Shawn Says: Spotlight on New Releases August 10, 2011

In which Shawn looks at the New Releases and lets you know which ones she is most excited about!

1) SpongeBob Comics #4

I was thrilled to find out that Joey Weiser, who is one of my favorite cartoonists, has a story in this issue of SpongeBob Comics. There have been some seriously talented people working on this book. I have really been enjoying the goofy and silly nature of the book. For me, it has captured the essence of the show. So SpongeBob fans out there should definitely be reading the comic!

3) Hellboy The Fury #3

Rumor has it this issue will have a shocking ending as Mike Mignola and Duncan Fegredo’s epic storyline concludes. So if you only keep up with Hellboy in trade or hardcover you might want to take notice of this issue. Or steer clear of it completely so that the story isn’t ruined for you. 

Speaking of Mignola, also out this week is Baltimore Curse Bells #1. It is written by Mignola and Christopher Golden with art by Ben Stenbeck. I really enjoyed the first Baltimore mini so I have high hopes for this one.

3) Detective Comics #881

Detective Comics, as we know it, comes to an end. This is the final issue before the re-launch when Detective will restart at issue #1. This latest story arc has been fantastic. I have especially enjoyed it because it has showcased the detective side of Batman. I particularly love the way Jock and Francesco Francavilla have taken turns on the art throughout this story. The two storylines come together in this issue and both Jock and Francavilla did an amazing job on the art. Scott Snyder’s writing has been creepily compelling. I wish Snyder luck as he takes over Batman next month with Batman #1.

Shawn Says: Spotlight on New Releases August 3, 2011

In which Shawn looks at the New Releases and lets you know which books she is most excited about!

1) Snarked #0

Everyone should buy this book. It is only $1, it is written and drawn by Roger Langridge and it is a re-imagination of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland spotlighting the Walrus and the Carpenter. The previews I have seen have been amazing and I can’t wait to see where Langridge takes us on this book. Check out Snark Island for more info about Snarked! Also of note, the lovely Rachelle Rosenberg does the coloring for this book. She was on the Color Me Talented HeroesCon 2011 panel that Adam moderated. Click here to listen!

2) Jonah Hex #70

I believe this will be the last issue of Jonah Hex before the DC re-launch when Jonah Hex will sort of become All-Star Western. Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and guest artist Ryan Sook team up to send off the book in style. While I didn’t read this book each month, every time I did read it I thouroughly enjoyed it. There is a phenomenal cast of guest/rotating artists (Jordi Bernet, Darwyn Cooke and Phil Noto) and consistently strong writing from Palmiotti and Gray and. One of Jonah Hex’s strengths is that it is not tied to the DCU and each issue is a self-contained story. I hope that All-Star Western will be just as good as Jonah Hex has been.

3) Strawberry Shortcake Berry Fun #1

This issue has three separate stories from Georgia Ball with Tanya Roberts, Russell Lissau and Meredith Lissau with Amy Mebberson, and Tim Beedle with Amy Mebberson. Starwberry Shortcake holds a special place in my heart so I am glad to see that she is having a bit of resurgence. One of my prized possessions is a Strawberry Shortcake quilt that my Granny made. I sleep with it practically every night and I often bring it with me when I travel. The fun thing about this book is that the first issue has a scratch ‘n sniff cover! I love how cheesy and gimmicky that is. It fits in perfectly with Strawberry Shortcake.

Review: Loose Ends #1

Chris Brunner and Jason Latour are honest, brutally honest at times. So in my review I am going to honor them by being brutally honest. I’m not going to hold back, spare feelings or “suck up” cause these guys are my friends and I like them. I hope they appreciate the effort.

I feel like I have been waiting on the release of Loose Ends for a long, long time. Over the years they have slowly been releasing previews and teasers to help whet our appetites. As the actual release date drew near I was worried that the book wouldn’t live up to all the hype. Jason Latour, Chris Brunner and Rico Renzi have been working their butts off to make this the best comic that it can possibly be and I was genuinely concerned that I wasn’t going to like it when I finally read it. I think I dwelled on this thought more than I should have particularly because this was a hard book to track down. Not a lot of small shops can afford to take risks on books from smaller publishers, like 12 Gauge, so not too many took a chance on this book. Several of the shop owners told me that it is no longer available through the distributor, so I hope that more become available or that they do a second printing. I know quite a few shops out there are upset that they missed out on it the first go round.

