Image December Solicitations

Just the one Image comic that I'll be getting in December, but it is one I am really looking forward to.

Issue #3 was excellent with sublime art, so Viking #5 (Brandon/Klein) is a must buy for me this December.

It is apparently the season finale, though I don't know how they're organising the series, maybe one arc every year. But whatever the case is, I will certainly be buying it.

Marvel December Solicitations

Incredible Hercules #139 (Pak/Van Lente/Buchemi and Parker/Hardman)

I'm still not decided whether to jump on with Assault on New Olympus, I'll decide nearer November when it starts.

Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #2 (Abnett/Lanning/Walker)

All of DnA's cosmic work for Marvel is brilliant and an essential purchase for me. Its good that as well as developing the Imperial Guard they will also be keeping the Starjammers involved. I wonder if Raza Longknife will rejoin them after being separated from the

symbiote.

Realm of Kings: Inhumans #2 (Abnett/Lanning/Raimondi)

Again, I'm really interested in the Inhumans and look forward to this focus on them. It should also be good to see Quicksilver interacting with the Royal Family again as well as the other Mighty Avengers.

Both Guardians of the Galaxy #21 (Abnett/Lanning/Walker) and Nova #32 (Abnett/Lanning/DiVito) also have guaranteed places on my pull list. Guardians will be good as always, and while I have no idea who the Sphinx is, DnA are very good at establishing characters in a very short space of time and will no doubt make sure to clue readers in.

I bought Ghost Box in hard cover and enjoyed it, though the plot wasn't as engaging as I would have liked the character interaction was brilliant and the art had its moments. I've really become a fan of Warren Ellis recently, and Phil Jimenez' art should be good, so I think I will be getting Astonishing X-Men #33 (Ellis/Jimenez).

I don't think I'll be getting X-Force Annual #1 (Kirkman/Kyle/Yost/Pearson/Barberi) though I may change my mind once I see some previews/reviews.

I've decided not to start collecting X-Men: Legacy straight away, though there's a good chance I will start when it becomes part of Necrosha with #231 (Carey/Mann). #230 (Carey/Acuna) is the end of the first arc with Emplate as the major threat, which I'm not too bothered about following, and also has a Cable back story which puts the price up and I'm not sure what its about. The second issue in December however does interest me, particularly the team of Nightcrawler, Colossus, Psylocke and Rogue, though I'm not sure about the artist.

X-Force #22 (Kyle/Yost/Crain) and New Mutants #8 (Wells/Neves) are both Necrosha issues and while there is a chance I might decide in October to trim some titles from my list including the Necrosha event, I probably will get these issues, though again I'm not sure about the Cable back-up pushing up the price on X-Force.

X-Necrosha: The Gathering (Kyle/Yost/Various) on the other hand, I don't think I will get as Marvel's recent anthology tie-ins haven't seemed that necessary.

S.W.O.R.D. #2 (Gillen/Sanders) is very likely to be on my list, though of course it depends on the first issue.

I'm not sure yet whether I will be rejoining X-Factor with its renumbered relaunch #200 (David/Cansino). I have been enjoying the current story though it does seem to be dragging, but I'm not sure about the high cost of this issue or the new artist and how much will be reprints. The return to the central idea of mutant (now superhero) detective agency does interest me however.

Finally, Wolverine: Weapon X #8 (Aaron/Paquette) should be good, Aaron is one of my favourite writers at the moment and one of the best Wolverine writers around.

DC December Solicitations

Detective Comics #860 (Rucka/Williams/Hamner)

While the story in Detective hasn't kept my interest as much as the first issue promised, I am still interested in Kate Kane/Batwoman as a character and the art is sure to be great. The Question back-up hasn't really been much yet, though the art has been nice and the team-up with Huntress might be interesting.

Batman: Streets of Gotham #7 (Dini/Nguyen and Andreyko/Haun)

With Dini back and probably picking up his story lines from the first four issues, including Zsasz, I might get back on board this series with this issue.

Looking through the solicits there isn't one for Batman and Robin #7, which I was looking forward to as Cameron Stewart seems a very good artist and well-matched to Grant Morrison, and it seemed it was going to be in England with Knight and Squire. If there is no B&R then I may well get Streets of Gotham in its place.

Again, with Blackest Night taking over so much of DC's plans, there isn't really anything outside of the Bat-books that interests me.

2nd and 10th September comic releases

Exiles #6 Parker/Espin

A shame this series had to end so soon, but the size of this issue (48 pages) goes some way to making up for it. Parker has to pack a lot in to wrap up everything from this series and the previous series but still manages to keep up the light-hearted interaction between the team members. The explanation of the workings of the multiverse is also quite well done, achieving a good degree of clarity. Salva Espin is back on art and does not disappoint, his bold art, complemented by Anthony Washington's vivid colours. Overall, the amount of content and its high quality merits: Gold

War of Kings: Who Will Rule? Abnett/Lanning/Pelletier

A very satisfying epilogue to the War of Kings event, which validates being spun into a one-shot rather than compressed into the end of War of Kings #6. DnA manage to keep an issue focused mostly on various characters talking highly engrossing and develop their characters, particularly Crystal and Gladiator even more. The last page which ties the last issue of Guardians of the Galaxy into the future direction of the cosmic arena is welcome as is the revelation that Talon and the Fraternity of Raptors are going to continue playing a role. Pelletier contributes again on pencils, and while maybe not his best work on WofK I espescially liked his designs for the funereal wear of the Inhumans and Gladiator. Gold

Review of August comics

Book of the Month

War of Kings #6

Abnett/Lanning/Pelletier

Runner-up

Guardians of the Galaxy #17

Abnett/Lanning/Walker

Cover of the Month

Nova #28

Cover by Daniel Acuna

Runner-up

Batman: Streets of Gotham #3

Cover by Dustin Nguyen

Artist of the Month

Nic Klein

Viking

Runner-up

Ron Garney

Wolverine: Weapon X

Characters of the Month

Crystal Amaquelin Maximoff

War of Kings/War of Kings: Warriors

Rocket Raccoon

Guardians of the Galaxy

Damian Wayne

Robin and Batman