Buy These Flippin Comics!!! (11.27.13) – An Epic Pre-Thanksgiving Feast For Your Eyeholes
“On my signal, unleash Hell.”
So this is why last week was so dry, and why pull lists were weak – the industry was gearing up for the holiday season and the Black Friday LCS sales! This week sees a thunderous ton of books dropping into our laps. Every book that normally gets a “Omega Level Pick of the Week” all come out this week. Huge events reach their conclusion. Exciting new books drop to replace them. Superman celebrates his 75th Anniversary. Your wallets groan, your credit cards gnash their teeth, gift cards jump to their death. So put your bibs on kids, this is the meal before your Thanksgiving meal. Don’t gorge yourself, the trick is pacing – and the helpings are plenty.
Check out all the new releases HERE, and give your LCS a visit to see if they are offering any cool sales for the holiday season!
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Infinity #6 (of 6)
New Avengers #12 (Infinity Tie-In) – Marvel NOW
And so we finish the huge Jonathan Hickman-penned event that has won the hearts and minds of Omega Level-ers across the board. I think at some point we should devote an entire discussion of the series in this column – perhaps some “Special Edition.” I’m not a huge fan of cosmic adventures – though I love the original Infinity Gauntlet – and this series was a worthy successor. I think it sets up a fascinating new era for Marvel continuity, had some fantastic character moments, and the art looked outstanding throughout. I’m glad to see this series wrapping up without thousands of tie-ins and unnecessary filler, and tip my hat to Marvel, and certainly Hickman himself. Well done, folks. Take a bow
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Saga #16 – Image Comics
If Omega Level had a “favorite” monthly, this would probably be it. It’s got everything we love – testicles, child slavery, giant hairless cats – EVERYTHING! Okay, so those might not be the reasons, but we love the book anyways. Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples consistently spin our expectations of what a sci-fi fantasy book should be, often making it far more about REAL issues than about anything fantastical or epic.
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Hawkeye #14 – Marvel NOW
Annie Wu hops on board as semi-regular artist with this issue. She’ll be tackling the issues devoted to our favorite new West Coast Avenger – Hawkeye! That is, Young Avenger Hawkeye Kate Bishop. I gotta say, aside from already being a huge fan of Annie Wu, I love that the book will now split it’s time between the two Hawkeyes, both fascinating characters deserving of the spotlight (though I will miss their interacting with each other). Best Marvel monthly on the stands, guys.
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Pretty Deadly #2 – Image Comics
Totally impressed by the first issue, certainly more than I was expecting to be. Deconnick pens the tale in almost poetic fashion, and Rios’ inky, dynamic images remind me of Paul Pope mixed with Rafael Grampa (yes, the comparisons are intentional and warranted). If you like Westerns, and enjoy them with a horror twist, give this book a shot!
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Black Science #1 – Image Comics
Dat Fish-lady Booty Doe.
Rick Remender drops a new offering this week, and this is where I want Remender, where I love him most – guys in space suits travelling to weird alien vistas and wreaking sci-fi havoc (check out Remender’s spectacular Fear Agent to see what I’m talking about). This series follows the exploits of one Grant McKay, a former member of The Anarchistic Order of Scientists, who has done the seemingly impossible and harnessed the “black science.” More powerful than he can control however, he and his team are now stuck travelling between alien worlds, looking for a way home. Matteo Scalera and Dean White contribute on the art. This book looks like it comes straight from old 50’s and 60’s sci-fi pulp magazines, and I couldn’t be more friggin happy about it!
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The Goon #44 – Dark Horse Comics
I don’t think I’ve mentioned The Goon in this column, and I now reprimand myself for not doing so. Part of the reason is that I think that this book only comes out once every couple months or so, another reason is that I really only buy this book in trade form, though I used to buy the floppies. Anyways, few books on the stands have the look and feel of The Goon, maybe none. The art is of almost unmatched quality – creator/writer/artist Eric Powell has some of the most beautiful art in comics – all the horror of a Bernie Wrightson mixed with the cartooning of a Jeff Smith. Plus the book is such a mixture of several genres: horror, mob-crime, humor, monster…you never know where the book will go next, which is really all you can ask for out of a comic book – the ablitity to do offer what other genres can’t. Anyways, I don’t know if issue #44 is the best place to start if you’re new to the book, but I can definitely recommend giving this modern masterpiece a look.
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Rat Queens #3 – Image Comics
This book might be considered a guilty pleasure, but I don’t care. Crass, hilarious, violent, and yet still pretty fucking charming. That’s this book in a nutshell. If Garth Ennis or Warren Ellis were writing a fantasy book, it might look a bit like this one.
PHEW! I think that’s enough for now, right? I’m stuffed! And I didn’t even get to new Mind MGMT, new Massive, new All New X-Men, and a few others! Brace yourselves, kids! Big week!
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Oh, before I go and let you guys discuss this week’s offerings I wanted to say a big thanks to those who read and chime in every week. This column ain’t an easy one to write, but you folks make it worthwhile! Thanks for letting me spit my recommendations at you every week. You guys are awesome! Have a great Thanksgiving! PEACE!