Instead of catching up, I’ve been catching the following:

• colds (thanks to the kids, who’ve left their snot spigots open all week long)
• hell (plenty of hell from an evil assortment of devils)
• drifts (from the passive-aggressive posse with whom I ride)
• eyes and z’s (for all the wrong reasons and for all the right reasons–in that order)
• 22 (couldn’t help myself)
• as catch can’t (’cause that’s how I roll–or don’t roll, as it were; better: that’s how I sit in one place and spit in the o of progress)

Typing of catching: I hope to catch these 22-page fireflies in my little brown bag on Wednesday:

• Harrow County #1 (Dark Horse): Bunn’s pretty much hit (The Sixth Gun, Magneto) or miss (The Empty Man, Moon Knight, Wolf Moon, Magneto).  Hoping for a hit here.  Wondering how it’s going fit next to all of the other witch-related titles that have been summoned to the shelves of late. (Some high-profile hags hanging out with Harrow County: Rachel Rising, Wytches, and Sabrina.)  They’re popping up almost as quickly as the now ubiquitous time-traveling titles.  Right?  I mean, what’s up with that?
• Lady Killer #5 (Dark Horse): I&N Demand The end has come far too quickly.  Has really been a great ride.  Praying that this final issue lives up to the standard that Jones and Rich have set for themselves; that it doesn’t drop off like–like a fella off the red roof of a terrifically tall structure at a World’s Fair.  (That’s right analogy lovers: I’ve got you covered.)  Anything less would be a huge blow to what has, through four issues, established itself as the front runner for the min-series of the year.
  
  

• Rebels #2 (Dark Horse): I&N Demand I liked the whole April Morning vibe to the opening of #1.  Left me wondering if–though semi-certain that–Wood had Fast’s novel in mind.  No doubt about it: I’m along for the ride–even if it’s not so revolutionary.  Will it fill The Massive void?  Time will tell.
  

• Astro City #23 (DC/Vertigo): #22 was nice.  Unfortunately, I’m getting to a point where nice just ain’t gonna cut it anymore.  I’m this close to leaving Astro City for good.
• East of West #19 (Image): Suddenly our sci-fi spin on Revelations has become a compelling sci-fi spin–with a Wool-y twist–on The Red Balloon.  Translation: it’s apocalypsally delicious!
• Injection #1 (Image): Just I&N One issue of Moon Knight gave me a taste for this team; the next five left me an addict fiending for more.  Clearly, this book is meant to satisfy the craving.
  

• The Mantle #1 (Image): I swore off Brisson after Sheltered blew up in my face.  Yet here I am.  Typing of volcanoes: here’s The Mantle: superhero fare that’ll either be hot or not.  If it’s the latter, I’m out immediately.
• Mythic #1 (Image): Ghostbusters meets Thomas Alsop.  For $1.99, it’s worth a shot–if only to enjoy the magic of John McCrea.
• ODY-C #5 (Image): I’ve been enjoying it more for Fraction’s creative vision than anything else.
• Saga #28 (Image): Tension’s building.  So far, sa-ga.
• Magneto #18 (Marvel): Oh, yay!  It’s a Secret Wars tie-in.
• Thor #8 (Marvel): I&N Demand To helmet with it!
  

• Giant Days #3 (BOOM!): I&N Demand OK, so, as one might expect, #2 wasn’t as giant a surprise as #1.  Couldn’t have been, for obvious reasons.  Still, it lived up to suddenly inflated expectations–and did so with a ripping wit that refuses to take a panel off.  Oh, what fun!

• Blackcross #3 (Dynamite): It’s clear that I’m super late to this grim super-powered party.  Ellis, however, has made me feel welcome.  He’s got a knack for that, no?
• Lantern City #1 (BOOM!): I loved Jenkins’ Deathmatch–so, too, did DC (Convergence) and Marvel (Secret Wars), apparently–so I’ll try just about anything he’s got a hand in–especially when the premise sounds good, as it does here.
• Space Riders #2 (Black Mask): A Derekommendation!  With books like We Can Never Go Home and Mayday–and now this!–seems like Black Mask is positioning itself to take over the effing industry.  We’ll follow them all the way–especially if they keep pumping out top-of-the-pile material.
• X-O Manowar #36 (Valiant): Venditti and his charge–the indomitable Aric–just keep plugging along.

Avery’s Pick of the Week:

My Little Pony: Friendship Forever #16 (IDW): So long, fiends!  It’s always been about friends!

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott