THE BZZZ - 05.30.2012

A quick look at this week's (05.30.2012) new graphic novels, new comic book #1s and crossovers. Plus, my pick of the week!

TPB = TRADE PAPERBACK
HC = HARD COVER
PREM = PREMIER

PICK OF THE WEEK

STAR TREK TNG/DOCTOR WHO ASSIMILATION #1

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION/DOCTOR WHO: ASSIMILATION2 will feature fan-favorite villains the Borg and the Cybermen as they create an unholy alliance resulting in potential disaster for all humanity. Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise find themselves joining forces with the Doctor and his companions, with the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance.

NEW GRAPHIC NOVELS

CHANNEL ZERO

A blistering take on media control in a repressive future America! DMZ and The Massive creator Brian Wood launched an all-out assault on the comics medium in 1997 with Channel Zero, an influential, forward-thinking series that combined art, politics, and graphic design in a unique way. Touching on themes of freedom of expression, hacking, cutting-edge media manipulation, and police surveillance, it remains as relevant today as it did back then.

The Channel Zero collection contains the original series, the prequel graphic novel Jennie One (illustrated by Becky Cloonan), the best of the two Public Domain design books, and almost fifteen years of extras, rarities, short stories, and unused art. Also featuring the now-classic Warren Ellis introduction and an all-new cover by Wood, this is the must-have edition. See where it all began!
“It’s about anger as a positive force of creation . . . Someone’s remembered what comics are for. Meet Brian Wood.”—Warren Ellis

X-MEN PHOENIX TP ENDSONG WARSONG

ULTIMATE COLLECTION

The mysterious and powerful Phoenix Force is life incarnate, and yet it consumes whole worlds in a moment. Its long history with the X-Men is fraught with tragedy... especially concerning one of the most beloved of their number, Jean Grey. What will happen when the Phoenix returns to Earth in search of the one mortal who could ever contain its power... only to find her dead?

 

#1'S

 

RAVAGERS #1

First issue of a new series spinning directly out of "THE CULLING!"• FAIRCHILD, brother and sister THUNDER and LIGHTNING, the monstrous RIDGE, BEAST BOY and TERRA are being pursued by ROSE WILSON and WARBLADE, who want them dead at any cost!• No one's survival is certain each month in THE RAVAGERS!

 

 

CROSSOVERS

 

BATMAN ANNUAL #1 (NIGHT OF THE OWLS)

MR. FREEZE is introduced to The New 52!• What is Mr. Freeze's relationship to the COURT OF OWLS? Is he an ally – or do they want him dead?• "NIGHT OF THE OWLS" continues here!

 

NEW MUTANTS #43 EXILED

Gods made mortal, with mutants their only hope for survival!  Undead cannibals on the loose, San Francisco turned inside out by forbidden magic!  A thrilling mythological mystery adventure in the Mighty Marvel manner, the most epic crossover of 2012! (Not counting that one where As fight Xs)

WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #11 AVX

• AVX TIE-INS!  Cyclops comes to the Jean Grey School!  Will Wolverine’s X-Men join Cyclops against the Avengers?  ICEMAN vs RED HULK!

X-MEN LEGACY #267 AVX

“OCCUPY THE JEAN GREY SCHOOL” Avengers She-Hulk, Falcon and Moon Knight are tasked with securing the Jean Grey School...  And Rogue and her team of X-Men aren’t too happy about it!

LIVE IT LIKE YOU LOVE IT!

D&J COMICS

TOP 10 - COMICS IN THE DC NEW 52

Last October and a month into THE DC NEW 52, I posted a TOP 10 list of my favourite titles.  Now we are 7 months plus into this highly successful comic initiative, so I thought it would be interesting to look back at that first month and see how my opinions have changed on DC titles as most of the first story arcs have now ended.  I have reprinted the DC THE NEW 52 Top 10 Comics at the end of this posting for comparison.  It has been a wild and exciting comic ride for the past 6 months courtesy of the great job DC continues to deliver to readers.  Job well done DC!


