(Cover by Emma Rios, Marvel Comics)

Cloak & Dagger 3 is finally, finally getting the cover treatment it deserves! Unfortunately, it wraps around the unfortunate glory that is this series’ final issue. You guys, Emma Rios and Nick Spencer are 100% making my favorite comic here and I simply can’t stop recommending this little, limited series to anyone who likes sequential art. Digital or in person, you need to read this.

(Cover by Chris Bachalo, Marvel Comics)

Wolverine & The X-Men 1 is the first post-Schism X-book to hit stands and is the one I have the highest hopes for. I love the X-Men in their Xavier school days and spinning that idea on its head a bit with a mixed up team and Wolverine leading the new Jean Grey Institute staff is right up my alley! A great creative team as this can only help matters further and anything that cohesively resets the Marvel mutant line is alright by me! Definitely one to check out.

(Cover by Kaare Andrews, Marvel Comics)

Ultimate Comics Ultimates 3 means that drunken Tony Stark is on the way, to save the day! The Children of Tomorrow are being ~total jerks~ and the gods are falling from the skies in one frightening set of panels from last month’s comic. This one started out a little slow but came back with a killer second issue, looks like Jonathan Hickman hasn’t lost his magic yet! If you like the Ultimate Universe in any way, shape or form, you will like where this is headed now. Big changes in store for the Marvel UU!

(The rest of my titles for the week are All-Star Western 2, Angel & Faith 3, Aquaman 2, Avengers Academy 20, Avengers: Solo 1, Captain America & Bucky 623, The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men 2, New Guardians 2, Justice League Dark 2, Superman 2, Teen Titans 2 and The Walking Dead 90)

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(Cover by Kaare Andrews, Marvel Comics)

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 2 keeps the Miles train rolling right along and what a start it was! Brian Michael Bendis sure knows how to write an empathic teen, doesn’t he? Miles’ family, context and environment are efficiently set up in issue one (seriously, it’s a beautifully done, speedy work of introductions) paving the way for his first real hero-ing in issue two. A scared but compassionate kid finding his way in the world against innumerable forces and foes. If that’s not Spider-Man, what is?

(Cover by Tyler Kirkham and Batt, DC Comics)

New Guardians 1 features Kyle Rayner and one representative from each of the 6 other light wielding corps on a mission from god. Or the Guardians. I’m mostly excited because I finally get to see my Indigo girls in an actual comics that’s (partially) based on their story! Kyle has had some of the most interesting stories as a Green Lantern (see the 90s) so with such a bizarre setup, the veteran creative team and him as the protagonist, I’m quite hopeful this will be another successful DCnU book right up there with Green Lantern Corps and all the rest.

(Cover by Ryan Sook, DC Comics)

Justice League Dark 1 features the mystics of Vertigo and DC protecting the world from threats not even the Justice League proper or International can handle! Dark, mystical powers, amazing characters with stellar runs on previous books (see the four Madame Xanadu trades from Vertigo for an example) and Peter Milligan bringing Constantine to the larger DC audience? Count me all kinds of in! The only reason this isn’t top of the list is that I’m worried the cast of characters will end up being too much for this kind of book and that we’ll lose out on development. Win or lose, it’s going to be one to check out for sure!

(Cover by Adam Kubert, Marvel Comics)

Ultimate Comics Fallout 5 brings us one step closer to the Ultimate Comics relaunch and I can’t wait! Basically, this whole Fallout series has dealt with the Death of Spider-Man and re-positioning the Ultimates and X-Men into their new status quos. I certainly like the concepts being presented for the future series but the execution remains to be seen. That’s a worry for the future, however, with this and one more issue left to wrap up and send us forward! Miles Morales, hooo!

(Cover by Sean Murphy, Vertigo Comics)

American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest 3 continues the beautiful series. There isn’t much more to be said except that American Vampire and this spin-off are all the lovely things comics can be. Sean Murphy’s art really works for me personally as well so I’m happy as anything with this one.

(Cover by Phil Noto, Dark Horse Comics)

Dollhouse: Epitaphs 2 brings more of the active fun from the TV series and the first two comics and I can’t wait! While TV-to-comics adaptations don’t always yield successful results I’ve loved this take on the Dollhouse world greatly this early into it. A must-buy for fans of the show, in my estimation.

