Tag Archives: Zatanna

Weekly Anticipation: Ultimate Creep-Factor

by windiebird

(Cover by Bryan Hitch, Marvel Comics)

Ultimate Fallout 6 concludes the mostly exciting, sometimes ~creepy~ (see issue 5) event that updates and breathes new life into the Marvel Ultimate Universe. I couldn’t be more thrilled or intrigued with some of these plot threads being dropped into the room and I can’t wait to see how this plays out and into the four new series! As a person who has enjoys the Ultimate universe immensely, I find myself all kinds of on board here. Old and new fans should look for the new books coming out soon!

(Cover by Adam Hughes, DC Comics)

Zatanna 16 brings the curtain crashing down on this too-short series starring the original entertainstress and her magickal adventures. While not always perfectly expressing what makes Z such a compelling character (power mixed with grace, love, charm and humanity) this series has finally shown the spotlight on where it should have always been, on the matron of the Zatara clan. The solicit promises a guest appearance from Klarion which only doubles my excitement for this finale. Brava, brava!

(Cover by Daniel Acuna, Marvel Comics)

With a tie-in to Generation Hope this week, it seems the events of Schism are starting to be felt. Schism 3 pits the X-Men against not only the world (I guess it’s Tuesday, right?) but against the ickiest of incarnations of the Hellfire Club. Disgusting genius-psychopath children! I haven’t quite felt the intra-Utopia schism-ing that we’ve been promised so far but I’m sure these final three issues will really put the heat on the mutants living on the island.

(The rest of my pull this week is Avengers Academy 18, The Outsider 3, Wonder Woman and the Furies 3, Generation Hope 10, Green Lantern Corps 63, JLA 60, The Walking Dead 88, X-Factor 224)

-windiebird

Weekly Anticipation: Green Hope Gates

by windiebird

(Cover by Dave Johnson, DC Comics)

War of the Green Lanterns Aftermath 1 is my first title this week because of all the exciting comics out this week (barring a Flashpoint tie-in or two, I’d want all of these in position 1) I simply can’t wait to see how Tony Bedard deals with the humongous logistical and emotional damage done to the Green Lantern Corps. So much death coupled with so much loss and a few new mysteries thrown in are sure to make this one hell of a rollercoaster.

(Cover by Salvador Espin, Marvel Comics)

Generation Hope 9 could very well be the point that I stop reading Generation Hope and Kieron Gillen’s work altogether or the one that cements him in my hall of fame. I’m being so dramatic because Messer Gillen has wonderfully chosen to cover an important and relevant issue in this his new and quirky X-series. Gay bullying and suicide are on the docket and require an immensely talented scripting and art team to handle properly. I have high hopes but things could go south very quickly, even in a fairly liberal atmosphere like Marvel. Hope finds a new Light and deals with his tribulations while attempting to set him on the right path. You have my full attention and my highest hopes, Kieron Gillen, I can’t wait to read it!

(Cover by Trevor McCarthy, DC Comics)

Gates of Gotham 3 is confidently placed here because Scott Snyder and Kyle Higgins have displayed a deft hand at crafting compelling superheroic mysteries! The Batfamily is under attack but never backing down from a fight! Dick and Tim are facing off against The Architect as he seeks to destroy the first families of Gotham! New puzzles surface as answers about the city and its history come to light. I foresee another great time with the Batclan ahead!

(Avengers Academy 16, DC Retroactive: Batman – The 70s, DC Retroactive: Wonder Woman – The 70s, Deadman and The Flying Graysons 2, The Outsider 2, Wonder Woman and The Furies 2, JLA 59, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents 9, Ultimate Comics Fallout 2, Walking Dead 87, X-Factor 222, Zatanna 15 are the rest of my titles this week)

-windiebird

Weekly Anticipation: Ultimate Flash!

by windiebird

(Cover by Mark Bagley, Marvel Comics)

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 160 has to be the comic of the week simply for the spectacle of it all! The 90s are back and they’re polybagged. Here endeth the series (to be re-booted along with the rest of the Ultimate universe in a few short weeks) and all jokes aside, I have a feeling it’s going to be a show-stopping conclusion. They’ve been dragging out Peter’s injury for a few issues now but there’s not more stalling! It’s dead or alive now and only time will tell what the future holds for Spider-Man!

(Cover by Joshua Middleton, DC Comics)

I know I’m always saying it but it’s for real now, you guys! Green Arrow 13 is actually JT Krul writing a Green Arrow series! Brightest Day is over and we’re getting back to the Star City goodness. The Queen is playing her hand once again and we’ll finally get more development on Ollie’s father, mother and how this villainess plays into his past. I know the reboot could set it all back to zero but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of opportunity for good stories in the next two months.

 

(Cover by Eddy Nunez & Sandra Hope, DC Comics)

Lois Lane and the Resistance 1 might be the Flashpoint tie-in I was looking forward to the most before it all started and I can’t wait to see what Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning do with her in this timeline! Lois is one of the few superheroines (and let’s be honest, she is a superhero) with super-journalism as her special ability and what better world than a war-torn police state to test that out in? Add Etrigan the Demon and a guy called The Canterbury Cricket to the cover and I’m there like a bear.

