star Wars could ever recapture that childlike glee of those earliest of memories, wonder no more. Star Wars is back and it's never been better." - Newsarama "It all just feels like Star Wars, and for a franchise that has been around for over 30 years, D'Anda somehow finds a way to inject new life into it." - Complex *Star Wars #1 3rd printing sells out ! * Dark Horse goes back to press for a 4th printing, this time with the Alex Ross art and only the Red Star Wars logo on the cover. _____________________________________ dailypop | April 15, 2013 at 10:47 pm | Categories: comic books | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-4xi Comment    See all comments Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://dailypop.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/this-week-at-your-comic-shop-41713/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

[New post] Quick review: Captain America #5

dailypop posted: " By Rick Remender, John Romita Jr., Tom Palmer, Scott Hanna and Dean White I was not sure what kind of Captain America comic book to expect from Rick Remender, the guy behind the madness of Uncanny X-Force, Frankencastle and of course Fear Agent. Fi" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on The Daily P.O.P. Quick review: Captain America #5 by dailypop By Rick Remender, John Romita Jr., Tom Palmer, Scott Hanna and Dean White I was not sure what kind of Captain America comic book to expect from Rick Remender, the guy behind the madness of Uncanny X-Force, Frankencastle and of course Fear Agent. Five issues in and I am overjoyed by its weird, wonderful approach that feels like part B-movie, part Kirby's Fourth World. I have noticed that for the relaunches of Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man and Thor, the comics have all felt unique, taking the characters in new directions that place the heroes in all new environments to face new threats. Captain America has become stranded in Dimension Z, brought there by the mad scientist ad part-time TV screen, Arnim Zola. Escaping capture, Cap managed to bring one of Zola's clones with him. Trapped in a weird world of monstrous creatures, Cap is no longer alone in a war against its ruler, Arnim Zola. His adopted son Ian stands by Steve Rogers as they brave the natural dangers of the environment and the ever present Zola who has been hot on their heels. Twelve years after finding himself in Dimension Z, Rogers has decided to take the battle to Zola himself. Unfortunately, he has become infected with a kind of viral form of Zola's genetic manipulation. A leering video screen image of Zola commands Rogers to give in to his control and reminds him that escape is impossible. But Steve Rogers will never stop fighting, even against impossible odds and a never-ending sea of genetically created terrors hatched from Zola's lab. Distorted super soldier clones, Doughboy and Ian's amazonian sister Jet aim their attacks straight at Cap and Ian as they near the only way out of dimension Z, and then things get worse. The monthly Captain America book has worn a lot of hats over the years from political thriller to high suspense drama. However, Remender's vision is so otherworldly and alien that it leaves everything else behind. True, this book is not for everyone and the abstract art by John Romita, Jr is an acquired taste. I have to say that speaking personally, I am attracted to stories that raise the stakes for the hero, often stacking them so high that there is no way s/he cam overcome them. That is definitely the case in this revamped Captain America comic where at one point he is using his shield as a kind of wok to cook moss for food. There really aren't too many things going for him. I am unsure how this comic fits in with the regular time line of Captain America, but I figure it will all line up at some point. I had noted the influence of Jack Kirby's Fourth World and it is in full effect in this issue. Jet looks almost exactly like Big Barda and Dimension Z isn't unlike Apocalypse. But rather than imply that Remender and Romita Jr. are stealing ideas, I instead feel that they are paying homage to the King. If you are a big fan of the Ed Brubaker run, this may not be your kind of Captain America comic book... but it's like nothing you've seen before and I am deeply enamored by it. What a ride! dailypop | April 14, 2013 at 9:50 pm | Tags: captain america marvel comics, captain america rick remender | Categories: Captain America | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-4x9 Comment    See all comments Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://dailypop.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/quick-review-captain-america-5/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

