Yea yea yea, DC Noise has all but pod-faded. Relax. I’ll get to Episode 3 when I can.. In the meantime, because you guys like shipping lists so much, here’s DC’s output for the week of February 6th. The links in the titles will take you to DC’s site where you can see covers, creative teams and solicitations. Some even have special previews. You can find the complete list of comics from all publishers on Diamond’s site here. Or check out Marvel Noise and Indie Comic Book Noise. Enjoy.
ALL NEW ATOM #20
It’s the final issue for the creative team of Simone, Norton and Scott with hopefully a little more insight into the craziness of Ivy Town. Honestly, I pick this book up solely because Mike Norton is working on it as the story and character have yet to really grab my attention. However Rick Remender, of Fear Agent fame, takes over the writing as of next issue and that has me intrigued. If he brings his own sense of sci-fi adventure into this mix, and it works, it may be worth reading after all.
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #12
So this is where Denys Cowan has been hanging his hat these days. If you haven’t seen his art on the Denny O’Neil Question, you really should seek out those new Question trades. Volume 1 is out, volume 2 has been solicited. Okay, back to Confidential. I don’t read this series, but as of next issue, I’ll be picking it up for the 4-part Wrath story. Not only is Rags Morales on the art, but it features a character I haven’t seen in over twenty years: the Wrath. He was Batman’s opposite in the Batman Special of 1983 or 84, a story by Mike W. Barr and Michael Golden. While Bruce Wayne’s parents were murdered by a thief, the Wrath’s parents were killed by a cop, specifically, James Gordon. It’s a moody piece of story and art and I’m interested to see what they do with the character.
COUNTDOWN SPECIAL OMAC
While most of these Countdown Specials are nothing more than throwaway reprint collections (I say throwaway because they only reprint select stories – and sometimes not the best ones at that), this OMAC Special is pretty noteworthy. It has the George Perez drawn OMAC appearance from an issue of DC Comics Presents and it rocks. It was the first time I was exposed to OMAC and since then, anyone else wearing a mohawk is just a poor-man’s OMAC to me. Heh. By the way, DC seriously needs to collect the various Ryan Sook covers on these specials because they are gorgeous. They manage to be iconic without looking stiff or boring. Good stuff.
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 12
More spinning of the wheels or will something actually happen? Also, my theory about Pied Piper might come true!
DETECTIVE COMICS #841
Full disclosure: I only pick this up because of the Dustin Nguyen art. Same thing with his Superman/Batman run. Ever since Wildstorm’s Manifest Eternity, Nguyen has been on my radar. I couldn’t tell you what’s been going on in this series, mostly because the done-in-one stories have been a turnoff for me, but who cares. It’s pretty to look at.
DIANA PRINCE WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 01
I am SO looking forward to this. Back in the 70s, Denny O’Neil revamped DC’s Trinity of Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman (and if I ever put out DC Noise Episode 3 you’ll hear even more Trinity talk) and this is the Wonder Woman-era that gave us I Ching, the white jumpsuit and more. I’ve been wanting to read these stories for a long time – and I’m glad they went with color (instead of having to wait until the WW Essentials catch up). Seems like this is just another book in the line of reprints that DC’s offering from their Bronze Age (including the JSA All Stars books and the Huntress trade).
INFINITY INC #6
So not reading this.
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #42
If you like the Royal Flush Gang, this one’s for you.
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #12
DC’s flagship title continues to impress. It’s one of the only team books out there that successfully makes use of history and legacy without being trapped by it all. I also really like Eaglesham’s style on this book. His line work is more kinetic that the first series art, and he’s taking chances with panel layouts and designs. Go for broke Dale.
METAL MEN #6 (OF 8)
I’m waiting on the trade for this one. Or cheap back issue bin finds. But Oolong Island (from 52) is revisited in this issue. Curious.
MIDNIGHTER #16
I keep hearing good things about this series. And with Keith Giffen writing it, I should be picking it up. Gonna have to investigate further.
NIGHTWING #141
I’m not going to rag on this book, because I’m not current with it. But it’s my favorite character ever and I really should be more excited about it. Oh well.
ROBIN 13 INCH COLLECTOR FIGURE
SUPERMAN BATMAN SER 5 POWER GIRL AF
Not as nice as the Infinite Crisis/Phil Jimenez designed Power Girl.
SUPERMAN BATMAN SER 5 SUPERGIRL AF
Wow. That’s just awkward.
SUPERMAN BATMAN SER 5 SUPERMAN BATMAN AF
Okay – now that’s cool. Gotta love Composite Superman.
SUPERMAN CHRONICLES TP VOL 04
I really want to like the Chronicles line but it just doesn’t seem like enough story for the money. This one has 8 issues at only 192 pages. With the Essentials at 500+ pages, I’d want the Chronicles at at least half that. Because otherwise it’s going to take a loooooooooong time to really get through all the stories featuring the title characters. But at least they are making more of an effort to get more volumes out.
TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE #2 (OF 6)
I normally stay away from updated-origin-retellings. But come on. It’s the Titans. And I love those characters. It also has Kerschl on art. And had he been the artist on the Bart Allen/Flash series, I think Bart would still be alive today.
WILDSTORM REVELATIONS #3 (OF 6)
The original Backlash makes an appearance. I liked that series with the Brett Booth artwork. It wasn’t Shakespeare but it kept my interest for awhile.