(My remaining titles this week are Birds of Prey 15, Citizen Cold 3, Deadman and the Flying Graysons 3, Emperor Aquaman 3, Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown 3, Teen Titans 99, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents 10, and War of the Green Lanterns Aftermath 2)

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(Cover by Joshua Middleton, DC Comics)

Wonder Woman 613 is my most anticipated pick of the week because Phil Hester is finally bringing us the two-part conclusion to The Odyssey! Diana vs. The Morrigan in a show-stopping finale…that won’t matter in two months! The thing about that though is that I’ve found this to be a legitimately captivating story arc to me. Phil Hester’s words (on top of JMS’ plot) made me care about Wonder Woman; where she’s been and where she’s going. It’s going to be one long metaphor with a strong sprinkling of ass-kicking. I am all kinds of signed up!

 

(Cover by Frank Cho, Marvel Comics)

X-Men Schism 2 makes the list since I loved the first issue! The only slight concern I have is that it almost felt too much like a “aww yeah, X-Men!” beginning, in that I don’t see the conflict coming to a head between Wolverine & Cyclops thus far. That’s a very minor quibble and doesn’t affect my desire to find out how this terrorist/Sentinel-response situation plays out for the beleaguered Utopians just that for an event about a rift between the mutants, we’re getting the more usual Homo sapiens vs. homo superior plot points. All masterfully done by the creative team, of course, just that my interest is genuinely piqued about how we get from point A to point Schism.

(Cover by Frazer Irving, DC Comics)

Xombi 5 is the penultimate issue of this magnificent but short-lived reboot. The team is on board the Ninth Stronghold and it’s up to David Kim to steal back the city-ship and save the day. Seriously, with only 4 other issues to pick up to be caught up, definitely seek them out! It’s strange, it’s funny it’s haunting and beautiful. This is art on top of art and well worth the time and money.

(American Vampire 17, Search for Swamp Thing 2, DC Retroactive: JLA The 70s, Kid Flash Lost 2, Lois Lane and the Resistance 2, Project Superman 2, Green Arrow 14, Green Lantern Corps 62, Emerald Warriors 12, JSA 53, Teen Titans 98, Ultimate Comics Fallout 3, Uncanny X-Force 12)

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(Cover by Carlos Pacheco, Marvel Comics)

It’s finally here! X-Men Schism 1 arrives to fanfare, making up for the lackluster prelude (fingers crossed, anyways) and to bust up the Marvel mutant status quo! Anti-mutant sentiment is inflamed by a mutant terrorist (maybe a cell?) adding more pressure to the already stressed and provoked X-teams. An ideological crack is forming in the bedrock of Utopia and it looks like it’s only going to get worse! Beautiful covers always start an event off on the right foot.

(Cover by Doug Mahnke, DC Comics)

Green Lantern 67 comes to us all kinds of late but is technically the end of the War of the Green Lanterns, which I have enjoyed as a kind of movie-on-page event. With the major loss (as well as many smaller losses) still looming over Oa and Krona’s mad Entity-Guardians thrashing the Earth-born Lanterns we can only light a candle for Geoff Johns and pray he has it in him to bring this cinematic crossover to the conclusion it deserves without unfinished plots flailing about. It’s been a blast so far and well worth it for any Lantern fans out there!

(Cover by Sean Murphy, Vertigo Comics)

Survival of the Fittest 2 continues this week and, boy, I don’t see how the quality of the first issue could falter with this creative team! Sean Murphy is amazing, Scott Snyder is amazing and the set up is pure gold. Felicia and Cash are on their way to Romania for the fabled cure to vampirism but find themselves in trouble as Nazis (of course) shoot down their transport cutting the flight short. Beautifully rendered action, horror and undead hijinks are sure to please once again. This is a must for any American Vampires fans (which should be everyone reading this)!

