Category Archives: What’s I&N Store?

Here’s what we’re looking forward to this week.

What’s Up?

26 Tuesday Mar 2013

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Another sizable stack–with one remarkable difference.  Let’s see if you can pick up on it.

To All the Books I’ve Bought Before

  • The Answer #3 (Dark Horse): Unquestionably a good time.
  • Clone #5 (Image): The end of the first arc may be the perfect time to bid this underperformer adieu.
  • Fatale #13 (Image): Consistently terrific.  Impossibly defies expectations with each new offering.
Fatale #13

Fatale #13

  • FF# 5 (Marvel): Fraction and Allred are paired so well on this otherwise inconsequential title.  Off beat?  Right on!
  • Fury: My War Gone By #10 (Marvel): “The final arc begins.”  Don’t think I can express to you how those words make me feel.  OK, I’ll give it a shot: Ain’t good.  How’s that?
Fury: My War Gone By #10

Fury: My War Gone By #10

  • Deathmatch #4 (BOOM!): Frivolous?  Sure.  Worth reading?  You bet!
  • Battlefields #5: The Fall and Rise of Anna Kharkova Part 2 (Dynamite): Ennis at his very best.
  • Red Team #2 (Dynamite): Wow!  Three Ennis books in one week?  Happy Easter, indeed!
Red Team #2

Red Team #2

  • Rachel Rising #15 (Abstract Studio): I’m all caught up and wanting Moore!  No self-respecting comic nerd should be without this title on his or her list.
  • The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun #2 (Oni): I’m through the first two trades of The Sixth Gun, waiting on the next two.  (Go Amazon!)

You Always Remember Your First

  • East of West #1 (Image): Miss an Image #1?  Not a chance!  Seriously, though, while I missed out on Hickman’s The Manhattan Projects (I did order Volume 1 recently and am awaiting its arrival, however), I’ll not make the same mistake here.  Definitely worth a shot.
East of West #1

East of West #1

  • Green Hornet #1 (Dynamite): Mark Waid.  ‘Nuff said.
Green Hornet #1

Green Hornet #1

Did you pick up on it?  Of course you did.  It’s yet another first: no DC books this week.  That’s kinda huge.  A little light on the ol’ Marvel, too, now that I think of it.

Something’s afoot, friends.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

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I like big bags and I cannot lie.

Feeling Pullish

  • Colder #5 (Dark Horse): Glad this little Ice Age is over.
  • Animal Man #18 (DC): Almost there.  Almost over the Rot.  Looks like with #19, Lemire’s headed back to what made the book a must-read in the first place.  Just have to survive this one.
  • Dial H #10 (DC): #9 was a return to form.  Looks like a ruff ride this time around.  See for yourself.
    Dial H #10

    Dial H #10

    • Swamp Thing #18 (DC): Another Snyder superhero finale.  Expectations set to nada.
    • Bedlam #5 (Image): Last issue yanked me from the brink.
    Bedlam #5

    Bedlam #5

    • Daredevil: End of Days #6 (Marvel): This has been really good.  Probably the best Bendis going right now–and there’s a lot of Bendis going right now.
    • Shadowman #5 (Valiant): Another comic in the news?  Wouldn’t have expected Shadowman.  Lot of things I didn’t expect from Shadowman–including that I’d still be reading it through #5.

     

Feeling Plucky

  • Mara #3 (Image): Not my favorite, but I’m sticking with it–especially since it’s a mini.
  • Sex #1 (Image): Joe Casey’s new one’s had its share of hype–so much, in fact,  it’s practically been buzzed bald.  Considering, that might not be such a bad thing.
  • Snapshot #2 (Image): Might as well.
  • Green Arrow #18 (DC): Can’t bow out after one issue.  Lemire deserves at least two, maybe even a few.
  • Winter Soldier #16 (Marvel): Jason LaTour’s first issue certainly didn’t make me forget Ed Brubaker.  Surprisingly, it didn’t make me want to forget Winter Soldier.  Not yet, anyway.
Winter Soldier #16

Winter Soldier #16

  • Helheim #1 (Oni): I’m a little late to the Sixth Gun party.  Not gonna let this one slip by without a shot.
Helheim #1

Helheim #1

  • Fairy Quest #2 (BOOM!): There was something about #1 that I kinda dug.
  • All-New X-Men #8 (Marvel): Ugh.

