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

What’s I&N Store (2/4)

04 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by ScottNerd in What's I&N Store?

Tags

Angela: Asgard's Assassin, Annihilator, Antonio Campo, Birthright, BOOM!, Brian K. Vaughan, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Burnham, Cullen Bunn, Dark Horse, David Lapham, DC Comics, Detective Comics, East of West, Ed Brubaker, Feathers, Fiona Staples, Frazer Irving, G.I. Joe, Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Hawkeye, Hellboy and the B.P.R.D., IDW, Image, Imperium, James RIch, Jason Aaron, Joelle Jones, John Cassaday, John Romita Jr., Jonathan Hickman, Joshua Dysart, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Joshua Williamson, Kieron Gillen, Lady Killer, Marguerite Bennett, Marvel, Matt Fraction, Michael Avon Oeming, Miracleman, Nameless, Nick Dragotta, Robert Venditti, Saga, Sheltered, Star Wars, Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses, Superman, The Bunker, The Sixth Gun: Days of the Dead, The United States of Murder Inc., Valiant, Velvet, X-O Manowar

Nothing beats a deep freeze like a bag of sizzling hot comics! Right?

Right?

Of course not. The deep freeze doesn’t give a sleet how hot the books are.

Still worth the risk, though, of jumping into the ol’ snowmobile and maybe–quite possibly–most assuredly–running off the road, ramming into another road warrior, and/or crashing right through the façade of your favorite comic shop.

Right?

Right.

Whoa, wait: I may have something here: a drive thru comic shop…

Somebody get on that.

Hellboy & The B.P.R.D. #3 (Dark Horse)
Lady Killer #2 (Dark Horse) I&N Demand I tweeted this out about a perfectly executed #1 because I had to:

@jarrodjones_ @Joelle_Jones @DarkHorseComics @jamieESrich Lady Killer #1 was pretty great. Familiar notes with a fresh face: “Avon calling!”

Very much looking forward to this one.

Lady Killer #2

Detective Comics #39 (DC)
Superman #38 (DC) I&N Demand New costume? Thank God. New power? Say what? It’s as bright as day: Johns and JRJ have been like twin yellow suns re-energizing the Last Son of Krypton; so I’m down with whatever it is they want to do.

Superman #38

G.I. Joe #5 (IDW)
Birthright #5 (Image)
East of West #17 (Image) I&N Demand Everything about East of West has been great. Hickman went bigger with this world of his, and he’s owned it–like a mad god suffering from significant stretches of lucidity.

East of West #17

Nameless #1 (Image) Just I&N Grant Morrison. Chris Burnham. See: not so nameless after all.

Nameless #1

Saga #25 (Image)
Sheltered #14 (Image)
Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #1 (Image) I&N Demand The follow-up to the killer Killers arc. Didn’t read Killers? Haven’t been hit by any Stray Bullets at all? Consider this a jumping on point–one that’ll inspire you to jump backward into the satisfyingly-uncomfortable line of fire; into a shotgun blast of expertly-wielded ambiguity. Pull the trigger, you son of a gun! Give Sunshine and Roses a shot!

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #1

Velvet #9 (Image)
Angela: Asgard’s Assassin #3 (Marvel)
Hawkeye #21 (Marvel)
Miracleman #15 (Marvel)
Star Wars #2 (Marvel)
The United States of Murder #6 (Marvel/Icon)
Annihilator #5 (Legendary) I&N Demand Lots of lovely layers here. Meta magic courtesy of Mr. Morrison. Looks great, too, thanks to the digitally dreamy artwork of Frazer Irving.

Annihilator #5

The Bunker #9 (Oni)
Feathers #2 (BOOM!)
Imperium #1 (Valiant)
The Sixth Gun: Days of the Dead #5 (Oni)
X-O Manowar #33 (Valiant)

What? No Wytches? Risking stitches: didn’t care for it. Tried. Couldn’t. I blame the tone problems rooted in #1. Can’t unsee needless tirades, right?

Right?

