TOP 100 - GRAPHIC NOVELS FROM SEPTEMBER 2012

TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in September 2012

QTY RANK	DOLLAR RANK	INDEX	ITEM CODE	DESCRIPTION	PRICE	VENDOR
1	6	8.39	JUL120553	THANOS QUEST #1	$7.99	MAR
2	3	3.35	MAY120270	JUDAS COIN HC	$22.99	DC
3	2	3.33	JUL120438	WALKING DEAD HC VOL 08 (MR)	$34.99	IMA
4	23	3.31	MAY120011	AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 03 PROMISE PART 3	$10.99	DAR
5	5	3.16	MAY120278	AQUAMAN HC VOL 01 THE TRENCH	$22.99	DC
6	36	3.11	JUL121137	TOWER CHRONICLES GN VOL 01 GEISTHAWK	$7.99	LEG
7	13	2.96	JUN120470	MANHATTAN PROJECTS TP VOL 01 SCIENCE BAD	$14.99	IMA
8	14	2.86	JUL120437	THIEF OF THIEVES TP VOL 01	$14.99	IMA
9	16	2.51	JUN120243	BATMAN ARKHAM CITY TP	$16.99	DC
10	4	2.47	JUN120242	BATMAN KNIGHTFALL TP NEW ED VOL 03 KNIGHTSEND	$29.99	DC
11	28	2.28	JUN120239	TEEN TITANS TP VOL 01 ITS OUR RIGHT TO FIGHT	$14.99	DC
12	19	2.24	JUN120718	DR STRANGE PREM HC SEASON ONE	$24.99	MAR
13	56	2.13	JUL068351	WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE	$9.99	IMA
14	41	1.94	JUN120708	NEMESIS TP (MR)	$14.99	MAR
15	24	1.91	JUL120287	STAR TREK TNG DOCTOR WHO ASSIMILATION TP VOL 01	$17.99	IDW
16	42	1.90	JUN120236	BIRDS OF PREY TP VOL 01 TROUBLE IN MIND	$14.99	DC
17	62	1.85	JUN121344	NARUTO TP VOL 58	$9.99	VIZ
18	34	1.84	JUN120280	AMERICAN VAMPIRE TP VOL 03 (MR)	$16.99	DC
19	35	1.78	JUN120246	GREEN LANTERN WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS TP	$16.99	DC
20	21	1.76	MAY120279	GREEN LANTERN CORPS HC VOL 01 FEARSOME	$22.99	DC
21	18	1.71	MAY120322	AMERICAN VAMPIRE HC VOL 04 (MR)	$24.99	DC
22	57	1.62	JUN121186	SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED VOL 07	$10.99	RAN
23	43	1.58	JUN121130	LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES TP VOL 05	$14.99	FAN
24	47	1.57	JUL120655	WINTER SOLDIER TP VOL 01 LONGEST WINTER	$15.99	MAR
25	27	1.57	JUN120842	CROSSED WISH YOU WERE HERE TP VOL 01 (MR)	$19.99	AVA
26	44	1.55	JUN120720	DEADPOOL TP VOL 10 EVIL DEADPOOL	$16.99	MAR
27	45	1.53	JUL120672	VENOM CIRCLE OF FOUR TP	$19.99	MAR
28	48	1.39	JUN120244	BRIGHTEST DAY TP VOL 03	$16.99	DC
29	39	1.38	MAY120031	STAR WARS CRIMSON EMPIRE III EMPIRE LOST TP	$19.99	DAR
30	33	1.38	MAR120234	BATMAN EARTH ONE HC	$22.99	DC
31	63	1.36	JUN120249	PENGUIN PAIN AND PREJUDICE TP	$14.99	DC
32	58	1.36	MAY120066	BERSERK TP VOL 36	$14.99	DAR
33	54	1.33	JUN120732	UNCANNY X-MEN BY KIERON GILLEN TP VOL 01	$16.99	MAR