This one’s got Bunns, hun.  So, I guess I want some.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

26 Tuesday Feb 2013

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Not a shy week, no; but not nearly as obnoxious as the last, or the last, or the–

Reading Rainbow

  • Justice League Dark #17 (DC): A little less Lemire is like a little less tread on the tire.  Not so thrilled by this one anymore; don’t really care where it’s headed.
  • Comeback #4 (Image): Started off really well but has gotten a bit muddled here in the middle–a fault of many a mini of late.   Can’t quit now, though.  Damn the lure of the mini!
  • TMNT: Secret History of the Foot Clan #3 (IDW): Here’s one I never expected to like.  But I do!  Mateus Santolouco–along with help from Erik Burnham–has done a heck of a job putting this mini together and making it relevant to a reader like me–an admitted relative stranger to TMNT lore.
TMNT: Secret of the Foot Clan #3

TMNT: Secret of the Foot Clan #3

  • Deathmatch #3 (BOOM!): Certainly enough intrigue strewn in to warrant another round.
  • The Answer #2 (Dark Horse): Solid Derekommnedation.  No question: I’m grabbing this one from Mike Norton and Dennis Hopeless.
The Answer #2

The Answer #2

  • FF #4 (Marvel): Its quirkiness is keeping it around–for now.

Call Them Maybe

  • Five Weapons #1 (Image): Another Image miniseries?  Oh, why not?  Worth a flip through, for sure.
Five Weapons #1

Five Weapons #1

  • Uncanny X-Men #2 (Marvel): Only if I’m feeling particularly masochistic.

A modest mix, no?  Oughta give me a chance to catch my breath–maybe even knock out a Back and Forth in a timely fashion!  (A nerd can dream.)

What are you looking  forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

19 Tuesday Feb 2013

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Looks like a solid week: a bunch of stack stalwarts and four fingers worth of freshness.

  • Mind MGMT #8 (Dark Horse): #7 put Henry and Meru on the road: an excellent transition–but to what?  Can’t wait to find out.
Mind MGMT #8

Mind MGMT #8

  • Action Comics #17 (DC): Here we go again: Morrison’s making his way out–with a bang, I hope.  Expectations, however, have been comic-creator kryptonite of late.  So, who knows, you know?
  • Batwoman #17 (DC): Stunning cover.  The promise of a “[m]assive conclusion.”  J.H. Williams III.  That’s pretty must “all ye need to know.”  Ye also might like to know that Williams III will be handing over the art duties to Trevor McCarthy starting with the next issue.  Might fall from the pull-list as a result.
Batwoman #17

Batwoman #17

  • Wonder Woman #17 (DC): Has been consistently good.  In that, it’s been consistently shy of great.  Therein lies the true wonder.
  • Harbinger #9 (Valiant): Dysart’s been building his corner of the Valiant Universe with a rare verve.  A wonderful place to get lost in for twenty-two pages.
  • X-O Manowar #10 (Valiant): Marching toward Planet Death with renewed energy.
  • Daredevil #23 (Marvel): What will Waid and Samnee do–what can they do?–to follow up the Coyote storyline?  We’ll see.
Daredevil #23

Daredevil #23

  • Indestructible Hulk #4 (Marvel): Have it on good authority that my House connection–see #3–wasn’t too far off.  Looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
  • G.I. Joe #1 (IDW): Banking on Fred Van Lente for this reach buy.  His Archer & Armstrong has been remarkably balanced.  May play well here, too.
  • Justice League of America #1 (DC): For no good reason.  I mean, let’s be honest: Geoff Johns hasn’t had much to offer the New 52–other than reasons not to buy core titles.
  • Kill Shakespeare: Tide of Blood #1 (IDW): I didn’t buy the first Kill Shakespeare series.  Sounds fun, though.  If I find it, I’ll flip through it and go from there.
  • Revival #7 (Image): Losing interest as quickly as it was won.  Not a good sign.  Seems like Seeley has lost focus: the storytelling hasn’t been very good over the last couple of issues.
  • The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun #1 (Oni): Just getting into the The Sixth Gun.  Don’t want to let this slip by, especially if it answers some questions–questions I haven’t even asked yet!
The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun #1

The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun #1

Not too bad, right?