[New post] Quick review: Action Comics #19

dailypop posted: "'Hybrid part one' By Andy Diggle and Tony Daniel Superman is yet another DC Comics property who is in perpetual flux. Action Comics was a major hit with the New 52 relaunch and the star power that Grant Morrison brought, but the concurrent Superman se" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on The Daily P.O.P. Quick review: Action Comics #19 by dailypop 'Hybrid part one' By Andy Diggle and Tony Daniel Superman is yet another DC Comics property who is in perpetual flux. Action Comics was a major hit with the New 52 relaunch and the star power that Grant Morrison brought, but the concurrent Superman series has floundered in its attempts to follow wherever the Hell Morrison was going in his run. With the departure of Morrison, a bright future of possibility loomed for DC Editorial. The creative team of Andy Diggle (Daredevil, Green Arrow) and Tony S. Daniel (Batman) raised interest almost across the board and the marketing of the next run as drastically different was pushed in the back of every DC comic book. Almost as soon as the ink dried on the preview images, Diggle was off the book. A few days later, Daniel confirmed that he would be finishing up the three-part run using Diggle's breakdowns. So... we are back where we started with an uncertain future for the man of steel (though a Scott Lobdell filler arch has been announced). This strikes as decidedly bizarre since a major motion picture is due out this summer and the 75th anniversary of Superman is almost upon us (April 18th, mark your calendars). Why can't DC editorial make this character the top seller he should be? I have no idea, but in the meantime, let's take a look at Action Comics #19 and why it is the best thing to happen to Superman in years. The story is set a year ago (no idea why) in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Qurac where Lois Lane is overcoming a total media blackout with her usual sassiness and know how... and a smart phone. It's a very quick moment but one that got recognized by the fan community online almost immediately. The character of Lois Lane has been all but forgotten in recent years and the newspaper reporter angle of the Superman comic has gotten lost in favor of hypertectual storytelling by Morrison. But it's back and in full force. Kent departs to deal with some reported arms smuggling. The 'illegal arms' are mecha warsuits that Superman attempts to take down gently, but in the end his hand is forced into action. The battle is costly and reveals that one of the mech pilots is none other than Jimmy Olsen (as shown on the WTF cover), but it's not Jimmy at all and the robot simulacrum explodes. This has to be the lamest moment in the book and could be a sign of why Diggle left. The Jimmy Olsen bot was obviously forced upon him by Editorial and feels very weird. Superman is left with what appears to be a mystery and the scene shifts to Lex Luthor being psychoanalyzed. It seems that Lex is is imprisoned, but we soon see that he has actually trapped the psyhoanalyst (who hasn't had this fantasy) and is holding her captive until she presents him with a statement on his character that he is happy with. Given that she diagnoses him as a brilliant yet twisted sociopath, things are not looking good for her. Along with the depiction of Lois, this is the strongest version of Luthor I have seen since the John Byrne days. Luthor reveals that the mech suit attack was orchestrated by him to infiltrate Superman's genetic sequence and rewrite it, crafting a monstrosity. It's a thrilling plot that leaves the readers with just a glimpse of Superman mid-transformation into some kind of horrific creature. Let me be clear in saying that I appreciate the Morrison run on Action Comics and now that it is complete, can appreciate what it was accomplishing, a kind of modern silver age fantasy. Even so, it read poorly in monthly installments and alienated anyone who lacked the fortitude to re-read every issue and look deeply into the meaning (ignoring the filler issues and artist swaps). What Diggle and Daniel have accomplished in just one issue is stunning and uses the supporting cast to great aplomb. It also presents a modern dramatic action story without sacrificing the iconic nature of the series or enforcing any new creative direction on those concepts. It's simply a great ripping Superman comic. I am just sad to know that it will be over in just two issues and as far as I can tell, it is thanks to the inability of DC Editorial to work with Diggle. Sad, really. But enjoy this ride while you can. Black and white images from Tony Daniel's art page dailypop | April 13, 2013 at 1:01 pm | Tags: superman dc comics, superman tony daniel | Categories: Superman | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-4we Comment    See all comments Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://dailypop.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/quick-review-action-comics-19/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

