Recently, I recapped the events of Brand New Day in a freelance article I wrote on Spider-Man. It’s hard to look at Spider-Man wiping out his marriage for frail, old Aunt Many as a good thing, but even a detractor like me is starting to become more and more curious about Dan Slott’s (She-Hulk) run on Spider-Man. Consistently I’m covering them in the Rundown, and you can tell just by looking at the cover for Amazing Spider-Man #561 there is something pretty interesting going on.

Avengers/Invaders #2 has Tony Stark’s Mighty Avengers facing off with Captain America for the first time since Civil War - but this time it’s the WWII Cap and his Invaders team against Tony Stark and SHIELD. In a Secret Invasion-dominated line-up, this is one book I’m hedging my bets on if the Skrull-heavy crossover goes south.

The Crimson King - one of the biggest evils of Stephen King’s universe - takes front stage in Dark Tower: The Long Road Home #4. Both Dark Tower mini-series have sold so well word has come in from Marvel that Stephen King plans to launch a comic book adaptation of his magnum opus The Stand next.

“NOVA has become one of Marvel’s best new series.” says IGN. I totally agree. I agree so much I’d love to subscribe to the awesome new intergalactic comic book series - but a subscription is not listed. The only closest thing in the “N” section is “New Exiles” . . . how the heck do they get a subscription and not Nova?! Anyway, issue #14 has Nova, the last galactic policeman, tasked with stopping Silver Surfer and Galactus from chowing down on a planet.

And the biggest thing this week on Marvel - Secret Invasion #3. Tony Stark’s been rebuilding his armor after it was compromised by a Skrull virus, so I’m kind of interested to see what this newest and latest version looks like. Nick Fury also returns with his Howling Commandos and apparently some other big news, and the only good Skrull in all of this - Captain Marvel - faces off with Norman Osborn, whose apparently off his meds. You can guess what that means.

Apparently Marvel has decided if you put “Must Have” in the title, people must buy it. Look at the this title - Thor: Search for Odin Must Have #1! I’ve heard great things about JMS and company’s work on revamping Thor, but despite the “must have” nature, I’m going to need more information before I buy this book. Is this a one-shot or the start of a new mini-series? We just don’t know, other than its “Must Have.”

After Civil War, Ultimate Marvel is looking more and more unnecessary, after the regular continuity has more or less borrowed many of the things which first made the Ultimate line unique. Now, Ultimate Origins #1 - also written by Bendis - tackles the conspiracy theories at the heart of the Ultimate universe. Conspiracies dominate both lines, but no one’s ever gone full force into the mysterious forces at the center of the universe. This apparently leads into another series called Ultimatum, but is it enough to breath life back into Ultimate?

The confrontation finally begins between the Young X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants formerly known as the New Mutants. Written by Marc Guggenheim (TV’s Eli Stone), this is one series I moderately curious about given both the team and the premise, though I’m still hoping this is one riddle I haven’t already predicted.

Justice Society of America #16 has Kingdom Come villain Gog coming . . . in peace? Apparently he makes an offer some of the JSA can’t refuse, causing a split in the Justice Society that the senior members - Flash, Wildcat and Green Lantern - must face. This has been one DC’s most consistently solid books for several years now. It’s definitely on my subscription list.

There’s also a Chuck Dixon-written Robin/Spoiler Special. Yes, the big news is Spoiler - Stephanie Brown - didn’t in fact die during her controversially short tenure as Robin, and is now back fighting alongside Tim Drake. This is retcon fans are actually glad to see, and with Chuck Dixon (Batman and the Outsiders) on the case, this is one one-shot I know is worth picking up.

Is the third time a charm for DC? Twice they’ve tried launching a weekly series (52 and Countdown) and twice they’ve met with results spanning mediocre to dismal. The new weekly is called Trinity, and for what its worth, it might just be the one to buy. Written by two of my favorite writers - Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza - the comic explores the bond between Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. There’s a couple reasons I think this one might work. 52 was written by four writers (Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid). Countdown was written by six writers (Paul Dini, Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, Adam Beechen, Tony Bedard and Sean McKeever). Both featured quite nearly dozens of heroes in the cast. By comparison, Trinity just has two writers and three main characters. There should be a better balance here, so hopefully this is the weekly DC’s been waiting for.

If you liked that, try...

1. Comic Rundown: Nova Still Rocks and Captain Marvel’s a Skrull
2. Comic Rundown: Green Mists, Green Lanterns and Green Skrulls
3. Comic Book Rundown:
4. Comic Rundown: Grant Morrison Writes Everything
5. Comic Rundown: A New Day for Nova

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