Tell me: what are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

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“What’s up?” you ask?  Yeah.  It’s more like what isn’t up.  Keeeeey-riced!  Check it:

Crisis of Definite Comics

  • Action Comics #17 (DC): Promises to be epic.  Either way, Morrison’s last will be mine as well.
  • Animal Man #17 (DC): Wondering where this is going to go after Rotworld.
  • Dial H #9 (DC): Didn’t kick off 2013 the way it stomped through 2012.  Expectations are still dialed up pretty high–and maybe that’s the problem.
  • Green Arrow #17 (DC): Lemire’s run begins.  Will it be a bull’s eye or another quivering misfire?
  • Swamp Thing #17 (DC): Not caring where this is going to go after Rotworld.  As with Morrison’s Action, Snyder’s last will be mine as well.
  • Daredevil: End of Days #5 (Marvel): #4 was really good.  In fact, halfway through, this mini has been surprisingly effective.
  • Ultimate Spider-Man #20 (Marvel): Venom?  Gag–unless he’s going to be used in an unexpected manner, which is totally possible.  Bendis has earned a long leash– even with a poisonous character like the toxic tongue wagger himself.
  • Harbinger #0 (Valiant): Great stuff.  So great, in fact, that I’m not worried about a zero diversion.  Not in the least.
  • Shadowman #4 (Valiant): Didn’t expect to get this far with it.
  • Snapshot #1 (Image): Looks interesting enough.  Don’t have much experience with Diggle.  I’m jumping on because of Jock, who has been doing some transcendent work on the Batman back-ups, or extensions, or whatever they are.
Snapshot #1

Snapshot #1

  • Garth Ennis’ Red Team #1 (Dynamite): Ennis is so hot right now he’s impossible to pass up.
Garth Ennis Red Team #1

Garth Ennis Red Team #1

  • Colder #4 (Dark Horse): Started off so well.  Unfortunately, has fallen faster than Declan’s body temperature.
  • Fairy Quest #1 (BOOM!): Jenkins and Ramos?  Come on: definitely worth a shot.
Fairy Quest #1

Fairy Quest #1

Is This a Comic Which I See Before Me?

  • All-New X-Men #7 (Marvel): Mainly because of Marquez.  Also because I’m an idiot.
  • Winter Soldier #15 (Marvel): Brubaker’s take is THE take, no doubt.  But why not try someone else’s take for at least an issue or two?  Can’t be worse than Remender’s Captain America for goodness sake.
  • Dia De Los Muertos #1 (Image): I’ll give it a quick flip.  Rossmo’s certainly worth a maybe.

I wonder if I’ll be able to buy some time, too; I’m gonna need it.  Yow-to-the-za!

What are you looking forward to?  Anything else I should keep an eye out for?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

29 Tuesday Jan 2013

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What a relief!  A reasonable stack–a six pack, in fact.

  • Deathmatch #2 (BOOM!): #1 was a real surprise.  Sure, Paul Jenkins’ name alone promises quality, but the premise seemed a bit, I don’t know, frivolous, especially with the whole Hunger Games thing already being played up–hopelessly–in Avengers Arena.  I tried AA for three issues: speaking of frivolous!  I have a sneaky suspicion that Deathmatch will prove its worth with #2–even with the bump in price.  As Jenkins himself Tweeted to us: “I have been writing forward and by now, I’m getting the hang of the characters.”  And with that promise, we’re going to hang with him.
Deathmatch #2

Deathmatch #2

  • Justice League Dark #16 (DC): All of a sudden, it’s our only source of Frankenstein!  I guess it’ll have to do.
  • Mara #2 (Image): Faith in Brian Wood here.  In #1, he offered a pretty spiky protagonist and served up a killer cliffhanger.  I’m down for #2.
  • Nowhere Men #3 (Image): Going somewhere, and I’m along for the ride.
Nowhere Men #3

