May's new releases that I'm likely to get - DC

Definitely buy:

Batman: Battle for the Cowl #3

W: Tony Daniel

A: Tony Daniel/Sandu Florea

Action Comics #877

W: Greg Rucka

A: Eddy Barrows/Ruy Jose

Other than these two, not much interests me from DC until Battle for the Cowl is over and maybe Blackest Night.

May's new releases that I'm likely to get - Marvel

Starting with War of Kings:

War of Kings #3

W: Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning

A: Paul Pelletier

War of Kings: Ascension #2

W: Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning

A: Wellington Alves

Nova #25

W: Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning

A: Andrea Di Vito

Guardians of the Galaxy

 #14

W: Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning

A: Brad Walker

Then, Messiah War Parts 4 and 5:

Cable #14

W: Duane Swierczynski

A: Ariel Olivetti

X-Force #15

W:Craig Kyle/Chris Yost

A: Clayton Crain

Other Marvel certainties

Mighty Avengers #25

W: Dan Slott

A: Stephen Segovia

Captain America #50

W: Ed Brubaker

A: Luke Ross

Not quite as sure about:

Wolverine: Weapon X #2

W: Jason Aaron

A: Ron Garney

I might have a look at:

Incredible Hercules #129

W: Fred van Lente/Greg Pak

A: Ryan Stegman

I probably won't get:

(though will if I decide to get #509)

Uncanny X-Men #510

W: Matt Fraction

A: Greg Land

This might interest me:

The Trojan War #1

W: Roy Thomas

A: Miguel Angel Sepulveda

29 April Releases and Free Comic Book Day - Preview

There's only really Nova #24 that I'm definitely going to get next week, as its a War of Kings tie-in and by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, plus Andrea Di Vito's art is really good, so what's not to look forward to?

Uncanny X-Men #509 is also coming out, but as per my previous post, I don't think I'll bother, though the Proposition X subplot might interest me.

Therefore, I'm going to wait until Saturday 2nd May to buy Nova, because I can then pick up a few of the free comics for FCBD.  The Avengers and Blackest Night #0 will be the two I make sure to get, but I might also have a look at Savage Dragon #148 from Image, Resurrection #0 from Oni and perhaps Transformers Animated/G.I. Joe from IDW.

Uncanny X-Men vs Mighty Avengers

Uncanny X-Men #508

W: Matt Fraction

P: Greg Land

I: Jay Leisten

C: Justin Ponsor

Mighty Avengers #24

W: Dan Slott

P: Rafa Sandoval

I: Roger Martinez

C: John Rauch

I've always been a big fan of the X-Men, originally from the 90's animated series and then the films, and some of my favourite comics characters are X-Men and some of my favourite story lines.  On the other hand, I've never really had any interest in the Avengers.  I like that the X-Men are always a team, and have to be because of their various powers, whereas the Avengers are superheroes in their right.  The X-Men also have to deal with being hated and feared while still trying to be heroes. 

I'm naturally therefore more interested in what's going on in the X-books than in the Avengers titles, but buying Uncanny X-Men #508 last week led me to begin to reconsider.  This issue is the start of a story arc involving the Red Queen and her plans against the X-Men.  However, this issue left me wondering what the hell is going on, rather than anticipating what will happen next. 

It seems Psylocke is coming back, but while I think she can be an interesting character, her back story really doesn't make much sense. I know that she swapped bodies at some point, but is this Kwannon her original body?  And where did Red Queen get Psylocke's current body from, seeing as she's been reality-hopping with the Exiles?  None of this is given any explanation and I can't say I'm too bothered about trying to work it all out.

The secondary strands in this issue are not given enough space, so it is hard to tell whether they will become interesting in future.

One thing I did like is the little character intro boxes, particularly "Logan - Wolverine: Healing Factor. Claws. Hirsute." though of course Wolverine needs no introduction.

I've heard a lot of criticism of Greg Land's art, specifically about it being photo-referenced.  Though that didn't really strike me that much, I just didn't like the art in general in this issue, which doesn't help my disinterest in this arc.

C - I very much doubt I will buy the rest of this arc, maybe I will try Uncanny again with the Utopia crossover

On the other hand is Mighty Avengers #24.  I decided to try this series this week as it sounded good, part of Dark Reign but not too focused on it like Dark Avengers, which doesn't really seem for me.  This was not a team, concept or story I had a previous interest in, so I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoyed reading it.

Hank Pym's team went hopping around the world fighting huge monsters and subterranean invasions, putting a spanner in Norman Osborn's nefarious scheme and threatening the credibility of his official Avengers.  Loki's duplicity and meddling is brilliant to see, particularly the suggestion to hold meetings via Emma Frost's telepathy, with Osborn's facade briefly slipping.

The art is also very good, I much preferred it Greg Land's work in Uncanny, so Mighty Avengers #24 wins on both story and art.

