[Review] Comics Released 04/25/12
Konnichiwa. Most of the time, DC and Marvel are neck and neck in terms of the quality of their comics on a week to week basis. This week, Marvel was clearly head and shoulders above their competition. I don’t think there has been this weak of a release day since the DC reboot a few months ago. We will be recording the second episode of our monthly “Comicscast” in a few days so send us any questions you have! On to the list of releases and my picks:
List of releases for 4/25:
DC COMICS
All-Star Western #8
American Vampire #26
Aquaman #8
Batman Beyond Unlimited #2
Batman The Dark Knight #8
Blackhawks #8 (Final Issue)
Flash #8
Fury Of Firestorm The Nuclear Men #8
Green Lantern New Guardians #8
I, Vampire #8
Justice League Dark #8
Savage Hawkman #8
Teen Titans #8
Uncharted #6
Voodoo #8
MARVEL COMICS
Astonishing X-Men #49
AvX Vs #1 (Of 6)
Battle Scars #6 (Of 6)
Captain America #10
Captain America And Hawkeye #629
Daredevil #11
FF #17
Mighty Thor #13
Moon Knight #12
New Avengers #25
Secret Avengers #26
Ultimate Comics The Ultimates #9
Uncanny X-Men #11
Wolverine #305
X-Men Legacy #265
AvX VS #1
Variant Cover
For some people, the AvX storyarc isn’t about plot; it’s about two superheroes beating the crap out of each other. This the book for them. It even advertises itself as a “knock-down, drag-out whuppin’”. Each issue will deal with the brawl occurring between the Avengers and X-Men in AvX #1 and AvX #2. The matchups in this issue are Iron Man versus Magneto and Thing versus Namor. The Iron Man/Magneto matchup isn’t as straight forward as it sounds and is actually a good fight. The end of the fight is questionable since it’s a cheap shot that finishes it. The second matchup is the more surprising of the two. Not only is the matchup completely out of left field, but the end is cliffhanger-y. Just from what I’ve seen so far in this issue and read in the introduction, I can tell that this is a book for all the fans out there who played with their superhero action figures as a kid and wondered who would win in a fight, Spider-Man or Wolverine or Iron Man. The next issue will feature Gambit squaring off against Captain America and Spider-Man (way out of his power class) trying not to get squished by Colossus who also has the power of the Juggernaut.
Battle Scars #6
This six-issue limited series has been running since the Fear Itself storyline ended and has been repeatedly billed as the “future of the Marvel Universe”. The focus of this series is Marcus Johnson, a U.S. Ranger. Since you’re constantly hearing hyperbole like this, I went into this fully prepared to forget this immediately after I finished reading it. There were a few shocking moments like the revelation that Johnson is the illegitimate son of Nick Fury and one particularly violent scene, otherwise I was starting to get disheartened when my predictions were being proven correct. Then this final issue dropped. Mind blown. Two of the biggest changes to come to the Marvel U in years happened in this issue and like the cliche goes, “nothing will ever be the same. The first change, and the one with the lesser shock attached to it, is the introduction of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson from the Marvel movies. He’s been a fan favorite since his introduction in 2008 Marvel film, Iron Man. I won’t say anything about the second reveal because you have to read it for yourself. Let me just say that I was beyond giddy and excited when I saw it. Go get this issue now. It will literally shape the Marvel U for years and decades to come.
Even though this came out last week:
Batman #8
This is the issue that the Night of Owls arc begins across all Bat-family books. This includes Batman, Batman and Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood and the Outlaws, and Birds of Prey. All that being said, go buy this book. Do it now. FLY YOU FOOL!