Finally got out to the comic store after a three month absence fueled (or not so much) by high gas prices and a comic store clear on the other side of a city already an hour away from me. But it was trip well worth it, as I picked up some good titles.

Young X-Men #6 wraps up the first story arc pretty well. This new team was recruited by Cyclops to take down the new Brotherhood (the old New Mutants), only to discover “Cyclops” was really Donald Pierce, aiming to take out the new Hellfire Club leader, Sunspot. Of course, when the real Cyclops turns up, the massive Rockslide isn’t buying it and punts the X-Leader the length of a football field. He survives - of course - but the action drives home the responsibility the reformed X-Men have for young mutants, and the issue ends with the formation of the official Young X-Men. Eli Stone writer Marc Guggenheim does an admirable job setting up all the characters in this story, and includes some good moments - like when Cyclops hugs Rockslide after their mutual apology.

Mighty Avengers #16 is also a great comic with only one slight drawback - the Mighty Avengers are nowhere to be seen (though I’m not so sure that’s such a bad thing). The issue showcases the Secret Warriors, and how Nick Fury trains them - by humiliating them in hand-to-hand combat, putting them through faux torture sessions with Madam Hydra and then dispatching the team on a mission to abduct the acting director of SHIELD, Maria Hill. In reality, the issue mainly serves to explain how and why Maria Hill got her LMD clone on the bridge of the Hellicarrier before the events of Secret Invasion, but Nick Fury does have a pretty awesome team going for him - I hope we see more of them after Secret Invasion concludes.

Reign in Hell #2 by Keith Griffen is great because its Keith Griffen. The writer - hot off of Annihilation - really makes a war in Hell works even in DC’s far-too-complicated universe. Now, all of DC’s magic users - ranging from the Shadowpact to the new Dr. Fate - are left to wonder what’s better - the devil you know and the devil don’t. Everyone has a stake in this, including the old god Thoth, who tries to trick his young protege Ibis into entering the conflict after he goes to sleep. His response after getting caught and rebuked? “Points for trying?” I’m giving this comic serious points just for that.

Gail Simone’s Secret Six does pretty well preserving the team’s unique flavor. Polar opposites Catman - a heroic villain - and Deadshot - an amoral anti-hero - walk into a convienent store mid-robbery. Deadshot actually gives the robbers pointed before guilt-tripping Catman to beat the snot out of them! So far, we only know five of the Six - Catman, Deadshot, Ragdoll, Scandal and Bane (who brings a dry straight man humor to the team). We don’t know who the fifth is, but Scandal says “She too has poor judgment, but means well” - whatever that means.

Frank Frazetta’s Dracula Meets Wolfman was almost a great exercise in classic, atmospheric horror - written by Steve Niles. Here’s the gist: boy likes girl, but boy spourts fur and claws at the full moon. Girl also has arranged marriage the Count - Dracula of course. Boy finds out and goes to save her - claws and fur and all. The two duke it out, but the girl is killed, and the werewolf thrown into a pit. Flash-forward to present day, where Dracula gets off the plane, only to see his driver decaptiated by a werewolf looking for revenge - end of story. It sounds like a great set up right? One problem - it’s a one-shot, so I don’t know when and if we’ll see any more of this story.

Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge #2 just establishes two well-known facts - 1) the Rogues are some of the greatest villains ever and 2) you don’t mess with the rogues. The issue pits Captain Cold and crew against a new group of (read: disposable) Rogues armed with updated version of their weaponry. Yeah, they don’t get too far, but we see all the rogues’ character in the fight - especially Cold, as he confronts his abusive father. The issue ends with a great set-up next issue, as Libra kidnaps Weather Wizard’s son.

And last but certainly not least, Captain Britain and M1:13 is a great comic, but unlike Young Avengers #6, it moves too fast from one story to the next to allow a jumping-on point. There are some great moments, like when the Muslim parents of Excalibur’s latest wielder meet the Black Knight, or when Blade joins the team since, technically, he was born on British soil. The end - where Blade introduces himself to the team’s resistent vampire team in style - definitely begs for another read.

On to this week’s comics. Avengers: The Intiative #17 pits the youngest Avengers against a Skrull occupation, lead by Spider-Woman herself. Oddly enough, some fans are quick to point out that while Spider-Woman is supposedly the Skrull princess Veranke in disguise, no one has actually seen Spider-Woman change into a Skrull yet - leading many to wonder if Bendis doesn’t have one more thing up his sleeve.

Things don’t look any better for Black Panther or Storm, as both are held captive in Wakanda, unless, as the solicitations hint, they have one more trick up their own sleeve. It should be interesting, considering Wakanda has supposedly never been conquer, but there’s a first time for everything, right?

Deadpool #2 has the Merc with the Mouth offering his services to the Skrull invaders. Why oh why is Deadpool serving the alien invaders? Is this all part of a carefully laid double cross? Does Deadpool even know? It should be fun to watch regardless.

Oddly enough, Marvel is starting to write stories Post-Secret Invasion even though the story has TWO MORE MONTHS LEFT. I can kind of see it with Captain Britain and MI:13, because it’s not out of the realm of possibility that England’s magical forces repelled the alien invaders altogether, but in Ms. Marvel #31, there’s a death in the family after Ms. Marvel recovers from the events of the still-to-be-resolved Secret Invasion. Does anyone else’s head hurt?

The New Avengers #45 follows the Skrull actions during the House of M. I’m not really sure what all they did while Wanda was out re-writing reality, but I recommend after seeing how the last issue of Mighty Avengers turned out.

Nova #17 finally collides with Secret Invasion as Nova returns to Earth and starts kicking some Skrull ass. It should be interesting, considering Nova fought alongside the Skrull during the Annihilation crisis. The first two trades of this book have been unreal, and I don’t think the writers plan of stopping any time soon.

There’s a new Wolverine: First Class hitting the stands for Issue #7, which has Kitty and Wolverine traveling to the Soviet Union to rescue Kitty’s boyfriend Colossus. This is a great series for anyone who misses the good old days of stand-alone stories - it’s well worth a read.

X-Men Legacy #216 has Professor X - after holding a mirror to his past - trying to do the same for Cyclops. But with the trust between the mentor and protege at its lowest point ever, can this really do much good? This is an interesting book I really wanted to pick up - focusing soley on Professor X and his ties to the M.U. It brings out some interesting conclusions - definitely give it a read.

DC Universe: Decisions #2 finds the various heroes of the DC Universe up against a politically motivated villain - and trying to reconcile their own political beliefs as well. This is a pretty interesting subject we don’t really hear that often. This issue features Guy Gardner along with Bats, Supes and Hal Jordan still trying to figure out who to vote for - provide they catch the killer before Election Day.

Reign in Hell #3 has the War in Hell reaching new heights as superheroes begin to enter the fold on both sides. Some - like Blue Devil - seek a favor for a favor to the winning side, and find themselves battling the likes of Etrigan the Demon in exchange. It’s a pretty interesting series, made even more so by the awesome Dr. Occult back-up’s at the end of each issue.

That’s it for this week - not too much on the DC side but plenty of Marvel to keep your gas tank filled!

If you liked that, try...

1. Comic Rundown: Not So Brand New
2. Comic Rundown: Nova Still Rocks and Captain Marvel’s a Skrull
3. Comic Rundown: Skrulls Down Right
4. Comic Rundown: Fan Favorites Week
5. Comic Rundown: Grant Morrison Writes Everything

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