34	65	1.31	SEP088204	WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US (NEW PTG)	$14.99	IMA
35	32	1.27	JAN120300	BATMAN HC VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS	$24.99	DC
36	46	1.25	JUL120308	TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ONGOING TP VOL 03 SHADOWS	$17.99	IDW
37	104	1.25	JUN121345	BLEACH TP VOL 46	$9.99	VIZ
38	15	1.24	JUL120656	SPIDER-MAN SPIDER-ISLAND TP	$34.99	MAR
39	107	1.24	JUN121346	BLEACH TP VOL 47	$9.99	VIZ
40	26	1.22	JUL120638	OZ HC DOROTHY AND WIZARD IN OZ	$29.99	MAR
41	94	1.21	JUN120726	HULK SMASH AVENGERS TP	$14.99	MAR
42	49	1.20	JUL120642	DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID PREM HC VOL 03	$19.99	MAR
43	74	1.18	JUN120237	FURY OF FIRESTORM NUCLEAR MEN TP VOL 01 GOD PARTICLE	$14.99	DC
44	76	1.18	JUN120238	LEGION LOST TP VOL 01 RUN FROM TOMORROW	$14.99	DC
45	100	1.18	JUL120650	X-MEN WAR MACHINES TP	$14.99	MAR
46	75	1.17	APR120487	WALKING DEAD TP VOL 16 A LARGER WORLD (MR)	$14.99	IMA
47	40	1.16	MAY120313	WORLD OF WARCRAFT PEARL OF PANDARIA HC	$24.99	DC
48	95	1.16	JUN120725	JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY TP VOL 02 FEAR ITSELF FALLOUT	$15.99	MAR
49	72	1.14	JUN120730	ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN BY NICK SPENCER TP VOL 01	$15.99	MAR
50	78	1.13	JUL120666	FEAR ITSELF TP SECRET AVENGERS	$19.99	MAR
51	359	1.11	AUG120838	NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD DAY O/T UNDEAD GN (MR)	$2.99	AVA
52	55	1.10	NOV118095	BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP	$19.99	DC
53	129	1.09	JUN120737	MARVELS AVENGERS TP BLACK WIDOW STRIKES	$12.99	MAR
54	81	1.08	NOV082245	WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS	$14.99	IMA
55	128	1.07	JUL120651	CAPTAIN AMERICA AND HAWKEYE TP	$12.99	MAR
56	7	1.06	APR120321	DAVE STEVENS STORIES & COVERS HC	$49.99	IDW
57	68	1.05	JUL120646	UNCANNY X-MEN BY KIERON GILLEN PREM HC VOL 03 AVX	$19.99	MAR
58	88	1.04	JUN120728	STAND TP VOL 04 HARDCASES	$19.99	MAR
59	87	1.03	JUN120240	VOODOO TP VOL 01 WHAT LIES BENEATH	$14.99	DC
60	70	1.03	NOV070226	BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC	$17.99	DC
61	77	1.03	JUL120653	PUNISHER BY GREG RUCKA TP VOL 02	$16.99	MAR
62	90	1.02	JUN120254	SUPERMAN CHRONICLES TP VOL 10	$14.99	DC
63	93	1.01	JUN120245	FLASH TP VOL 02 THE ROAD TO FLASHPOINT	$14.99	DC
64	96	1.00	JUL121308	YOTSUBA & ! GN VOL 11	$11.99	HAC
65	66	1.00	JUL120645	WOLVERINE AND X-MEN BY JASON AARON PREM HC VOL 03 AVX	$19.99	MAR