Nowhere Men #3

  • Avengers #4 (Marvel): Whoa.  Wait.  I hated how #3 ended.  (Seriously: if you’ve read it, you know exactly what I mean: it was all sorts of ludicrous!)  How the hell did this make the cut?  Oh, yeah!  Opena’s art.  Whoa.  Wait.  He’s already off the book?  Next up: Adam Kubert.  Yeah, I might just leave this on the counter.
  • Superior Spider-Man #2 (Marvel): If you read our review of #1, you’re probably wondering why I’d bother with #2.  Hey, I’m totally with you: I’m still trying to work it out myself.

Let me know if there’s anything I can pick up in place of Avengers and/or Superior Spider-Man.  Without them, I’ll have something left on a twenty–and I can never leave a shop with change enough for a book or two.  So, it’s with them or with something else.  Please save me!

What are you looking forward to on Wednesday?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

22 Tuesday Jan 2013

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Let’s make it an even dozen.

Egg Carton

  • Harbinger #8: Very good of late.  I like how Dysart’s bringing together the Renegades.  The jig might not be up quite yet.
  • X-O Manowar #9: The “countdown to Planet Death,” eh?  Hmm.  A love story, perhaps?
  • Mind MGMT #7: Yeah, I’ve been fiending for this one.  Matt Kindt is making magic with this book, our #3 comic of 2012.  If you haven’t already, jump on now.  The trade to cover what you’ve missed, however, won’t be out for a while.
Mind MGMT #7 Cover

Mind MGMT #7 Cover

  • Avengers #3: It’s been barely good enough to deserve another four bucks.  The first two, for goodness sake, ended in pretty much the same manner.  Someone had to have noticed, right?
  • FF #3: I’m not too sure how much longer I’ll stick with this one, either.  If Fraction keeps writing to Allred’s strengths, maybe I’ll stick around for a while.
  • TMNT: Secret History of the Foot Clan #2: The first one was a bit of a surprise: the story sucked me right in; it didn’t matter that I hadn’t picked up a Turtles book in almost thirty years.  (Geez.  Has it really been that long?)  Credit to Mateus Santolouco and Erik Burnham for crafting an engaging story–one entertaining enough to warrant another trip to the What’s Up? list.
  • Winter Soldier #15: Ed Brubaker’s final issue.  Mine, too.
  • Bedlam #3: Feels like it’s been a while, right?  I may have to skim #2 to refresh.
  • Revival #6: #5 was a bit of a drop off.  I hope it picks up again.
  • Batwoman #16: Last month was a disappointment, mostly because I wasn’t expecting another artist to hop in mid-arc.  Big-time bummer.  Everything I’ve read leading up to this week says to expect Williams III; so expect I shall–just not blindly.
  • Wonder Woman #16: Nothing too remarkable of late, but still better than most–especially when Cliff Chiang’s on art duties.
  • Stumptown #5: #4 was a classic.  No, really.  And, wouldn’t you know, I don’t even have 1-3!

Scrambled?  Over easy?  Deviled?  Hard boiled?  Fried?  Cracked?

Whichever way, looks like a tasty lot.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

15 Tuesday Jan 2013

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Not a big week; not a small week; but certainly a solid week; and I’ll take a solid week any day of the week–well, on Wednesday, mostly, unless, of course, I can’t shop hop; and then it is, quite literally, any day of the week–well, in this particular scenario, any day other than Wednesday.  I hope to snag:

All A-Bag!

  • Batman #16: Nowadays, I feel like I’m picking up Batman because, you know, I’m supposed to: because it’s Snyder, mostly.  Believe me: I don’t want to cave in; I don’t want to drop it.  I mean, it’d be a Batshame if I weren’t picking up a montly Batbook, right?  But this arc ain’t grabbing me the same way The Court of Owls did–until the broken wing of an ending, that is.
  • Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #16: The “final issue finale.”  Typing about effing shames: this is a terrible loss: a our #6 book of 2012 tossed to the garbage pile, crushed by the Third Wave!  I guess we’ll be seeing the grandiloquent greenie as a regular over on JLD.  Better than nothing.  As far as Kindt’s concerned: sucks to lose out on another opportunity to enjoy his work; but there’s always the brilliant Mind MGMT (our #3 book of 2012, by the way), which is back next week, thank goodness.
Goodbye Frankenstein!