(Birds of Prey 14, Dollhouse Epitaphs 1, Citizen Cold 2, Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager 2, Emperor Aquaman 2, Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown 2, Teen Titans 97, Ultimate Comics Fallout 1)

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(Cover by Salvador Espin, Marvel Comics)

Generation Hope 8 features Teon peeing on the justice system! JUSTICE LIKE A WATERFALL!!! Anyways, the gang helps their resident primal-type character deal with charges levied against him and I don’t see how this could be anything but another great entry to the Generation Hope series. Kieron Gillen always brings innovative new twists to this book and as I’ve never regretted buying in. Grunts and justice hooooo!

(Cover by David Yardin, Marvel Comics)

X-Factor 221 leaves off from last month (or two weeks? This book ships a lot, y’all, and that’s a great thing!) with Feral back in town, Rahne feeling guilty for not being catholic enough and Shatterstar stabbing demons in the rain. The new story arc starts here and we can only ask that Peter David never stops writing this always excellent soap opera!

(Cover by Billy Tan, Marvel Comics)

There is almost nothing more bothersome to me in a solicit than blanked out or x-ed out names. The solicit for Avengers Academy 15 has plenty of that but since the series has been pure quality since its inception, I’m not even batting an eyelash about having no interest in Fear Itself (of which this heavily ties in, apparently) and still buying the issue. It’s the Academy kids and that means a purchase! Hank Pym something something rematch something something taste of war.

(Alpha Flight 1, Deadman & the Flying Graysons 1, Grodd of War, Wonder Woman and the Furies 1, Teen Titans 96, Uncanny X-Men 538, X-Men 13 and Prelude to Schism 3 round out my list for the week)

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(Cover by Ed McGuiness, Marvel Comics)

X-Men Giant Size 2011 1 had one heck of a compelling preview (Emma & Scott being cute, mutants defending Utopia against the Evolutionaries) and managed to make its way to the top of my list after a solid Jubilee-centric issue before. A dark secret from the original X-Men team re-surfaces and Scott has to deal with it. Like I’ve said before, Marvel mutants + angst is exactly the basic formula that will get me to buy a Marvel issue every time. The past haunting the present and maybe the start of the schism that rips apart the X-Men? I can’t wait to see!

(Cover by Trevor McCarthy, DC Comics)

Batman: Gates of Gotham 1 is Scott Snyder writing a superhero mystery…with Cassandra Cain. Not only are we assured an excellent story with that information but the art looks promising and the story delves into the unknown depths of Gotham’s past! Mini-series like this are my favorite way to enjoy a character I’m not too familiar with like Batman. Top hats and cowls, what ho!

(Cover by Salvador Espin, Marvel Comics)

Generation Hope 7 HAD to make my top three this week because the cliffhanger from last month was just too insane! Unstable-mutant-baby-hive-mind is an idea I’ve never seen before (or thought I’d be saying but that’s comics, right?) and one that is cementing Kieron Gillen’s place in my mind as a truly creative writer. He gets what drives these world-weary teens and it’s as fun to read as it is terrifying to consider! He knows exactly how to keep testing them and drawing out their character too.

(The rest of my Giganta-sized pull list this week is Batman & Robin 23, Booster Gold 44, JLA 57, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents 7, Teen Titans 95, Zatanna 13, Alpha Flight 0.1, Avengers Academy 14, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 158, Uncanny X-Force 10, X-Factor 219, X-Men: Prelude to Schism 2, Pixies 1)

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(Cover by Mike McKone, Marvel Comics)

Avengers Academy 12 has the fully evolved Avengers Academy kids holding the line against Korvac, while providing some juicy emotional drama on account of the destinies handed down by these future visions. Some aren’t as bright and shiny as others in this always-excellent series.

(Cover by Mike Del Mundo, Marvel Comics)

Generation Hope 6 brings another possible light to the Generation Team’s attention! Judging by the cover, I’m going with hyper-intelligent, psychic baby? It’s hinted that this might be a light they’re too late to save, however…

(Cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert, DC Comics)

Green Lantern 65 & GLC 59 makes it look like the earth-born Lanterns are switching sides (temporarily?) in order to remove Parallax from the Green Lantern battery on Oa. Holy carp! (excitement continues below…)

(Cover by Tyler Kirkham & BATT, DC Comics)

Green Lantern Corps 59 actually has “Lopresti” on the cover and different cover artists on the solicit…but who cares! HOLY CRAP! John Stewart as an Indigo Corps member! No wonder DC hid these covers, this is going to be an epic Lantern tale, if they keep the momentum going.

