So, here we are, a new week, a new batch of comics. What’s good to read? What’s a steaming pile of skrull warrior dookie? I’ll do my best to answer those questions in this, a new weekly article, in which I give my opinion on what is worth spending three bucks on at your local comic store, and what should line your gerbil cage.

Now, as a disclaimer, I generally don’t read Batman/Superman/JLA, but for you, true believers, I will as soon as the respective title starts a new story arc. But, here we go for ‘What to read: Week of August, 16 2006′.

Son of M Trade Paperback: This Post-Decimation 6 issue title revolved around Quicksilver, Magneto’s son Pietro, and his course of actions after losing his powers. It chronicles his quest to restore the abilities of all those mutants affected by M-day via the use of the Inhuman’s own Terrigen Mist. This is possibly one of the best things to come out of the post-decimation tie-ins that Marvel did, simply because Quicksilver, one of the few superpowers who would rarely succumb to the emotional stress of being a mutant and was constantly in control of himself, showed how far the mighty can fall. I would suggest any Marvel fan (and any comic fan who knows the events of ‘House of M’) pick this up immediately for a great story and great artwork.

Ion #5 (of 12): Kyle Rayner has once again became Ion after Jade, the star-power/green lantern lady that DC made very confusing, died and passed the Ion abilities on to him. So, now, once again he’s floating about ringless, whipping everyones ass and trying to be the Hal Jordan of Tommorow. Anywho, as the story arc has gone so far, there were two Kyle Rayners as Ion. One causing much destruction, the other painting pretty pictures and bopping about the universe. In #04 we found out that the evil Kyle Rayner was Alex Nero, who long ago recieved a yellow power ring from the Quardians. This issue covers confrontation between Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner against Nero and answers some of the questions brought up by Nero’sexistence as a second Kyle Rayner. In my opinion, this Ion run is a bit shaky, but I’ve a good feeling it is building great steam for some interesting things in the Green Lantern/DC universe as a whole. It’s low enough to start from issue one,but I only reccommend it to long standing Green Lantern fans, and not the new reader (see the current “Green Lantern” with Hal Jordan for a starter GL title).

Ultimate Spider-man #098: The ultimate universe rehashes the horrible fan-hated epic of the Clone Saga with our webslinging friend in the second part of this story arc. I, personally, am excited to see where our beloved Brian Michael Bendis will take us on this. I can’t say I stand by his other projects (New Avengers, mainly, though the past few issues have been good) but I am indeed a Bendis fan. From his huge role in Daredevil, to Powers, to Ultimate Spiderman he is one of the best comic authors out there. In the last issue we saw Peter Parker fighting the Scorpion in the middle of a mall, and upon Spidey beating the Scorpion into submission (as expected) he unmaskes his downed foe to reveal…Peter Parker? Issue #098 takes Spiderman to the the Baxter Building to seek help from the Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards in regards to this pesky clone question. The issue brings in some new faces and some old ones that suprised even me. I like where it’s going, I suggest you guys go pick up issue #097 and review Ultimate Spidey’s ‘Venom’ story arc to get some clues on how this all started. All classic super hero fans should be watching this title carefully for the great redo of Spiderman history, especially now.

Deadman #001: This is a brandspakin’ new title from Vertigo that I actually heard nothing about other than a short preview I read in the back of another title. The story is that of Brandon Cayce, a commercial airline pilot who was killed with his brother in a crash into Heathrow Airport in London. However, Brandon, once confronted with his death on ‘the other side’ decides he doesn’t want to hang up the towel just yet and re-enters his corpse, walking out of the Morgue to face the world in his new supernatural state. I personally love Vertigo titles, with such books as ‘Preacher’, ‘100 Bullets’, and ‘Y - The Last man’ Vertigo is a behemoth of quality storytelling that shouldn’t be overlooked by any comic fan of any creed. It’s hard to judge a comic by one issue, but when it is backed by such a pedigree of Eisner Award winning titles, you can’t have anything but optimism.

‘52′ week 15: DC continues on their weekly book chronicling the events during the much hyped ‘One Year Later’ campaign that stretched to every corner of the DC universe. So far there are loose ends everywhere that only continue to fray more and more, but the brilliant Geoff Johns seems to have a master plan in mind and shows us just enough to keep me coming back every wednesday for another dose. Although I really can’t say I like the idea that since the ‘One Year Later’ deal has started, all our favorite comic books are already a year ahead, and we’ll have to keep reading for fifty two issues to find out how we got to where we were twelve issues ago on the regular monthly titles. A bold yet somewhat frustrating concept. I like these stories, however, chronicalling Booster Gold’s rise and fall from the Public Eye in Superman’s absence, Black Adam’s seizure of power in Khandaq, the do-gooder Steel and the other handful of stories found each week in this line, but I do fear that this is probably not for the ‘casual’ reader of comics, but more for those who absolutely must know what is going on at all times with every character in the DC universe, yet even then be confused at various points. To summarize the issue is a bit much, really, being as to understand it, you do have to read the previous fourteen. It isn’t as easily adaptable as other titles, but, I suggest the die-hard fans pick these up at their lower-than-standard comic price.

Green Lantern Corps #003: Okay. It’s math time. The Guardians divided the universe into 3600 sectors that need policing. After they realized that one guardian per sector is difficult to maintain since Hal Jordan periodically kills a few, they upped the lanterns to 7200. Now, within these 3600 Sectors proctected by 7200 GL’s, there are dozens/hundreds/thousands of planets within each sector, and trillions of inhabitants amongst them. What DC doesn’t seem to understand is that we cannot keep up with this. I like to think that a ‘picture book’ shouldn’t make me rack my brain to remember who was who when and where and what did they do when whoever that was did what they did where they did it to whomever they did it do. I like variety, I like seeing what creative minds can do when they are literally given the entire universe to explore and set their stories in. There are certain guidelines for the majority of Comic chacters on their home worlds (as to not interfere with other comics continuity) that the Green Lantern titles do not have to follow. The only problem is, do not try and jam every story you can think of into each issue. The story needs to be centralized more with cohesive and complimentary stories and put Guy Gardner in the forefront else we’ll stab our eyes out trying to remember the king’s brother’s name in sector 1417. Issue summary: I’ve no idea what I just read. For the hardcore GL fans only as it stands, but I’ll keep you updated when this title picks up steam.

I think that should do it for me as of now, folks. I’ll give you a run-down of what’s new for next wednesday in a few days, so check back for that late this weekend.

-Hat

If you liked that, try...

1. What to read: Week of 9/20/06
2. What To Read: Week of Aug, 23
3. In Stores: Week of 09/20/06
4. In Stores: Aug, 23
5. Comic Rundown: Married With Heroes

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