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Shawn Says: Spotlight on New Releases July 20, 2011

In which Shawn takes a look at the New Releases and lets you know which books she is most excited about!

1) Sergio Aragones Funnies #1

Sergio Aragones is one heck of a cartoonist and a darn fine storyteller (not to mention, quite the ladies’ man). Funnies is a new ongoing that contains stories, strips, drawings and jokes direct from Aragones. It can be personal at times, historical at others, but always funny. Aragones has a wonderful voice and a great sense of humor. I am thrilled that he has a comic that allows him to express himself. I loved this first issue and I can’t wait to read more! This will appeal to fans of humor comics in general and Mad Magazine and Groo specifically. There is so much joy and love in this book that it is infectious! Definitely check this book out!

2) Daredevil #1

I am truly shocked at how much I truly enjoyed this book. I only bought it for the blank cover so that Adam can get an “Owly As” on it. I didn’t plan on reading it until I saw Paolo Rivera’s art. I figured I would give it a shot and I am really glad I did. I strongly disliked the recent storylines with Daredevil as they were too broody and depressing. The character was beginning to feel stagnant. Mark Waid breathed new life into Daredevil with Daredevil #1 and the back-up with Marcos Martin really clenched that for me. Waid acknowledged where Daredevil was but stated where he is now. I am super happy with the new direction for Daredevil. This was a really entertaining, well-written, well-drawn issue. I am really glad that didn’t dismiss it because of my prior unhappiness with Daredevil. On a side note, I was also pleasantly surprised with Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #521. I thought I knew what was going to happen but I was completely wrong. I am so glad I was wrong. I really enjoyed this issue and I am looking forward to seeing where the story takes me.

3) Criminal Macabre/Goon When Freaks Collide One-Shot

This was a really fun team-up/cross-over book. It had some genuinely funny moments, especially with the sidekicks. I talk a lot about how I enjoy fun, light-hearted books but it is true. I want to be entertained and uplifted. I don’t constantly want to be drug down into the depths of human emotion. I get enough of that from life. In my comics I want to have fun and go on adventures. And that is what I got from Criminal Macabre/Goon When Freaks Collide. Steve Niles, Eric Powell and Christopher Mitten work really well together. I loved the journey (including this special guest at the end). I really hope there is more of this to come!

4) Spirit #16

This issue was written by David Hine and illustrated by John Paul Leon. What I liked about this issue was that each page was a splash page that incorporated “The Spirit” into the composition. This was a fun, stand-alone story. You don’t need to know anything about the Spirit to understand and appreciate it. The next issue is going to be a collection of black-and-white stories which I assume where supposed to be back-ups. It will also be the last issue before the DC relaunch. I’m not sure where the Spirit fits into the new DC but I am happy with how they are ending this series. I enjoyed the Spirit, past and present and will continue to read the Spirit when he decides to show up again.

The Nerdy Dozen: Best of Captain America

I originally wanted to do one of these lists in honor of the return of Steve Rogers to the present day Marvel Universe. Obviously I did not get it posted to meet that sort of deadline, so instead we’ll honor the premiere weekend of his new movie. For me this list is a “best of” Cap’s greatest comic book moments or maybe better put, the moments that made a guy named Steve Rogers worthy of being called Captain America.

12) Ultimates #10 – This A don’t stand for France

“Surrender? SURRENDER? You think this letter on my head stands for France?!” I know this is a line meant to be an edgy joke for the supposedly edgier and hipper Ultimate line at Marvel. But even still is symbolizes that every version of Cap is a fighter to the end with no intention of ever quitting.

11) Captain America #445 – Cap escapes the Cosmic Cube

The Red Skull is quite the schemer. In the storyline this moment takes place in he is trying to gain full control over the Cosmic Cube and has both Captain America and Hitler (yes really) trapped inside it. His hope is that Cap will kill Hitler and then stay trapped inside the cube. But Cap eventually figures out what is going on, escapes the Cube and proceeds to lay the smackdown on the Skull (again).

10) Captain America #453 – Cap saves the day and Bill Clinton

So after all of that Red Skull/Cosmic Cub mess, Cap was in a lot of trouble with the US Government for things he’d done while caught up in that scheme. Never one to take that sort of thing lying down, Steve sets out to not only save the day but also clear his good name. For my money the big moment in this story isn’t Cap taking down Machinesmith, foiling his plan or saving the president in the process. The moment is actually the president acting like a fanboy towards Cap while returning his shield at the end of the story and how Cap takes everything that has happened in stride.

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