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s I&N Store (1/28)

27 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by ScottNerd in What's I&N Store?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Ales Kot, Alex + Ada, Bitch Planet, Bodies, BOOM!, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Bachalo, Colder, Colder: The Bad Seed, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Eric Stephenson, Evil Empire, Friendship Is Magic, IDW, Image, James Asmus, Jason Aaron, Jonathan Hickman, Jonathan Luna, Juan Ferreyra, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Marvel, Matt Fraction, Matt Kindt, Max Bemis, Mind MGMT, My Little Pony, Paul Tobin, Quantum and Woody Must Die, Rasputin, Riley Rossmo, Robert Venditti, Sarah Vaughn, Si Spencer, Snow, The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood, The Dying & The Dead, They're Not Like Us, Thor, Uncanny X-Men, Valiant, Vertigo, Victor Santos, X-O Manowar, zero

Snow snow snow, snow snow snow snow snow. Snow? Snow! Snow snow snow snow. Snow snow snow snow; snow snow snow snow, snow snow snow snow.

Colder: The Bad Seed #4 (Dark Horse): I don’t want to go pointing fingers, but…
Mind MGMT #30 (Dark Horse): I&N Demand Admission: I’m an Eraserhead. Looks like this Eraser-focused offering will leave my shoulders speckled with rubbery residue.

Mind MGMT #30

Bodies #7 (DC/Vertigo): An autopsy has revealed that there’s life yet in Bodies. Oops. Nothing more awkward than a premature postmortem. Sorry, Mr. Spencer et al. Didn’t mean to doubt. I’m believing again–and just in time, too.
Alex + Ada #12 (Image): So beautifully human. Sure, the dialogue reads like it’s right out of an episode of Girlmore Girls–you know, that bizarre, hypnotic monotone that’s so damn maddening. Thing is, it’s not off-putting here; it’s actually strangely affecting. But most of all, I love the subtle shifts in the art from one panel to the next. Speaks so loudly without a single word.
Bitch Planet #2 (Image): Ouch! Kelly Sue DeConnick went and bitch slapped me and my low expectations for her women in prison send up. I’m man enough to admit: in #1, she exploits exploitation expertly, reminiscent of Tarantino at times–which is a pretty deadly compliment. Here’s another: throughout, I heard–more so, I saw with a hawk’s eye, if only in fractions, her hubby’s voice. Heck, yeah, I’m gonna grab #2. Doesn’t mean I’m in for life. We’ll call it probation–with higher expectations this time around.
The Dying & the Dead #1 (Image): Just I&N Jonathan Hickman’s Image work has been pretty great–particularly East of West, which has been nothing short of great of late. No reason to expect anything less here.

The Dying & The Dead #1

Rasputin #4 (Image): I was mostly on board through two. #3, however, felt a little light on substance. I’ll thumb through this one and hope for heavier. Wouldn’t be the worst thing if I decided to drop it, if I’m being honest.
They’re Not Like Us #2 (Image) I&N Demand OK, so, we’ve heard this one before, right? Of course we have. And we’ll keep hearing it, too–but maybe not quite like this. See: all those other X-wannabes are not like They’re Not Like Us. Ha! I worked it out! Anyway… Sure, the book read well enough: the writing’s solid; the art works. But I wasn’t completely sold until the end note. Yeah, that’s a damn fine way to end a familiar tune. Hoping that Stephenson and Gane keep separating themselves from the others with a strong sophomore effort.

They’re Not Like Us #2

Zero #14 (Image): I&N Demand One of our favorite books of 2014. (Just how favorite? You’ll have to wait to find out.) After a big time low point, Kot’s found his voice–which, at times, has been splendidly silent, allowing the artiste du mois to do the real talking. Very much looking forward to what Kot’s got in store for us to kick off 2015.