[New post] Justice League of America (or how to make the JLA edgy)

dailypop posted: " Written by Geoff Johns and drawn by David Finch "This is a very different kind of team book," says Geoff Johns. "On first glance, people might think the heroes of the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA stand in the shadows of Superman, Wonder Woman and the re" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on The Daily P.O.P. Justice League of America (or how to make the JLA edgy) by dailypop JLA by David Finch Written by Geoff Johns and drawn by David Finch "This is a very different kind of team book," says Geoff Johns. "On first glance, people might think the heroes of the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA stand in the shadows of Superman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the JUSTICE LEAGUE, but Green Arrow, Katana, Martian Manhunter, the new Green Lantern, Stargirl, Vibe, Hawkman and Catwoman thrive in the shadows. They're underdogs who have everything to prove and something to lose. They're a team of unlikely heroes who will help one another discover they're as A-List as anybody -- yes, even Vibe. Though getting there won't be easy. Why they're formed, why each member joins, what they're after and who the society of villains is they're trying to take apart will all be clear in the first issue when it hits early 2013. David and I are really focused on delving deep into what it's like to not be a member of the big seven and why, sometimes, the grass isn't always greener on the other side." (via DC Comics) Despite outward appearances, Justice League of America has (in my opinion) been in a kind of soul searching for decades. Be it the fantastical reach of the Grant Morrison run or the bizarre comedic Giffen/DeMatteis series the comic has run the gamut in approaches and even lineup including the traditional to more unknown superheroes. The latest iteration is a reboot, (simply) Justice League from the ground up, starting with the superheroes of the DCU fighting each other and threats from beyond. Sure, it's a much simpler and glamorous version of the comic book where almost every member of the team is a jerk, but it has been the most successful version of the book in a very long time. So whenever a comic book is this much of a hit we get a spin off, hence: Justice League of America (yes, this is possibly the tenth spin off of Justice League, joining Justice League International, Justice League Strike Force and many more). The Justice League of the New 52 Universe are unknown quantities who answer to no one and hold vast powers far in advance of any individual government. Steve Trevor was intended to be a liaison to the League, but that fell apart quickly when his relationship with Wonder Woman similarly dissolved. With Trevor in disgrace and the Justice League running with no one to stop them, another team is quickly assembled, answerable to US government official Amanda Waller (looking about a tenth of her regular size). There has been a general 'us vs. them' theme running through a few DC monthly books including Batwoman who works for the DEO in secret. However, this is a strong response to the superhuman threat that takes into consideration not just what power players are available but also if they can be controlled. Hawkman is presented as a brilliant tactician, but a brutish thug compared to Batman. Green Lantern is on the run and therefore easily reigned in by the US. Stargirl, Vibe and Katana are all newbies with little to no knowledge of how their world functions. Catwoman has dubious morals, but also the most straight forward motivation. Martian Manhunter is a major win for Waller as he is their most powerful member and is completely avoided by the other League. I do like the unusual team dynamic and how some characters are incredibly naive and others seasoned veterans, yet all of them are unused to working with others. It promises a lot of potential for some interesting stories and the uses the relative obscurity of many heroes to its advantage. This is a book where Hawkman and Green Arrow are the most recognizable heroes, and both are second or third tier characters, depending on your point of view. Green Arrow is eager to prove himself as a viable hero to the league, which places him as the ideal person to infiltrate the Secret Society, a newly formed group of super villains. The series so far is spinning wheels, showing the formation of the team and unraveling the threat of the Secret Society in painfully slow steps. That's not to say that I dislike it, it oozes in character and action, but that said... there's not a lot happening so far. Justice League of America started with an unusual multiple variant cover explosion spotlighting every state flag of the US and has been selling like hotcakes. The art by David Finch, most well known from Moon Knight and Batman: The Dark Knight, is a major pull for the comic as is the looming possibility of what could happen next. It's not so much what is happening in this comic that attracts me, but what could happen next. The relationship between Steve Trevor and Amanda Waller is on a knife edge (does this guy get along with anyone?) and Oliver Queen is the most interesting character to date as Green Arrow (it is wise for DC to ride his current popularity thanks to the WB TV series) and I am interested in seeing where that all goes. Two issues in and the team has still not faced a single threat and all of the action is in flashback. So if you are a fan of superhero books and have a lot of patience, check this one out. dailypop | April 12, 2013 at 12:00 pm | Tags: Green Arrow, Justice League of America, Justice League of America johns | Categories: Justice League of America | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-4x0 Comment    See all comments Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://dailypop.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/justice-league-of-america-or-how-to-make-the-jla-edgy/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com