66	67	0.97	JUN120283	SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING TP BOOK 02 (MR)	$19.99	DC
67	69	0.95	JUN121372	GRIMM FAIRY TALES TP VOL 12	$15.99	ZEN
68	37	0.95	MAY120048	BTVS SEASON 8 LIBRARY HC VOL 02 WOLVES AT GATE	$29.99	DAR
69	125	0.95	JUN120745	THUNDERBOLTS TP LIKE LIGHTNING	$16.99	MAR
70	116	0.94	JUL120776	SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SELECT TP VOL 06	$11.99	ARC
71	51	0.94	MAY090178	BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP	$24.99	DC
72	20	0.92	APR120684	INCOGNITO CLASSIFIED EDITION HC (MR)	$44.99	MAR
73	86	0.92	JUN120255	SUPERMAN THE BLACK RING TP VOL 02	$16.99	DC
74	139	0.92	JUN121342	ONE PIECE TP VOL 64	$9.99	VIZ
75	71	0.91	MAY120033	CHRONICLES OF KING CONAN TP VOL 03	$18.99	DAR
76	1	0.89	JUN120398	JOE KUBERT TARZAN OF THE APES ARTIST ED HC (NET)	$75.00	IDW
77	30	0.88	MAY120032	STAR WARS CRIMSON EMPIRE SAGA HC	$34.99	DAR
78	111	0.88	JUN120250	GREEN ARROW LONGBOW HUNTERS TP NEW ED	$14.99	DC
79	99	0.86	JUN120742	AVENGERS CELESTIAL QUEST TP	$24.99	MAR
80	85	0.86	APR121228	ALIEN ILLUSTRATED STORY TP	$14.95	RAN
81	9	0.86	APR120690-M	MMW IRON FIST HC VOL 02	$69.99	MAR
82	112	0.86	SEP088205	WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE	$14.99	IMA
83	91	0.85	STAR08102	SQUEE TP	$15.95	SLA
84	101	0.85	JUN120733	WOLVERINE TP GOODBYE CHINATOWN	$16.99	MAR
85	147	0.84	JUN120808	KNUCKLES THE ECHIDNA ARCHIVES TP VOL 03	$9.99	ARC
86	103	0.83	JUL120668	FEAR ITSELF TP UNCANNY X-MEN	$16.99	MAR
87	118	0.82	JUN120269	FRINGE BEYOND THE FRINGE TP	$14.99	DC
88	168	0.82	JUN120461	GLORY TP VOL 01 THE ONCE & FUTURE DESTROYER (MR)	$9.99	IMA
89	64	0.82	JUL110251	BATMAN THE LONG HALLOWEEN TP	$24.99	DC
90	82	0.82	JUN120248	SHOWCASE PRESENTS AMETHSYT TP VOL 01	$19.99	DC
91	79	0.81	MAY120065	CARDCAPTOR SAKURA DARK HORSE OMNIBUS TP VOL 04	$19.99	DAR
92	22	0.81	MAY120326	100 BULLETS HC BOOK 03 (MR)	$49.99	DC
93	146	0.80	SEP110039	AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 01 PROMISE PART 1	$10.99	DAR
94	8	0.80	APR120688-M	MMW ATLAS ERA TALES OF SUSPENSE HC VOL 04	$74.99	MAR
95	84	0.80	JUN120247	LOBO PORTRAIT OF A BASTICH TP NEW PTG	$19.99	DC
96	50	0.78	JAN120303	BATMAN KNIGHTFALL TP NEW ED VOL 01	$29.99	DC
97	152	0.78	MAY120064	OREIMO TP VOL 01	$10.99	DAR
98	92	0.77	JUL120641	SPIDER-MAN LIZARD PREM HC NO TURNING BACK	$19.99	MAR
99	115	0.76	JUN120270	PRINCE OF CATS TP (MR)	$16.99	DC
100	12	0.75	MAR092419	WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01 (MR)	$59.99	IMA