A - I will collect Mighty Avengers from now on, it taking the place I had intended for Uncanny X-Men.

The most important difference between these two issues was that while Uncanny X-Men #508 didn't leave me with much interest in the rest of the story arc or the series in general, Mighty Avengers #24 did, and I'm looking forward to following the Mighty Avengers team for the near future.

Comic Reviews - 22nd April

First off, Guardians of the Galaxy #13 Marvel Comics

W: Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning

P: Brad Walker

I: Victor Olazaba 

C: Will Quintana 

Cvr: Salvador Larrocca  

Guardians is probably my favourite series, Abnett and Lanning (DnA) my favourite writers, and this issue is a good illustration of why.  After the last number of issues where the team split up, they are all back together, with a few additions.  The team dynamic is absolutely brilliant, these are all characters I'd never heard of before Guardians, and they've quickly become my among my favourites.

Since Paul Pelletier moved onto drawing War of Kings, the art for Guardians has been inconsistent and therefore I found it disappointing (especially some depictions of Rocket Raccoon), but Brad Walker's pencils in #13 are really top notch.

Guardians #13 leaves me really looking forward to War of Kings #3 in two weeks, to see how the Starjammers and Rocket's team work together and factor into the main story; and next month's Guardians #14 to see how Star-Lord fares dealing with Black Bolt.

A

[Book of the Week]

Next, X-Force #14 Marvel Comics

W: Chris Yost/Craig Kyle

A: Clayton Crain 

Cvr: Clayton Crain (Variant)

X-Force #14 is part three of the Messiah War crossover, which is starting to get really interesting.  This issue contains the usual huge, blood 'n' guts everywhere fight scenes that you can expect from X-Force.  However, it's not all violence, as Bishop's motivations and justifications are explored, helping to explain why a previously committed X-Man would commit such evil, and the team dynamic works well, with Deadpool, Domino and Vanisher adding light relief.

Clayton Crain performs well in producing gritty, bloody art that fits the premise of the series, though there is still the same problem with fuzzy faces there has been throughout his issues, particularly with Cyclops.

Overall, I really enjoyed this issue, the crossover's story is progressing well and I'm looking forward to seeing how X-Force deal with their current predicament, and how Apocalypse will factor in.

A

Third up is Viking #1 Image Comics

W: Ivan Brandon

A: Nic Klein
Cvr: Nic Klein

I find the Norse period very interesting (along with the Anglo-Saxons, the two colliding together of course) so after seeing a few glowing reviews for this new book, I was naturally interested.

This is a good start, though in parts it is confusing.  I think this issue will make more sense once the story has played out more and the characters become more familiar, and I'm certainly looking forward to getting into this book.

The art is great, unique and striking, I like the mixing up of styles and I'm greatly anticipating seeing more of it.

B

[Cover of the Week]

[Mainly because of the extra-large format that really stands out]

(I've decided to look at Mighty Avengers #24 separately, alongside Uncanny X-Men #508 from last week, comparing the two to see which I'll carry on buying) 

Therefore the final review for this post is:

Daredevil #118 Marvel Comics

W: Ed Brubaker

A: Michael Lark/John Lucas/Stefano Guadiano

C: Matt Hollingsworth

Cvr: Marko Djurdjevic

Part 3 of Return of the King continues to set up an intriguing story, with Matt Murdock seeing one early consequence of his deal with Kingpin, and it remaining to be seen how the alliance against the Hand will fare and whether DD can really trust his old nemesis.

Though three artists contributed, I didn't notice any jarring inconsistencies, so the art is successful in complementing the story.

B

Comics Reviews

I set this blog up yonks ago, but never actually did anything with it.  Now however, I've decided I'll write some stuff about comics: reviews of the titles I've bought every week, what I'm looking forward to the next week or month. 

I'll also maybe get  around to writing other random thoughts and musings at some point.

Well, with these reviews, I'm pretty much making my process up as I go along, so I suppose I'll adapt this intro afterwards.

I reckon I'll grade each comic between A*-E maybe:

E- Not worth the ink used to print it (unlikely I'll deliberately buy something this bad)

D- Really wasn't worth buying at all

C- Reasonable enough, but doubts over whether it was worth buying; greater flaws in writing and/or art;not going to continue buying the title if this seems to be a trend 

B- Good, enjoyable read, worth buying; story may be let down by flaws in art, or art may be shoring up a less interesting story; will carry on buying the series until end of story arc at very least

A- Really good; very enjoyable; can't wait for the next issue; both story and art very good

A* Exceptional, very rare

I think I might also give a few awards, like best art, best cover of the week etc.

I live in Britain, so new releases come out on thursdays, or if I order them online, I tend to get them the next tuesday, so this won't be regular as clockwork.

So, onto this week's (April 22nd)  releases, but also last week's because I got them this week as well.