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