Goodbye Frankenstein!

  • Comeback #3: So far, so good.  Good thing, maybe, it’s not going too far.
  • Daredevil #22: The Superior Spider-Man makes a visit to Hell’s Kitchen.  As long as Peter keeps to himself, I’m willing to get into the swing.
  • Indestructible Hulk #3: I like what Waid’s doing here.  Heck, I like what Waid’s doing everywhere!
  • Archer & Armstrong #6: Big week for fellas named Armstrong, eh?
  • Bloodshot #7: This book’s been really good of late.  Kudos to Swierczynski, who’s killing it.

No plans to hit the rack this week.

Oh, yeah: Derek threatened to ban me from the blog if I pick up Captain America #3.  So, keep an eye out: if you don’t see me for a while, it’s because I had enough money left over but not enough willpower to let that red, white, and blue nonsense lie.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

01 Tuesday Jan 2013

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To heck with the fancy shmancy ball: we all know that the new year doesn’t officially start until the books drop into our bags on Wednesday.  Here’s what I expect to find:

  • Colder #3 (Dark Horse): I’ve really enjoyed the first two issues–both the nimble storytelling by Paul Tobin and the crazy-good art by Juan Ferreyra.  Can’t wait to bust it out of the bag.
Colder #3 Cover

Colder #3 Cover

  • Justice League Dark #15 (DC): Jeff Lemire’s shining on the Dark.  And this arc sounds downright magical–illegally so!  Happy to know that Frankenstein has found a home, too, after his–our #6 title of 2012–was, sadly, shuttered.
  • Fatale #11 (Image): Our #5 title of 2012!  It’s showing no signs of slowing down, either.  Looks like Ed Brubaker’s going to share some secrets about Josephine.  I’m listening.
Fatale #11 Cover

Fatale #11 Cover

  • Daredevil: End of Days #4 (Marvel): It’s Daredevil, so I’m down–even if I’m not blown away by it.  I don’t think I’m too far off: the whole “Mapone” thing may be the least compelling mystery of the year.  Yet I buy, and I read.
  • Fury: My War Gone By #8 (Marvel): Our #9 title of 2012!  Garth Ennis is comicdom’s reigning war general; and he’s got two super soldiers primed to punish the Viet Cong.  Can’t go wrong.
  • Ultimate Spider-Man #19 (Marvel): After a long, hard slog through the United We Stand storyline, #18 finds Brian Michael Bendis finally returning to what makes this title swing: Miles sans mask.  (My favorite panel–wonderfully wordless–only works because we can see his face.) While I’m excited that #19 promises the return of the terrific Sarah Pichelli, I’m not exactly thrilled that it also threatens a potentially poisonous villain: the one-note Venom.  We’ll see what happens.

That ought to do it.  However…

Like most of you, I’ve read quite a few Top Ten Comics of 2012 lists over the last few days.  Now, thanks to my comrades-in-comics, I’ve got a lot of other bag-worthy books to consider.  Looks like I’ll be rackin’ it on Wednesday.

Let me know if there’s something I shouldn’t pass up.

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

25 Tuesday Dec 2012

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My stocking was full of goodies, but my bag will most assuredly be empty.  There’s nothing on my pull list for this quick, almost sarcastic cough of a week of comics.  I may raid the rack for two books:

  • Amazing Spider-Man #700: Just to round out the arc, really.  Problems: the price tag ($7.99!  Yikes!) and the fact that I know how it all plays out.  The former is an obstacle made more insurmountable by the latter.
  • Mara #1: A Derekcommendation.  Will probably give it a whirl if I find it.
Mara #1 Cover

Mara #1 Cover

Yup.  That’s pretty much it.  Upside: I’ll have more time to finish up my half of the Images and Nerds Top Ten list–or, if my wife gets her way, to put together all of the toys my daughter scored for her Birthmas Day.

Turning pages,

Scott