01 - BATMAN by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo.

02 - ACTION COMICS by Grant Morrison and Rags Morales.

03 - THE FLASH by Francis Manaupl and Brian Bucceletto.

04 - ANIMAL MAN by Jeff Lemire, Travl Foreman and Steve Pugh.

05 - SWAMP THING by Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette.

06 - WONDER WOMAN by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang.

07 - BATWOMAN by J.H. Williams III, W. Haden Blackman and Amy Reeder.

08 - STORMWATCH by Peter Milligan and Miguel Sepulveda.

09 - BATWING by Judd Winick and Marcos To/Ryan Winn

10 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA by Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, Gene Ha and Gary Frank.

LIVE IT LIVE YOU LOVE IT!

D&J COMICS

DC THE NEW 52, TOP 10 COMICS FROM SEPT. 2011

01. ACTION COMICS by Grant Morrison and Rags Morales.


02. ANIMAL MAN by Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman


03. SWAMP THING by Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette


04. BATWOMAN BY J.H. Williams I.I.I and W. Hayden Blackman


05. BATMAN AND ROBIN by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason.


06. BATMAN BY Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo


07. SUPERMAN by George Perez and Jesus Merino


08. JUSTICE LEAGUE by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee


09. STORMWATCH by Paul Cornell and Miguel Sepulveda


10. BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT by Paul Jenkins and David Finch

THE BZZZ - 05.09.2012

A quick look at this week's (05.09.2012) new graphic novels, new comic book #1s and crossovers. Plus, my book of the week!

TPB = TRADE PAPERBACK
HC = HARD COVER
PREM = PREMIER

BOOK OF THE WEEK

PUNISHER #11

Greg Rucka continues to take the Marvel U by storm and is making THE PUNISHER one of the must read books.  After another legendary collaboration with writer Mark Waid on THE OMEGA EFFECT crossover that ran through AVENGING SPIDEY, PUNISHER and DAREDEVIL last month, Rucka gives us a perfect jumping on point for new readers with a fresh story arc.  Just like Frank, this series is methodical and will hunt you down.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

CHOKER TP

Story BEN McCOOL, Art & Cover BEN TEMPLESMITH Johnny Jackson is a bitter ex-cop working at a deadbeat detective agency, but an escaped fugitive soon thrusts Johnny right back into the thick of the police force... and Shotgun City's despicable underworld. Collects CHOKER #1-6.

OZ OZMA OF OZ GN TP

Dorothy is back, and she's not in Kansas anymore. But she's not in Oz, either! L. Frank Baum's magical world comes to life once again as Dorothy Gale takes yet another unexpected trip to a mystical, faraway land. This time, Dorothy winds up in the land of Ev -where she meets new friends such as Tik-Tok the mechanical man and Billina, perhaps the cleverest chicken you'll ever encounter. Dorothy will have to face the wicked Nome King, who's imprisoned Ev's royal family - but luckily has help from her Oz friends, including the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow and the new Queen of Oz, the lovely Ozma! But can even their combined might win the day and see Dorothy back home? Find out in Marvel's third amazing series adapting the L. Frank Baum classics! Collecting OZMA OF OZ #1-8.

NEW #1s

MYSTERY IN SPACE #1

This one-shot anthology is loaded with unsettling short stories that will hijack your imagination and take you to strange, mysterious places. Journey to the edge of the abyss with Michael Allred! Arrive in the middle of an intergalactic space heist with Paul Pope! Plus: Broken hearts will be cryogenically frozen, a zero-gravity menage á trois will be compromised by aliens, and solar systems will spiral out of control when top comics talents and exciting newcomers collide!

