IT'S ALRIGHT MA, I'M ONLY READING! NEW COMICS 02.15.2012

The NOW THAT'S A COMIC BOOK, OK THERE'S SOMETHING HERE and WHY'D I BUY THAT? for new comics that were shipped on 02.15.2012.  This week vigilantes, cold war assassins and a Greek goddess ruled the reads!

NOW THAT'S A COMIC BOOK

BATMAN #6

BENEATH THE GLASS - I don't think a BATMAN writer has been as dark, scary and psychological with this book, since Grant Morrison's BATMAN R.I.P.  Snyder continues with his down right frightening "secret society" themes he established on his recent DETECTIVE COMICS BLACK MIRROR storyline.  It makes the story that much more disturbing and frightening when dealing with what the average person is really capable of.  These are not super villains breaking the Dark Knight, it is a society of rich, bored people with too much entitlement.  Strongly reminiscent of the BLACK GLOVE established by Grant Morrison during his run on BATMAN and BATMAN AND ROBIN.  Could really see Scott Snyder being compared to Alan Moore some day, as Snyder, like Moore, infuses the horror and psychological of the human condition into his stories to combine perfectly with his artist.

HERE COMES...  DAREDEVIL THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR #9

I would like to openly apologize to Mark Waid for doubting his DAREDEVIL run wasn't going to be any good, because it wouldn't live up to the run Bendis and then Brubaker had.  Plus,  SHADOWLAND was so awful (that was Andy Diggle) I really thought the quality instilled in this title over the last 5 to 6 years would be lost.  I'M SORRY.  This book is unbelievable and we have barely seen the tip of the iceberg.  Here's the praise:

"This is one of the best comics Marvel is producing right now, hands down."  ainitcoolnew.com

" #1 Comic of 2011.  It's simply the best comic on stands today."  Complex

" Simply a beautiful, beautiful book both thematically and visually."  mtv.com

"Best relaunch...  Mark Waid's brought him back with a new freshness and Marco Martin and Paolo Rivera have chipped in exquisite artwork."  USA Today

WINTER SOLDIER #2

Ed Brubaker just about every year receives the Eisner award for best comic book writer.  Yet for all the time Brubaker has worked at Marvel, he has never written a major event.  He did write the prologue to Matt Fraction's recent FEAR ITSELF ltd series, but the rumour was that Brubaker pushed for Fraction to take the series as it dealt primarily with Thor.  Just hoping he has a big say on the upcoming A Vs. X as it's about time Marvel's most critically acclaimed writer blew the minds of the entire Marvel fan base.  This series proves Ed Brubaker and Butch Guice are always at their best.

WONDER WOMAN #6

THRONES - Was having a real hard time coming around to liking the artwork of Tony Akins, but now think it is perfectly suited for the story himself and Brian Azzarello are crafting.  It's about time someone finally cleared up the whole Wonder Woman created from clay origin, to her being the "lovechild" of Hippolyta and Zeus and one of his booty call tricks.  Good to know Zeus is still out there disguising himself as that particular woman's perfect man and sticking her with a half-god.  At least he's not doing it as or to goats, I guess.  Really good mythology in this book.  Still don't understand why fans were so negative about her pants.

OK, THERE'S SOMETHING HERE

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #6

FEARSOME - Still saying it.  This is the best current GL title for your money.  Cannot wait for Tomasi and Pasarin's next story arc to begin.

ULTIMATE X-MEN #7

This title has been a bit of a slow build, but the shit hit the fan.  Ever wonder how the Sentinels exterminated the mutants in the classic DAYS OF FUTURE PAST by Chris Claremont?  I think Spencer has been influenced by that story to give his version of the genocide of the mutant race.  Very dark future for mutants in this comic and a lot of themes and situations you wouldn't necessarily find anymore in the regular Marvel U.  That's why this is ULTIMATE COMICS.  Oh, and Magneto's back.  Will Wolvie be far behind?  Last time we saw either of these characters in the Ultimate books was the end of Jeph Loeb's ULTIMATUM.

WHY'D I BUY THAT?

WOLVERINE #301

BACK  IN JAPAN:  PART 2 - I am not a regular reader of Jason Aaron's run on WOLVERINE, but I picked up the 300th issue recently and really enjoyed it from beginning to end.  So I gave issue #301 a shot and it was terrible.  The book was divided into chapters with a different artist per chapter, so there was no cohesiveness.  The writing was much weaker than what I had enjoyed in the previous issue.  Jason Aaron's run is coming to an end and with this issue there was a feeling we are rushing towards that end without the care it deserves.  I would suggest Jason Aaron's run on WOLVERINE as a whole to anyone though.  Jeph Loeb and Simone Bianchi are taking over the creative direction for this book in a couple of issues.  Not being a fan of Loeb, I will follow Mr. Aaron over to INCREDIBLE HULK, for a fresh take on a character he has never written. 

Cheers for reading!