(Cover by Brett Booth & Norm Rapmund, DC Comics)

In JLA 56, Eclipso is up to his old tricks of wreaking havoc on the moon! Let’s ignore the Doomsday interruption and see if Robinson can make this promising concept a beautiful reality. We were all rooting for you! LEARN SOMETHING FROM THIS, JAMES!

(Cover by Nicola Scott & Doug Hazlewood, DC Comics)

Solstice is here to help save the day in Teen Titans 94 and the team is surely going to need her help to extract Kiran and Cassie’s parents from the demon world. TT is firmly cementing itself in my monthly must-buy list.

(Cover by Esad Ribic, Marvel Comics)

I’m always talk-talk-talking about how I want to read more Marvel and that I love the Marvel mutants…so here I go jumping full in! Uncanny X-Force 8 pits the team against the Shadow King! The big bad has taken over a nuclear facility and he’s threatening to destroy Utopia and New York. To stop him, X-Force has to kill everyone in the missile silo and deal with the consequences…

(Cover by David Yardin, Marvel Comics)

X-Factor 218 is in media res for me but the solicit sounds action-packed! X-Factor and the Black Cat are battling S.C.A.R. to save J. Jonah Jameson’s life as a team-member lies dying! That’s high stakes alright.

 

(Cover by Amanda Conner, DC Comics)

Zatanna 12 has an Amanda Conner cover, interior pencils by Stephane Roux and is written by Matthew Sturges. So, we’re all clear that this means we’re buying at least one issue, right? It’s gonna be spectacular!

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(Cover by Simone Bianchi, Marvel Comics)

Age of X: Universe 1 means Bizarro Avengers! What a violent alternate reality these mutants face but I must say, I’m really enjoying the story. Maybe it has something to do with the beautiful art but I’d read anything Age of X at this point.

(Cover by Rafael Albuquerque, Vertigo Comics)

American Vampire 13 sees our Vampires At War! I’m anti-violence but I am pro-reading-about-drama and wartime is a surefire place to find it. It’s going to be great, simple as that. The creative team can do no wrong. At its “worst” the series is just enjoyable and at its best it is one of the best comics I have had the pleasure to read.

(Cover by Rodolfo Migliari, DC Comics)

Brightest Day is drawing to a close and Green Arrow 10 will hopefully bring happier tidings to the Star Forest than, you know, being blown up and demonically infected. Ollie has a special role to play when earth’s new protector emerges and I’ve very much enjoyed Krul’s take on the character so far. Definitely a Brightest Day book right now but it’s clear Krul can take Ollie to some excellent places once that banner is off the title.

(Cover by Felipe Massafera, DC Comics)

JLA/The 99 6 brings this gem to a close and I couldn’t recommend this mini-series more. It’s pure super-heroics with a simple, clear message. Something for everyone in this series and you NEED the trade if you haven’t been getting the single issues.

(Cover by Scott Kolins, DC Comics)

JSA 49 puts Alan Scott in one strange looking Alpha Lantern/Kingdom Come hybrid costume as the newly expanded (helllllll yes, by the way!) team takes on Scythe…again. This time should be the big one though and I’m entirely curious to see what Marc Guggenheim has planned for this Monument Point/Society plotline once the dust settles.

(Cover by Nicola Scott & Doug Hazlewood, DC Comics)

Teen Titans 93 introduces Solstice to the Teen Titans proper as Cassie’s mom runs into interference on an archaeological dig. South Asia in the hooooooouse (I’m pretty excited we get another positive woman of color in the DC repertoire, if you couldn’t tell)!

(Cover by Don Kramer & Jay Leisten, DC Comics)

Dr. Psycho brings the crazy in Wonder Woman 609 this week but I haven’t the foggiest whether he’ll end up helping Diana or ultimately deluding her further. We know from Generation Lost where she ends up but not why or how. It’s been a real trip so far and I’m more and more satisfied with this story.