FRANKENSTEIN ALIVE ALIVE #1

Few works by comic-book artists have earned the universal acclaim and reverence that Bernie Wrightson’s illustrated version of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s Frankenstein was met with upon its original release in 1983.
Nearly 30 years later, Wrightson returns to his passion project with a comic series that picks up at the end of the classic novel, hailed as one of the greatest horror stories of all time. Frequent Wrightson collaborator Steve Niles provides the script for this epic, decades in the making.
While appearing to be in black and white, each page was scanned in color to mimic as closely as possible the experience of viewing the actual original art, showing off the exquisitely detailed brush work of one of the greatest living artists in comics today.
Each issue will also include supplemental materials, including interviews, essays and a serialization of the original prose story by Shelley.

TAKIO #1

Bursting from the pages of last year's best-selling graphic novel! From the Eisner Award-winning creators of POWERS comes this all-new, all-ages superhero adventure for a new generation! Taki and Olivia are sisters with superpowers! In fact, they are the only ones in the world with superpowers! So obviously, they have to become superheroes! But is the world ready for real-life superheroes? Are the girls ready for the challenge? And will the accident that made them who they are reveal secrets that will change their lives forever? The answers are no, no and yes. This is a brand-new all-ages adventure. A new book for comic-book fans of all ages. A book you can share with your kids or just enjoy for yourself. TAKIO is on the 2012 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens List!

CROSSOVERS & TIE-INS

BATGIRL #9 (NIGHT OF THE OWLS)

"NIGHT OF THE OWLS" continues here!• BATGIRL faces off against the Court of Owls to protect the life of her father, Commissioner Gordon!

BATMAN #9 (NIGHT OF THE OWLS)

"NIGHT OF THE OWLS" continues here!• Batman must stop the TALONS that have breeched the Batcave in order to save an innocent life...and Gotham City!• In the backup story, learn more about the PENNYWORTH family and the secrets they've kept from the Wayne family!

BATMAN AND ROBIN #9 (NIGHT OF THE OWLS)

NIGHT OF THE OWLS continues here!• ROBIN faces TALON alone with the skies of Gotham City at stake!

LEGION LOST #9 (THE CULLING)

"THE CULLING" continues from this month's SUPERBOY #9!• Even the combined powers of LEGION LOST and the TEEN TITANS won't be enough to stop DARK HARVEST and his minions from committing mass murder!• Continues in this month's TEEN TITANS #9.

SUPERBOY #9 (THE CULLING)

"THE CULLING" continues here from this month's TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1 and leading into LEGION LOST #9!• SUPERBOY vs. ROSE WILSON – round two!• The shocking debut of the all-new WARBLADE!

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #637 EXILED

With Gods made mortal, these divine beings must turn to unlikely allies for survival! As San Francisco is turned inside out by forbidden magic, reality is shaken to its core! Continued in this months New Mutants issues.

NEW AVENGERS #26 AVX

AVX TIE-IN Attempting to stop the Phoenix Force by any means necessary, Thor gathers the SECRET AVENGERS for a fight against the ancient power that may prove to be a battle that none of the team will be able to return from.

WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #10 AVX

Cyclops comes to the Jean Grey School!

Will Wolverine's X-Men join Cyclops against the Avengers?

ICEMAN vs RED HULK!

X-MEN LEGACY #266 AVX

The Avengers check in on the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning and the X-Men are none to pleased about the situation.  I predict a riot!

 

 

The summer is just starting and the crossover events are heating up.  Good comic bookery on the horizon.

 

 

Live it Like you Love it!

 

D&J COMICS

THE BZZZ - 05.02.2012

A quick look at this week's (05.02.2012) new graphic novels, new comic book #1s and crossovers. Plus, my book of the week!

TPB = TRADE PAPERBACK
HC = HARD COVER
PREM = PREMIER

BOOK OF THE WEEK

DEFENDERS #6

WHO is trying to kill the Immortal Weapons and can Iron Fist stop them?

WHY did the world forget about the Confederates of the Curious?

HOW does the Concordance Engine tie all these threads together?