IT'S ALRIGHT MA, I'M ONLY READING. THE BEST COMICS FROM SEPTEMBER 2012

I've decided to change the format a bit for this blog column as it hasn't been consistent. I only seem to be able to pick up comics once a month at the moment, so by the time I'm all read up this column wasn't helping comic fans with their reading on a weekly basis as I had intended. This column will now concentrate on the best single issues released every month rather than breaking comics I've read into good, middling and bad piles. Let's concentrate on the best of the best every month, as being negative can be too easy and in the grand scheme of things even when I don't like a comic the writer and artist are better than anything I could ever accomplish. So, here's a straight up top 10 list of the best issues for September with comments.

 

BATMAN #0

WRITTEN BY SCOTT SNYDER AND ILLUSTRATED WITH A COVER BY GREG CAPULLO -Very familiar territory covered in Batman Begins the movie, but you have to really appreciate where this is headed with the Joker and the Red Hood gang.  Cannot wait for Snyder to show us what he's done with the Joker past and present. 

 

 

BATWOMAN #0

WRITTEN BY J.H WILLIAMS III/W. HADEN BLACKMAN AND ILLUSTRATED WITH A COVER BY J.H WILLIAMS III - Unfortunately the origin of Kate Kane as Batwoman interrupted one of the biggest team ups in DC history with Batwoman and Wonder Woman, but this makes the upcoming story line worth the wait.  Everything that has been written about Batwoman so far all comes together for this issue and characterization essentially drips off the page.  Bring back Rucka and this title immediately becomes a must read epic.  Can't wait for the Wonder Woman team-up with issue #14.

 

DAREDEVIL #18

 WRITTEN BY MARK WAID, ILLUSTRATED BY CHRIS SAMNEE AND A COVER BY PAOLO RIVERA - Mark Waid has made Daredevil the best Marvel title going at the moment.  There are soo many layers Waid is working with all at once each issue is a must read and builds upon the last.  Very interested to see what Waid has in store for his run on the upcoming Hulk relaunch.  If he understands the character of the Hulk as well as Matt Murdock he will have yet another hit title on his hands.

 

A VS X #11 OF 12

WRITTEN BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS AND ILLUSTRATED WITH A COVER BY OLIVIER COIPEL - The penultimate chapter to A VS X was probably my favourite.  Scott Summers succumbing to the influence of the Dark Phoenix had eerie similarities to Jean Grey and the Hellfire Club in the classic Dark Phoenix Saga.  Raising the question; Has this latest Phoenix story line been more epic than the classic Phoenix Saga?  Either way Marvel has crafted an epic that should hold the test of time like it's predecessor.

 

ANIMAL MAN #0

 WRITTEN BY JEFF LEMIRE AND ILLUSTRATED WITH A COVER BY STEVE PUGH - For an origin story this issue sure did shed a ton of light on the relationship of Animal Man to the Red.  DC has really crafted something special and meaningful with the intertwining of the Animal Man and Swamp Thing titles.  Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire should be given free reign in the DC NEW 52.

 

SWAMP THING #0

WRITTEN BY SCOTT SNYDER, ILLUSTRATED BY KANO AND A COVER BY YANICK PAQUETTE - With the amount of creativity Alan Moore instilled into his run on Swamp Thing very few writers have been able to capture that essence and improve upon it.  Bravo Mr. Snyder.  Snyder is the true force behind the DC New 52 and a universe builder.  Hold on tight for Rot World!

 

HAPPY #1 OF 4

WRITTEN BY GRANT MORRISON AND ILLUSTRATED WITH A COVER BY DARICK ROBERSTON - Downright weird, shake your head crudeness that only Morrison teamed with Robertson could result in.  Love it!

 

HAWKEYE #2

 WRITTEN BY MATT FRACTION AND ILLUSTRATED WITH A COVER BY DAVID AJA - Fraction's best Marvel title at the moment.  Aja and Fraction definitely tap into the energy they put into their classic run on Immortal Ironfist.  Hawkeye is a Marvel must read!

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE #0

 WRITTEN BY GEOFF JOHNS AND ILLUSTRATED WITH A COVER BY GARY FRANK - The reason you should be reading Justice League is not the BIG 3.  It's SHAZAM!

 

BEFORE WATCHMEN OZYMANDIAS #3 OF 6

 WRITTEN BY LEN WEIN AND ILLUSTRATED WITH A COVER BY JAE LEE - The 1st incredible meeting and battle between the Comedian and Ozymandias.  Jae Lee's artwork is exquisite and Len Wein proves yet again why he is a comic book legend (not like he had to). 

 

 

LIVE IT LIKE YOU LOVE IT!

 

D&J COMICS



THE BZZZT

This weekly column will now be dedicated to 5 comics and 2 graphic novels that are MUST reads for that given week.  If you haven't read these issues, hunt them down.

BATWOMAN #13

WRITTEN BY J.H WILLIAMS III/HADEN BLACKMAN AND ILLUSTRATED WITH A COVER BY J.H WILLIAMS III - Batwoman and Wonder Woman team up to fight Medusa!  Batwoman and Wonder Woman team up to fight Medusa! (We're so excited we had to say it twice).