(Cover by Adam Hughes, DC Comics)

Zatanna 11 spells  the end of Pupaphobia for Zee and what a predicament she’s in! She’s a regular Missus Miracle with this kind of magickal trap and her assured escape. Of  course, Zatanna’s life never stays quiet for long and a newly recuperated Brother Night is more than happy to be the one making a ruckus…

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(Cover by Rafael Albuquerque, Vertigo Comics)

American Vampire 12 has Rafael Albuquerque taking a break on art duties for a one-shot detailing Skinner Sweet’s head on collision with the 20th century. Old enemies and faces are solicited to appear when Skinner finds himself at an Old West show…

(Cover by Rodolfo Migliari, DC Comics)

More forest, more Demon and more of the best archer of all time in Green Arrow 9 as friend and foe assault the Star City Forest. This series is a little too Brightest-Day-centric for some GA fans but there’s enough arrow-y goodness for my tastes. J.T. Krul is still bringing green pastures as far as I’m concerned.

(Cover by Dustin Nguyen, DC Comics)

Generation Lost 20 promises to be the big reveal issue we’ve all been waiting for! Max’s pieces are all in position for his endgame to begin and we’ll be learning just what does make Maxwell Lord tick and why he’s so into domination/submission. This is the book of the event, easily.

(Cover by Felipe Massafera, DC Comics)

JLA/The 99 5 is sure to bring more of the same over-the-top superheroics that have made this miniseries such a joy to read so far! The City of Tomorrow has gotten legs and Starro is doing hir conquering thing! Not necessarily a deep comic but pure fun the whole way through and a much needed spotlight on The 99!

(Cover by Scott Kolins, DC Comics)

JSA 48 reveals more of Scythe’s cohorts as Monument Point can’t seem to catch a break. Terrorism, heroes at the end of their ropes and a mystical journey with Doctor Fate should make this another interesting issue in Marc Guggenheim’s JSA re-tooling.

(Cover by Mico Suayan, Marte Gracia, Clay Mann, Jay Leisten , Brian Reber, Marvel Comics)

New Mutants 22 is part two of the Age of X and, boy, do I love getting two chapters of this at once! With the mutants of the world huddled together in the violent dark, could there be a conspiracy from within their ranks to betray them? Slick designs, survivalist themes and superpowers are the flavors here and they’re cooked perfectly.

(Cover by Georges Jeanty & Rob Hunter, DC Comics)

Teen Titans 92 continues the crossover from Red Robin with the Teen Titans back together and a plethora of Calculator-bots ready to blow! One Robin remains after the dust settles but the TT creative team can do no wrong, as far as I’m concerned.

(Cover by Greg Land, Marvel Comics)

Uncanny X-Men 533 is part 4 of 5 in the Sublime Corporation storyline and the chemical that turns regular folks into mutants is hitting the public markets! Most of the mutant population is sick on Utopia but the totally excellent beta team on the mainland is kicking it into high gear to save the day!

(Cover by Leinil Yu, Marvel Comics)

X-Men Legacy 245 officially kicks off the Age of X with the Alpha issue being a prelude to the main event presented here. It’s another gritty elseworld where the mutants of the world are violently targeted and forced to band together before they find themselves snuffed out completely. The grimdark modern sensibility of many violent comics can be too much for me but there was a tremendous amount of depth to the Alpha stories. I’m in for the whole event and it’s a decision I’m totally sure about already.

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(Cover by Mauro Cascioli, DC Comics)

One-ish sentence preview excitement, goooooo! Green Arrow 8 gives us my favorite of the simple DC covers, the Demon, a new villain named Black Arrow (Merlyn doesn’t count, I guess) and some well-fletched fun!

(Cover by Felipe Massafera, DC Comics)

JLA/The 99 4 means more of my favorite team-up title in recent memory, microscopic Starro karate-chop action and the JLA and The 99 collectively kicking ass and taking those names!

(Cover by Aaron Lopresti, DC Comics)

Generation Lost 18 is part two of Power Girl’s beat down on the JLI, Max Lord waterboarding Beetle, Batman taking a hint and butterfly kisses for Rocket Red?