Zero #14

Thor #4 (Marvel): Despite its heavy handedness–not related to Mjolnir, mind you–#1 was a promising start. Since then, however, the book’s reminded of Superior Spider-Man–everything I hated about Superior Spider-Man. I should probably pass.
Uncanny X-Men #30 (Marvel): Uncanny‘s been a ton better than All-New of late. And that’s all I have to say about that.
The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood #4 (Dynamite): Everyone loves a good ethical dilemma. No one does ’em better in comics than J. Michael Straczynski (The Twilight Zone). He’s not writing this. But it’s not bad. Credit Christina Blanch and Chris Carr for the fact that TDoCW is engaging on that “What would you do in the same situation?” kind of level. (For the record: I’d do whatever it takes to take care of my daughters; so I feel for Charlie–and am rooting for him.) I think my interest is amplified by the fact that good ol’ Charlie Wormwood’s an English teacher, who most assuredly has learned a lesson or two about ethical dilemmas through the novels and stories he’s read and taught through the years. He probably never thought he’d be the one sitting across the table from the devil…
Evil Empire #10 (BOOM!): I&N Demand I really like what Max Bemis has been doing in his crazy country worth of comicbook. Evil Empire is smart, aware, fearless, and, above all, entertaining as &%$@. Happy to see Victor Santos–owner of a very distinct style–on visuals. And, as always, Jay Shaw on cover duty:

Evil Empire #10

Quantum and Woody Must Die #1 (Valiant): Yeah, I love Quantum and Woody and what Asmus has done with them, but I’m leaning toward leaving this on the shelf. I just don’t like the games Valiant’s playing with the all-of-a-sudden minis and one-shots. Just give me a damn series to follow! For example:
X-O Manowar #32 (Valiant): I can’t believe I’m thirty-two issues in! Credit to Robert Venditti. He’s so good at X’s and O’s that he could probably coach a basketball team. Hell, he could take over the Knicks right now. Couldn’t do any worse than Derek Fisher. Right?

Avery’s Pick of the Week

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic #27 (IDW): My daughter loves her ponies–and not just in comics, either. We’re an MLP blind bag family, thanks mostly to DCTC (Disney Cars Toy Club)–otherwise known as YouTube Crack for Kids. We opened two blind bags tonight. Got a new one–Lucky Swirl, who looks a lot like Twilight Sparkle–and a “same duplicate,” as my daughter calls it. Yup: another Neon Lights. Yay.

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic #27

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s I&N Store (1/21)

21 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by ScottNerd in What's I&N Store?

≈ Leave a comment

Lots of exciting stuff coming out this week, including two Titan-ic follow-ups to two sharp–and unmistakingly Moore-ish–first issues; a finale that finally flies our way after what feels like forever; and one of my favorite TV shows brought back to life–as a comic!

BPRD: Hell on Earth #127 (Dark Horse): I’m a believer! Better late than never, no?
Dark Horse Presents #6 (Dark Horse): A prologue of Kindt’s PastAways keeps me on DHP for at least one more month.
Batman and Robin #38 (DC): New pull list will be New 52 free as of this week. Dropping this…
Wonder Woman #38 (DC) ..and this.
Millennium #1 (IDW) Just I&N Three seasons just wasn’t enough! Now that Frank Black’s back–after sixteen years!–I can focus all of my wish energies toward a comic book continuation of My So-Called Life. Not kidding.

Millennium #1

The October Faction #4 (IDW): Has been generally underwhelming. Too far in to quit now.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #42 (IDW): If Old Hob’s goofy mutant crew couldn’t turn me off–guess I’m in for the long haul!
Wild Blue Yonder #6 (IDW) I&N Demand Check out our exclusive advance review here.

Wild Blue Yonder #6

Autumnlands: Tooth and Claw #3 (Image): Busiek’s building something pretty powerful over here–so powerful it needed a longer title to express just how powerful it is! Worth jumping on–or, better, catching up with–if you haven’t done so already.
The Wicked & The Divine #7 (Image) I&N Demand Gillen and McKelvie are delivering the gods. One of my favorite books.

The Wicked & The Divine #7

All-New X-Men #35 (Marvel): I’m preparing for ultimate disappointment.
Loki: Agent of Asgard #10 (Marvel): Leaning toward not picking it up. All of the crossover crap has killed it for me. Inevitable, I suppose.
Magneto #14 (Marvel): Hasn’t suffered as much as Loki has from the crossover crap, but has suffered nevertheless. Isn’t hitting the same high notes that were hit early on.
Moon Knight #11 (Marvel) I&N Demand So, so good.