 

BEFORE WATCHMEN MINUTEMEN #4 OF 6

WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED WITH A COVER BY DARWYN COOKE.  CRIMSON CORSAIR WRITTEN BY LEN WEIN AND ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN HIGGINS -"You tell them, Hollis. Tell them all what they did to us!"

 

WONDER WOMAN #13

WRITTEN BY BRIAN AZZARELLO, ILLUSTRATED BY TONY AIKINS AND WITH A COVER BY CLIFF CHIANG - A terrible betrayal forces Wonder Woman to make a deal with the gods who want her dead!  Ares, god of war, takes a sudden interest in the Amazing Amazon!

 

DAREDEVIL #19

WRITTEN BY MARK WAID, ILLUSTRATED BY CHRIS SAMNEE AND WITH A COVER BY PAOLO RIVERA - The streets of New York run red with blood!  Matt's mind unravels as the Coyote creates chaos!

 

HAWKEYE #3

WRITTEN BY MATT FRACTION AND ILLUSTRATED WITH A COVER BY

DAVID AJA - What is the Vagabond Code?  Barton and Bishop mean Double the Hawkeye...and Double the trouble.  Fraction and Aja are back with a chase that will blow not only your mind, but several your ancestors' minds as well. 

 

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY TP VOL 03

TERRORISM MYTH

WRITTEN BY KIERON GILLEN, ILLUSTRATED BY MITCH BREITWEISER/RICHARD ELSON AND COVER ART BY STEPHANIE HANS - The Serpent, Norse god of fear, has been vanquished, thanks to Loki - once the god of mischief, now reborn as a child. But FEAR ITSELF was the stuff of nightmares, and now those nightmares are threatening to destroy the world. Daimon Hellstrom, Son of Satan, is investigating a string of bizarre deaths - and all signs point to Loki. Literally. Like, on a map. But as the infernal exorcist and young god battle, the fear lord Nightmare is gathering enough fear energy to rule the world. And the mother lode is inside Loki's mind. Aided by an undead handmaiden, a demon puppy and a shirtless half-devil, Loki will have to risk everything on a scheme so crazy, it might as well have been thought up by...well, a god of mischief! Collecting JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY (1952) #632-636.  

 

PUNISHERMAX TP HOMELESS

WRITTEN BY JASON AARON AND ILLUSTRATED WITH COVER ART BY STEVE DILLON - Since his family's death, Frank Castle has waged a brutal, never-ending war on crime as the Punisher. Once, he was the most feared man in the city - but no more. Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, has brought him as low as he's ever been. No home, no weapons, no resources - just a broken old man with nothing to lose. And the Punisher has never been more dangerous. There's no way Frank can get to Fisk in his ivory tower - surrounded by soldiers and his deadly ninja bodyguard Elektra. But Frank has a plan to draw Fisk out. Now, the Punisher's war is about to reach its grisly conclusion. In their final battle, either Wilson Fisk or Frank Castle will die - but neither is going down without a hell of a fight. Collecting PUNISHERMAX (2010) #17-22.

 

 

LIVE IT LIKE YOU LOVE IT!

 

 

D&J COMICS

IT'S ALRIGHT MA, I'M ONLY READING! THE BEST COMICS FROM AUGUST 2012

I've decided to change the format a bit for this blog column as it hasn't been consistent.  I only seem to be able to pick up comics once a month at the moment, so by the time I'm all read up this column wasn't helping comic fans with their reading on a weekly basis as I had intended.  This column will now concentrate on the best single issues released every month rather than breaking comics I've read into good, middling and bad piles.  Let's concentrate on the best of the best every month, as being negative can be too easy and in the grand scheme of things even when I don't like a comic the writer and artist are better than anything I could ever accomplish.  So, here's a straight up top 10 list of the best issues for August with comments.