(Cover by Shane Davis & Sandra Hope, DC Comics)

In JSA 47, Dr. Chaos comes to Monument Point with a score to settle against the JSA while more and more heroes continue to join the Society’s society (Manhunter and Blue Devil this issue!).

(Cover by Cliff Chiang, DC Comics)

The Shazam! one-shot is sure to be my favorite part of Titans and has Blaze offering the Batsons power once again; somehow Freddy and Osiris play into the deal as well and you know I’m always up for a Shazam family read!

(Cover by Nicola Scott & Doug Hazlewood, DC Comics)

Teen Titans 91 is full on friendship once again as Robin and Ravager take on the Feral Boys alone while Raven gets in Headcase’s…head. Rrrrrrrrrrr.

(Cover by Don Kramer & Jay Leisten, DC Comics)

Wonder Woman 606 has our Princess tracking down the Morrigan and running into a murderous Huntsman god! Phillipus is the badass protector of Diana in this time warp but might be seeing the end of her line if Ms. Prince can’t step up and save her from the centaur deity…

(Cover by Stephane Roux, DC Comics)

Zatanna 9 unlocks a repressed memory from our heroine’s childhood and puts her in the precarious position of placing her would-be killer free from his puppet-y curse! Gold stars all the way through for this series.

(Cover by Rafael Albuquerque, Vertigo Comics)

It’s booze, bootleggers and Skinner Sweet for Pearl and Henry in American Vampire 11 and this two-parter is sure to be another pleasing arc in the series!

(Cover by Greg Land, Marvel Comics)

Uncanny X-Men 532 reveals the price of a cure for the Utopia mutants, just what an enraged and uncaged Sebastian Shaw will do and hopefully much, much more of this new X-Team formed in San Francisco during this time of crisis. *cough cough*

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Photo from Kelson on Flickr

The [Comic Book Legal Defense Fund] CBLDF is auctioning off a lunch with the amazing Geoff Johns.  Johns has worked titles such as  Teen Titans, The Flash, JSA, Superman, and Green Lantern just to name a few.  He also is responsible for the popular Blackest Night and Brightest Day Story arcs.  He is DC’s Chief Creative Officer and is the man who wrote the “Absolute Justice” and “Legion” episodes of Smallville.   All proceeds will go to protect first amendment rights and to stop censorship in comics.  Now you can have the chance to ask Mr. Johns anything that’s on your mind, and contribute to stop censorship at the same time.  Bidding has already started and will end July 21st, so click here to probe the recesses of  Geoff Johns mind.

-Aaron M

Zatanna by Cat Staggs

Paul Dini’s Zatanna series has been pushed back a month, so the series will premiere in May 2010.  

Koriand’r is a princess of the planet Tamaran in the fictional Vegan system, and was in line to rule the planet as Queen. Komand’r (“commander”, also known as Blackfire), her older sister, developed a bitter rivalry with her after suffering a disease in infancy that robbed her of the ability to harness solar energy to allow her to fly, and by extension, her right to the throne.

As the apple of Robin’s eye, StarFire hold’s her own, strong as an ox with the a mouth of a sailor and the body…well of a female sailor.  I guess you’d have to be with a bitch of a sister trying to kill you. TITANS GO!

Mutant A Day

Currently best known as one of the animated TEEN TITANS, Cyborg, a.k.a. Victor Stone, is your best friend and greatest ally when it comes to kickin’ ass and takin’ names! And eating your weight in pizza, nachos & burgers.

Cyborg was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, and first appears in DC Comics Presents #26 in October of 1980.

Like any future Hero (sans Dazzler, The Fantastic Four, um.. Namor and others who were fortunate enough to feel the glory and fame without pain), Victor would join the Outsiders and future bff’s teammates Robin, Starfire, Beastboy and Daria Raven.

Check out Titans #5 as the team battles dark baddie Trigon (Raven’s papa) and also check out Tiny Titans #8 as school is in session at Sidekick City Elementary and it’s time for report cards and parent teacher conferences! Oi VAY!

So here’s a question we can all ask ourselves: what hottie guy would play him in the Titans movies? Discuss.