GRAPHIC NOVELS

ANIMAL MAN TP VOL 01 THE HUNT

One of the breakout hits from DC Comics – The New 52! In these tales from issues #1-6 of the new series, Buddy Baker has gone from "super" man to family man – but is he strong enough to hold his family together when Maxine, his young daughter, starts to manifest her own dangerous powers? As these new abilities continue to terrify Buddy and his wife Ellen, things take a turn for the worse as Buddy and Maxine begin a journey into the heart of The Red. Don't miss the amazing series from writer Jeff Lemire (SWEET TOOTH) and artist Travel Foreman (The Immortal Iron Fist)!

BATMAN AND ROBIN TP VOL 03

BATMAN ROBIN MUST DIE

In this volume collecting BATMAN AND ROBIN #13-16 and BATMAN: THE RETURN #1, the new Batman and Robin must deal with the return of The Joker, then face the final confrontation with The Black Glove. Plus: What happens to Dick Grayson after the "real" Batman returns?

NEW #1s

DIAL H #1

A brand new series by bestselling and Hugo award winning novelist CHINA MIEVILLE!• What would happen if you discovered the H Dial, an unbelievably powerful artifact that turned you into a super hero?• And what if you found out that the world is threatened by this very device that's become your uncontrollable obsession?• These are just the first questions asked in this thrilling and inventive storyline that introduces the strangest super heroes and super villains in the DCU while exploring the boundaries of reality!

EARTH 2 #1

First issue of an ongoing series from writer JAMES ROBINSON and artist NICOLA SCOTT!• Who are the heroes of EARTH 2 – and what befell them?• Starring ALAN SCOTT, JAY GARRICK and many others!• You may think you know Earth 2…but this is DC Comics – The New 52, where anything can happen!• Don't miss the extra-sized debut issue!

GI COMBAT #1

 First issue of an ongoing series!• Featuring the first chapter of "WAR THAT TIME FORGOT" written by J.T. KRUL and with art by ARIEL OLIVETTI….and dinosaurs!• Plus: The first chapter of "UNKNOWN SOLDIER" by JUSTIN GRAY, JIMMY PALMIOTTI and artist DAN PANOSIAN focuses on all-out war in Afghanistan!

SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #1

The SMALLVILLE story continues in this new ongoing series!• Based on the hit CW show!• Find out what happened after CLARK KENT puts on the costume.

WORLDS FINEST #1

New ongoing series featuring POWER GIRL and HUNTRESS of Earth 2!• PAUL LEVITZ teams with amazing artists GEORGE PEREZ and KEVIN MAGUIRE.• Discover why these two heroes are stranded on our Earth – and what it means for the heroes of the DC Universe.

FURY MAX #1

Garth Ennis (Punisher MAX, Preacher) and Goran Parlov (Punisher MAX) reunite to bring you the life of Marvel's hardest soldier like no one else could.

In the wake of World War II, Fury is fast running out of battles to fight. But the world's superpowers are gearing up for a new kind of war and they'll need a man like Fury to win it.

CROSSOVERS

BATWING #9 (NIGHT OF THE OWLS)

"NIGHT OF THE OWLS" continues here!• BATWING arrives in Gotham City just in time to fight the chaos the Court of Owls has unleashed! Outgunned and on unfamiliar turf, can Batwing survive?

DETECTIVE COMICS #9 (NIGHT OF THE OWLS)

BATMAN has been poisoned at the hands of the deadly MR. TOXIC!• Featuring a TWO-FACE backup story written by TONY S. DANIEL with art by SZYMON KUDRANSKI

TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1 (THE CULLING)

"THE CULLING" begins here!• It's the TEEN TITANS vs. THE LEGION LOST one mile beneath the Antarctic in the chamber of horrors known as the Crucible!• Continued in this month's SUPERBOY #9, LEGION LOST #9 and TEEN TITANS #9!