 

01- BEFORE WATCHMEN MINUTEMEN #3 OF 6

BY DARWYN COOKE - Darwyn Cooke is a master of the comic art form and probably the best writer/artist in the industry today.  I'm actually placing him ahead of Alan Moore as they are both similar in writing style, but Cooke can draw unlike any other artist to combine with his writing.  The depth Cooke has added to the Watchmen lore after only 3 issues is staggering.  Minutemen is definitely the best book out of all the Before Watchmen titles and that is saying a lot, because each series has been such quality so far.  As with Alan we don't see a lot of Cooke in mainstream comics anymore and I really would like to see Darwyn contribute to any book of his choosing in the DC new 52.  Though my pick would be Justice League or Superman.

 

02 - BATMAN INCORPORATED #3

BY GRANT MORRISON & CHRIS BURNHAM - When Morrison writes Batman it is always a must read.  The level of characterization is just so perfect and paired with the artwork of Chris Burnham, this series is only just about to explode after a few stops and starts because of the DC change over into the new 52.  I have many arguments with friends about what is still relevant in the DC new 52 and one of them is, "did Final Crisis still happen and did Batman R.I.P still happen?"  This issue confirms that both stories by Morrison still stand tall in the new 52's compressed timeline.  There is reference in this issue to Dick having been Batman when Bruce disappeared (end of Final Crisis, Batman & Robin, and Return of Bruce Wayne) and to the Black Glove character from Morrison's "Black Glove" and "R.I.P;"  who was a member of the Wayne family possessed by a Darkseid weapon as punishment for Bruce shooting Darkseid at the end of Final Crisis and then resulted in the "Return of Bruce Wayne ltd series."  If you have Batman inc #3 check out page 13, bottom panel and look closely to who is connected to Leviathan's web.  We just don't know yet how this all fits into what Scott Snyder has done with his equally amazing run on Batman with the "Court of Owls."

 

03 - WONDER WOMAN #12

BY BRIAN AZZARELLO & CLIFF CHIANG - Being very familiar with Brian Azzarello's crime based books, I was very surprised when it was announced he would be spear-heading the new Wonder Woman book.  This book is unlike any of Azzarello's crime books and has shown a differing writing style than one would be accustomed to from Brian.  Having stuck with this book since the first issue, DC knew exactly what they were doing with Azzarello and Wonder Woman.  This book is one hell of a gem in the DC new 52 crown and soon to be a pivotal book to watch out for.  If Jack Kirby had ever written Wonder Woman these would have been the types of stories; gods and science.  There is a conflict coming between the pantheon of Greek Gods and the arrival of the New Gods.  The last page had it all.  BOOOOOOOM tube and Orion (the first appearance of a New God in the new 52 since the opening story arc of JL).

 

04 - SWAMP THING #12:  ROTWORLD PART 2

BY SCOTT SNYDER & MARCOS RUDY - As comic fans we all know about the rants one of my favourite writer's Alan Moore likes to go on about other writers working on his old material like Watchmen, Miracleman and Swamp Thing.  What Mr. Moore possibly forgets is two of the characters he helped evolve in Swampy and Miracleman were created by other writers.  Alan just took everything to entirely different levels and the comic industry benefited in the '80s with stories unlike anything readers had read and seen before.  Scott Snyder has done this with the latest Swamp Thing title by adding upon what Moore had accomplished with the character and turning Abby into one bad-ass female character.  No longer does she suffer torment at the hands of demons and wait to be rescued by Alec.  She'll pick up a shotgun to torment the demons and rescue the good Dr. Holland.  Plus, Snyder has made Anton Arcane more evil than Alan Moore ever attempted.  Moore and Snyder's separate runs on Swamp Thing will one day be synonymous as one of the true horror comics to ever hit the stands and one would hope Alan Moore appreciates the level of care and thought Snyder is pouring into this title.  Pairing up Snyder and Lemire for a horror epic crossing over into Animal Man is pure genius.  Horror at it's best!  Oh, and the cover links together with Animal Man #12's cover to be the right side of a beautiful mural by Steve Pugh and Yanick Paquette.

