We start this particular Comic Rundown in Marvel, where Amazing Spider-Man #567 has named a villain - I kid you not - the Brand New. As in they slashed one word of “Brand New Day” and called her “Brand New.” What’s next? “One More”? “The Clone”? Just when you thought Brand New Day - a controversial but more or less solid storyline - couldn’t get any weirder.

Astonishing X-Men #26 showcases Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi’s run on what’s become the X-Men’s flagship title. The story puts the X-Men in “uncharted territory” - away from the familiar settings of the X-Mansion and all its trappings. The issue kicks off with a ship hover 300 feet in the air, and a mysterious stranger known as “Subject X.” I like Warren Ellis, so I’m hopeful Astonishing X-Men really does make the most of this uncharted territory in the wake of Joss Whedon and John Cassaday’s departure from the title.

Captain Britain and M1:13 #4 ends the Secret Invasion tie-in with the British invasion. The solicitations are pretty cryptic about what exactly happens here, although it doesn’t sound very good. Still, “a hero returns and a new legacy is born.” With quite a lot of up-until-now-undefined Marvel magic at work in this series, this could be the start of something interesting.

Chris Claremont’s Genext #4 also gives very little insight in what to expect this issue, but the premise - of what would the X-Men look like had their team members aged in real time - is certainly one of the more original comic books out there. I just hope Claremont can keep the momentum going in this particular storyline.

Secret Invasion #5, by comparison, gives two words to describe its impact on the Marvel Universe - embrace change. Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman are pictured in a not so loving embrace with Mr. Fantastic about to impale his wife. Secret Invasion is supposed to have one hell of an ending, so maybe this will be where we see it start to happen.

This month also sees the release of Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1. This is one I’m really looking forward to. Way back in Silent War, Black Bolt was imprisoned by his brother Maximus. He was replaced by a Skrull in New Avengers: Illuminati - the question is when, and is he still alive? That’s what Inhumans - by far my favorite obscure Marvel characters - aim to find out.

There’s also Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #2, which already has been one bad day for the Young Avengers. The Skrulls on both teams are either out of commission or turning on them, and the Super-Skrulls are really hitting them hard. Still, this is the only Young Avengers book on the slate for a while, so its well worth picking up.

And just in case you didn’t have enough Secret Invasion this week, there’s also Secret Invasion: X-Men and Secret Invasion: Thor turning out this week. They both look pretty basic as far the descriptions of their content, so I’d keep an eye out for them if you want the whole SI story.

Secret Invasion will probably already have your pocket book reeling, but there’s more crossover action in Batman RIP, which promises a dosey in Batman #679 as Robin and Damian Wayne team-up to find their mentor and respective father as supervillains begin to rampage in Gotham. I really need to pick up Batman & Son - this sounds like a heck of a pairing already.

Final Crisis: Revelations #1 just has an awesome cover. The issue has Crispus Allen - now the Spectre - stepping up to the plate to take on DC’s biggest sinners at the heart of the Final Crisis. But the mini-series also promises something we’ve been waiting for - a team-up with his ex-partner, Renee Montoya, now the Question.

That’s it for this week - after all - I think you have enough crossover action for your wallet’s worth for a while!

If you liked that, try...

1. Comic Rundown: Nova Still Rocks and Captain Marvel’s a Skrull
2. Comic Rundown: Grant Morrison Writes Everything
3. Comic Rundown: Hey Hey We’re the Monkeys
4. Comic Rundown: Hell Yeah
5. Comic Rundown: Marvel Gets Dark and Dirty

1 Comment »

1. 
   Devin de Gruyl
   August 15, 2008 at 10:52 am

   The issue has Crispus Allen - now the Spectre - stepping up to the plate to take on DC’s biggest sinners at the heart of the Final Crisis.

   …oh God, Didio’s writing himself into the comics now? Joy. –;

   [Reply]

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