Moon Knight #11

Burning Fields #1 (BOOM!): I haven’t loved what I’ve read from Michael Moreci. I’m going to give him another go, though. I mean, I didn’t quit on Williamson; and that’s paid off with Birthright. Even better–and more unlikely–evidence: I kept trying Remender–despite hating everything with his name on it and knowing full well I’d hate the next thing with his name on it–and got lucky with Low. So maybe, just maybe, this’ll work out.
Cap Stone #2 (Titan) I&N Demand I liked #1 a lot. Hit similar notes to Krekeler’s Dry Spell, which we loved. In that, hearing whispers of Moore.

Cap Stone #2

Crossed +100 #2 (Avatar): Speaking of Moore. Yes, please.
Epocholypse #3 (Legendary): Has the potential to be really great–or to collapse under its own weight. Guess I’m investing in the former. We’ll see.
Mono #2 (Titan) I&N Demand Liked this one a lot, too. Love the meta effect, which will, without a doubt, keep me a regular reader. This is one Mono that you should do your best to catch.

Mono #2

The Twilight Zone: Shadow & Substance #1 (Dynamite): All signs point to passing, what with J.M.S.’s superior run just about over. Something–a voice…coming from…my water bottle?–is telling me I should give it a try. Freaky!
The Valiant #2 (Valiant): Not willing to commit to it–despite Kindt’s hand in it. Yeah, didn’t love the first one. Unity didn’t work all that well; can’t imagine this one will either. Got to wonder about some of Valiant’s choices of late.
Über #21 (Avatar): Still very good. As thin as Gillen’s stretching himself across the industry, his work is still pretty damn substantial no matter the genre or the universe–whether his own or one he’s got to work within. Dude’s a stud.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s I&N Store (1/14)

14 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by ScottNerd in What's I&N Store?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A Voice in the Dark, Copperhead, Daredevil, Fraggle Rock, Lazarus, Silver Surfer, Star Wars, The Twilight Zone, Wild's End

No hyperbole here: never has the I&N Demand designation been used in such a meiotic manner.

Oh, and, umm, by the way: Star Wars.

Astro City #19 (DC/Vertigo)
A Voice in the Dark: Get Your Gun #2 (Image):
Copperhead #5 (Image)
Lazarus #14 (Image) I&N Demand

Lazarus #14

All-New Captain America #3 (Marvel)
Daredevil #12 (Marvel)
Silver Surfer #8 (Marvel) I&N Demand

Silver Surfer #8

Star Wars #1 (Marvel) Just I&N

Star Wars #1

13 Coins #1 (Titan)
Q2: The Return of Quantum and Woody #4 (Valiant)
Stumptown Vol. 3 #5 (Oni)
Thomas Alsop #8 (BOOM!)
The Twilight Zone #11 (Dynamite) I&N Demand

Twilight Zone #11

Wild’s End #5 (BOOM!) I&N Demand

Wild’s End #5

Avery’s Pick of the Week

Fraggle Rock: Journey to the Everspring #4 (BOOM!/Archaia)

Fraggle Rock: Journey to the Everspring #4

What are you looking forward to this week–you know, besides Star Wars?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s I&N Store (1/7)

06 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by ScottNerd in What's I&N Store?

≈ Leave a comment

Vacation’s over. Back to work–and comics.

Now if only work were comics…

Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. #2 (Dark Horse) I&N Demand Would you believe: this series is my first go-round with Hellboy? (Your eyebrows just went up, didn’t they?) If #1’s any indication: 1) What the hell have I been waiting for? And 2) Damn glad I tried this. What convinced me? Alex Maleev’s artwork (lovelovelove) and my newfound fascination with B.P.R.D. (I’m hoping your brows have come back down by now. If they haven’t, and they happen to stay up for more than four hours, please seek medical attention.)

Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. #2

Lady Killer #1 (Dark Horse) Just I&N Hmm. I wonder why I’m so drawn to this.

Lady Killer #1

Could it be that Jones’s cover reminds of Matt Kindt’s covers from his Mind MGMT “The Home Maker” arc:

Mind MGMT #13

Mind MGMT #16

Premise isn’t so bad, either. But, yeah, it’s probably the subtle–and probably coincidental–suggestion that, in itself, is so darned Mind MGMT-y.