 

05 - ANIMAL MAN #12: ROTWORLD PART 1

BY JEFF LEMIRE & STEVE PUGH - I won't gush too much again about this Rotworld crossover with Swamp Thing.  As I have already stated above about Moore and Snyder's evolution of Swamp Thing, the same comparison can be laid out for what Lemire is accomplishing with Animal Man and what came before with Grant Morrison's legendary run with Buddy Baker.  Lemire has somehow improved upon it and that is what comics should always be about.  Good writers and artists build upon the past to create the future, while most writers pointless rehash the past and even forget their own continuity most of the time.  Look at Geoff Johns' run of GL as an example or Batman Earth One.  Good stories, but lacking a push from being mired in past story lines, instead of using past story lines to push forward into new territory.  Pick up everything Snyder and Lemire put out!

 -

 

 06- FATALE #7

BY ED BRUBAKER, SEAN PHILLIPS & DAVE STEWART - So Ed Brubaker has left Marvel amidst a little controversy and sighting a burn out on super hero comics.  I can't blame him as Marvel editorial completely butchered his run on Captain America since Captain American Reborn came out.  No wonder he passed up Fear Itself to Matt Fraction.  Where we will see Ed shine now is the indie world of Image Comics and his creator owned Fatale series with his long time collaborator and buddy Sean Phillips.  Crime fiction and demon cults have never been better. So let's hope Mr. Brubaker has a lot up his sleeve outside of super heroes.  With a track record in crime comics like Criminal, Incognito and Sleeper I'm actually glad Brubaker has left Marvel for these more creative pursuits.  Plus, anything he does with Phillips is usually gold.

 

07- HAWKEYE #7

BY MATT FRACTION & DAVID AJA - Pleasantly surprised as to how the first issue turned out.  It was fantastic.  A lot of elements of this book reminded me of the incredibly under-rated Immortal Iron Fist Aja and Fraction worked on together a few years ago.  There's also strong similarities between the Hawkeye character and one of my favourite characters Fraction writes in Casanova.  Not quite as crazy and trippy as Casanova, but there is definite crazy to the backbone of this book.  Hopefully this book will last longer than Fraction's run on Defenders before Marvel cancelled it.  Love this book!

 

08- AVSX #9 OF 12

BY JASON AARON & ADAM KUBERT - As far as big Marvel events go I am never impressed.  Siege, Secret Invasion, Civil War and Fear Itself were all pretty pointless and added nothing in the long run to the Marvel U.  Most of the regular titles didn't even reflect events occuring in those series and never seem to.  With all the Marvel Architects on board for this event it is so damn fun and hopefully will lead to some changes to Marvel that will stick and push Marvel into more creative story lines.  Why this issue is high on my list for August is because it reunited Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert from the Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine ltd series, which was awesome.  Jason Aaron wrote the best Spidey in years and is my favourite writing from Aaron.  Spidey finally takes center stage in this epic and now I'm disappointed that with the change over Marvel will undergo in the next couple of months the editors didn't think to beg Jason Aaron to write the Amazing Spider-Man with Kubert as illustrator.  We would have finally had some good Spidey comics.  Maybe it will happen.  I'm going to keep my fingers crossed.

 

09- AVSX #10 OF 12

BY ED BRUBAKER & ADAM KUBERT - Things are really starting to come together with this series.  Hope is able to injure Cyclops and I'm thinking this little point will actually lead to much bigger things.  We still have no idea who Hope's parents are, but there are clues that lead me to believe she is going to be the daughter of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor, who also happen to be the parents of Cable.  Cable was also the first person to encounter Hope when he rescued her from the Marauders in Messiah Complex.  I'm willing to bet Mr. Sinister has his hands all over this. Why else has he been such a prominent villain again since Uncanny X-Men was relaunched and able to predict exactly what has been happening? 

 

10- FURY MAX - MY WAR GONE BY #5

BY GARTH ENNIS & GORLAN PARLOV - The best historical war comics writer going teamed up with his buddy Parlov from Punisher Max.  Without saying Ennis understands better than anyone in comics the politics of war.  Ennis thrusts an aging Nick Fury whose war should be over into an assassinaton attempt on Castro during the botched Bay of Pigs invasion.  Ennis captures the time period and the beginning of American political scheming towards Cuba perfectly.  Just as good as Punisher Max, but with so much to offer to the history buff.

 

 

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