AVENGERS VS X-MEN #3 (OF 12) AVX

The AVENGERS and X-MEN race to find the cosmic entity known as the Phoenix! With sparks flying between the two all-powerful teams, Hope takes matters into her own hands! Will she figure things out before Cap and Wolverine tear each other apart?

AVENGERS ACADEMY #29 AVX

When it comes to the ravages of war, even children can’t escape the consequences.
Avengers Vs. X-Men will be no exception to the rule above, as AVENGERS ACADEMY enters the fray beginning with issues #29 and #30 in May, throwing the young students into a conflict bigger than any they’ve experienced while also bringing several familiar mutant faces into the series, and likely not to make friends.

EXILED #1

CONTINUED THROUGHOUT MAY IN JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY AND NEW MUTANTS.

After the events of FEAR ITSELF, the NEW MUTANTS have further entwined their destiny with Asgard. As a forgotten hero more powerful than Thor himself returns, the team must brace themselves for matters that will pit member against member.

LIVE IT LIKE YOU LOVE IT!

D&J COMICS

THE BZZZ - 04.25.2012

A quick look at this week's (04.25.2012) new graphic novels, new comic book #1s and crossovers. Plus, my book of the week!

TPB = TRADE PAPERBACK
HC = HARD COVER
PREM = PREMIER

BOOK OF THE WEEK

DAREDEVIL #10 - OMEGA EFFECT PART 3

The Omega Effect”‌ Concludes! • Daredevil And Spider-Man Join Frank Castle In A Blitzkrieg Takedown Of New York Crime-- But Don’t Take It For Granted That These Heroes Are All Working Together.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

DARK TOWER TP BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL

The World Has Moved On. Nine Years Gone Since The Gunslingers Protected The Land. Nine Years Gone Since The Fall Of Gilead, When The Good Man’s Dark Army Brutally Took The Ancient City From Those Same Gunslingers And Pushed Them Into The Wilderness Beyond. With The Affiliation Busted, It’s Been A Time Of Retrenchment For Roland And What Remains Of His Ka-Tet, Hiding And On The Run From Marauding Mutants And Farson’s Mercenaries. But Now, With The Revelation That One Of The Beams That Support The Dark Tower Is Broken, Things Couldn’t Possibly Be Any Worse: First Roland’s Homeland, And Now Mid-World Itself, Are On The Brink Of Destruction. The Dark Tower’s Thirty-Issue Run Concludes With A Final Showdown Between Darkness And Light At Jericho Hill! Collecting Dark Tower: The Battle Of Jericho Hill #1-5.

NEW #1s

POPEYE #1 OF 4

Popeye the Sailor Man sails again! E.C Segar's classic creation is back, with his first original comic in over 30 years! Written by the Eisner Award-winning Roger Landridge (The Muppets), with pitch-perfect art from rising star Bruce Ozella, it's a new take on the classic character that's true to its roots! With a rare incentive cover from legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jules Feiffer!

CROSSOVERS & TIE INS

DAREDEVIL #10 - OMEGA EFFECT PART 3

The conclusion to the 3 part OMEGA EFFECT crossover that began this month in AVENGING SPIDER-MAN and the PUNISHER.  Part 2 ended with DD getting shot off the upper balcony at Grant Central Station by the new Punisher, Rachel Alves.  Rucka and Waid continue to take the Marvel U places it needs to go.

AVX VS #1 (OF 6)

The Premier Tie-In To Avengers Vs. X-Men! • All-Out ActionFeaturing CoTo Cover Battles, Each Issue Expanding On Fights From The Main Avx Book—In Ways You Can’t Imagine! • This Issue: Iron Man Vs. Magneto And Thing Vs. Namor!

NEW AVENGERS #25 AVX

Avx Tie-In! • Iron Fist Discovers The Shocking Connection Between Himself And The Cosmic Phoenix Force…!

LIVE IT LIKE YOU LOVE IT!

D&J COMICS