Detective Comics #38 (DC)
Birthright #4 (Image)
The Fade Out #4 (Image)
ODY-C #2 (Image)
Trees #8 (Image)
Angela: Asgard’s Assassin #2 (Marvel) I&N Demand My faith in Kieron Gillen was not misplaced. That’s right:against all Asgardian odds, I liked #1! (With the eyebrows again?) No, really: I liked #1.

Angela: Asgard’s Assassin #2

If you’re waiting for a punchline, forget it! I liked the damn thing–and am hoping that the energy and the synergy (two writers & two artists) of the first one carries over here.

Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #8 (Marvel) I&N Demand Kaare Andrews is on fire!

Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #8

He’s broken Danny Rand down and is building him back up again. Oh, it’s a new Iron Age, folks! Absolutely chirrific! Yeah, that just happened.

Men of Wrath #4 (Marvel/ICON)
Miracleman #14 (Marvel) I&N Demand No doubt: this’ll be the best book of the week. (Brows? Trust me: they wouldn’t be bouncing if you’ve been reading all along or if you were lucky enough to have read this the first time around.) Not bad for a book that’s nearly thirty years old. A true miracle, man.

Miracleman #14

Epochalypse #2 (Legendary)
Feathers #1 (BOOM!)
Magnus: Robot Fighter #10 (Dynamite)
SIP Kids #2 (Abstract Studio)
The Sixth Gun: Days of the Dead #4 (Oni)
War Stories #4 (Avatar)

Avery’s Pick of the Week

My Little Pony: Friends Forever #13 (IDW)

My Little Pony: Friends Forever #13

How’s yer brow now?

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s I&N Store (12/31)

31 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by ScottNerd in What's I&N Store?

≈ Leave a comment

Looking forward to the New Year and to new comics.

Here’s how I’m saying goodbye to 2014:

East of West #16 (Image) I&N Demand

East of West #16

All-New Miracleman Annual (Marvel) #1 I&N Demand

All-New Miracleman Annual #1

X-O Manowar #31 (Valiant)

Avery’s Pick of the Week:

Abigail and the Snowman #1 (BOOM!) Just I&N

Abigail and the Snowman #1

Oh, and I’ll probably give my wife a kiss at midnight.

If I’m still awake, of course.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s I&N Store (12/24)

24 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by ScottNerd in What's I&N Store?

≈ Leave a comment

My pull-list was hung by the register with ease

in hopes that my bag would soon be filled with these:

The Massive #30 (Dark Horse) I&N Demand
Mind MGMT #29 (Dark Horse) I&N Demand
Colder: The Bad Seed #3 (Dark Horse)
Bodies #6 (DC/Vertigo)
Dead Boy Detectives #12 (DC/Vertigo)
Gotham by Midnight #2 (DC)
Robin Rises: Alpha #1 (DC)
Superman #37 (DC)
Outcast #6 (Image)
Rasputin #3 (Image)
They’re Not Like Us #1 (Image) Just I&N
Captain America & The Mighty Avengers #3 (Marvel)
Daredevil #11 (Marvel)
Loki: Agent of Asgard #9 (Marvel)
Magneto #13 (Marvel)
Uncanny X-Men #29 (Marvel)
Evil Empire #9 (BOOM!) I&N Demand

Avery’s Picks of the Week

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic #26 (IDW)
Bee & Puppycat #7 (BOOM!)

What are you looking forward to this week?

May your holiday season be filled with joy and your bag filled with comics.

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s I&N Store (12/17)

17 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by ScottNerd in What's I&N Store?

≈ Leave a comment

Hoping to get back into the flow of things this weekend–you know, thanks to the two-week vacation that’s been taunting me since Thanksgiving.

Speaking of giving: just a few weeks ago, we unveiled the very lazy I&N Demand designation to let you know–in lieu of the typical I&N write-up–what we’re looking forward to most–up to five books–in a given week.

This week, we offer you the just as lazy Just I&N label, which will be applied to the one #1 we’re most excited about/interested in.