(Gates of Gotham 2, Brightest Day Aftermath: The Search 1, Kid Flash Lost 1, The Outsider 1, The Reverse Flash, JLA 58 & Zatanna 14 are the other comics I’m reading this week)

-windiebird

Weekly Anticipation: Giant-Sized

by windiebird

(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)

-windiebird

Magic and Martial Arts Unite!

by mutantaday

Art by Peter Nguyen

The long rumored Zatanna/ Black Canary comic maybe coming out in 2012!  Artist Joe Quinones has said the project which is titled Bloodspell is in the works.  Bloodspell is of course written by Paul Dini so I have high hopes for this team up.  Bloodspell will feature the first meeting of a young Zatanna and Dinah Lance which should be interesting.  Bloodspell will definitely be on my list of comics to buy.

-Aaron M

Academy for Green League TitanZ

by windiebird

(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!

-windiebird

Wonderful Age of Vampire Justice

by windiebird

(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…

-windiebird

Arrows for the Wonder Teens!

by windiebird

(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*

-windiebird

I’ll Have an Orange Christmas Without You

by windiebird

(Cover by Gene Ha, DC Comics)

One sentence speculations GOOOOOOO! The Larfleeze Christmas Special is somehow a Brightest Day tie-in featuring Larfleeze attempting to “obtain” Santa Claus!(???)

(Cover by Greg Land, Marvel Comics)

Uncanny X-Men 531 features Storm leading an X-team featuring Northstar and Dazzler…other, less important stuff happens too.

(Cover by Rafael Albuquerque, Vertigo Comics)

American Vampire 10 means Pearl and her man laying the hurt on some unruly vamps; these Scoobies have bite!

(Cover by Dan Jurgens & Jerry Ordway, DC Comics)

DCU Legacies 8 gives the gift of the Reign of the Supermen, Hal Jordan with sexy gray streaks and the Fourth World!

(Cover by Tyler Kirkham & BATT, DC Comics)

In Green Lantern Corps 55 it’s Green Lanterns vs. the Weaponers and Guy’s Red Ring prophecies reach the other Lanterns from Earth!

(Cover by Mark Bagley & Rob Hunter, DC Comics)

Justice League of America 52 deserves a buy because this is a fresh, interesting team that could bring new life to the JLA, regardless of how unsurprising I find the basic plot so far.

(Cover by Dustin Nguyen & Kevin Maguire, DC Comics)

Generation Lost 16 pits the Creature Commandos against the JLI as Fire lies be-shot while Power Girl is looking for some vengeance of her own.

(Various Artists, DC Comics)

Wonder Woman 605: exeunt JMS, Phil Hester throws his hat into the ring and Diana is up against the Morrigan!

(Cover by Stephane Roux, DC Comics)

Zatanna 8 means Cliff Chiang and Paul Dini doing the puppet episode of Zatanna, it’s gonna be pure gold!

-windiebird

I Am A White Flash!

by windiebird

(Cover by John Romita, Jr., Marvel Comics)

I’ve got a hell and a half of comics to read this week so it’s time for some quick reviews of the previews (as I do…es)! Avengers 7 make Hulk festive and red? To a non-Hulk-reader this is neither enticing or uninviting. It’s been a fun ride up to this point so why not, right? Pretty as ever.

(Cover by David Finch, DC Comics)

Look at that GQ mofo on the cover of Brightest Day 14! Could Bats be the White Knight? J’onn is out of his mind on Mars, the Firestorm(s) are playing catchup to Deathstorm and the Hawks are getting intimate with their past lives! Still worth it.

(Cover by Jesus Saiz, DC Comics)

Zatanna 7 is penned by Adam Beechen and has our Mistress of Magic attending the grand opening of the Magic Museum! We learn more about her father and Zatanna tackles some angry clothing as only she can.

(Cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy, DC Comics)

Green Lantern 59 stars my favorite Corps as we finally learn where they went with the guy who started the Blackest Night! Windiebird loves an answer, y’all!

(Cover by Tyler Kirkham & BATT, DC Comics)

Green Lantern Corps 54 gets some aggression out as Sinestro and Kyle punch each other around the block! All in the name of rescuing Soranik, I guess…

(Cover by Francis Manapul, DC Comics)

Francis Manapul drew a comic, you guys! The Flash 6 is that comic and if you need any further inspiration to pick up your copy, we’re getting closer and closer to Captain Boomerang’s White Lantern task and the much-hyped Flashpoint event!

(Cover by Dan Jurgens & Jerry Ordway, DC Comics)

Superman meets Doomsday in DCU Legacies 7 and his coma/death marks another milestone in the ongoing history of my favorite fictional universe. Simply a great time if you’re a DC fan. Maybe not the most consistent for a newcomer since a lot of the joy comes from recognizing and reliving events but well worth the money.

(Cover by Mark Bagley & Rob Hunter, DC Comics)

Justice League of America 51 continues the brawl between the JLA and the Crime Syndicate! They don’t do it for everyone but I LOVE this incarnation of the JLA and am especially glad to see Starman and Congorilla get so much love. Good times, great oldies as they say!

-windiebird