Creator Roger Langridge is taking something of a stand – even if he seems frankly so down to Earth he’d never call it that – and is no longer going to work for the Big Two Funny Book Farms. This announcement is particularly salient, because it comes at a time when the Kirby estate is getting rimmed out of Avengers cred and Before Watchmen  is  desecrating  the altar of a masterpiece. At least to me, yeah, I know.

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Variant Covers. Sometimes it’s a love affair. Sometimes it’s an apathetic union. And sometimes its a ruthless hate fuck. Today is the latter. Pressed up against a deadline, I am inspired to do nothing. Refresh the same websites. Pound caffeine. Ignore my schoolwork. But I’m here, you’re here, and there are comics coming out tomorrow. Here’s the shit that may grease your underwear with excitement.

Per usual, hit the comments box with your pull list for tomorrow.

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Lady Mechanika #1
This new comic from Joe Benitez caught my eye when wandering through the various release lists for tomorrow’s loot. G’damn! Sometimes something sneaks up on you, and you want to kiss the gaping asshole of whatever force pushed you in its direction. I’m hoping this a dope find. A gorgeously illustrated steampunk release starring a vixen? Had me at vixen. But here, check out the plot description, “the tabloids dubbed her “LADY MECHANIKA”, the sole survivor of a psychotic serial killer’s three-year rampage through London. Found locked in an abandoned laboratory amidst countless corpses and body parts, with her own limbs amputated and replaced with mechanical components, her life began anew.”

C’mon! Tell me that isn’t worth at least a glance at the introduction. Sold.

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A Collection of Collections.
There’s a collection of collections coming out this week that caught my eye. ‘Tis the season and shit! Gift a comic book nerd you know with one of these bad boys. First up is the second collection of Jeff Lemire’s Sweet Tooth. As someone who is following this in trades, I’m excited to dive back into this series. Think The Road meets fantasy meets familiar tropes of responsibility for society’s future, et cetera. It’s one of my favorite releases of the past year or so.

Speaking of Jeff Lemire, his Superboy #2 is coming out, and if you read the first issue you understand: this title has promise. I don’t give a shit about Superboy, or Smallville for that matter. Or rather, I didn’t. Then Lemire stepped up. God, the dude has writing chops. Jealousy +500.

As well, tomorrow carries the first collection of James Stokoe’s Orc Stain. I can’t find this motherfucker at any comic book shop near me. Trust me, I’ve looked. As my local comic shop continues its depressing slide into bankruptcy, my comic book shop love has become polyamorous. So I’ve slutted around in my search. Now’s a chance to snag it all up and collected from my buddy, Mr. Amazon. I have a good feeling Stokoe is going to be someone we’re all going to be hearing a shitload from in the next couple of years. He’s talented, eccentric, off-kilter, and bizarre. Something of a kindred spirit for my demented brain.

Also last week hee did the world an enormous solid and released an entire unreleased comic book over on his website. Murderbullets. It’s fantastic, and I’m actually saddened I couldn’t spend money to support the effort.

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[images & words is the comic book pick-of-the-week at OL. equal parts review and diatribe, the post highlights the most memorable/infuriating/entertaining book released that wednesday]

It’s Wednesday! And today is an especially wonderful Wednesday as it is the day before Thanksgiving! In an effort to prepare for our annual harvest festival of reprehensible origins, many of us have been given a half-day of work. Numbered among these fortunate folks, I have made the best use possible of my newfound free time: reading comics.

So what’s this week’s best release, the single issue that entertained and thrilled and intrigued more than any other? This honor belongs to THOR: The Mighty Avenger #6. If you’ve been following this series, you’re probably not surprised. In its short run, THOR: The Mighty Avenger has established itself as an incredibly well-rounded rounded book, providing humor and action and visuals that maintain a universal appeal. If I had to guess, I would say that this series will not only rack up a ton of Eisners but secure a dedicated readership for many moons.

What’s that? Oh. Well. Goddamn.

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This is Variant Covers. Keep your fucking fingers off the cover. Mind the spine, yo. The comic book column where I spit with vitriol, glee, and mostly confusion about the books dropping this week. Hit the comments section with derisive, witty, or contributory recommendations and comments.

Shazam.

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Thor: The Mighty Avenger #6
My friends, we have failed. As comic book reading collective, we have failed. Failed hard. Last weekend news leaked out that Thor: The Mighty Avenger was getting axed. This is nothing sort of a calamitous disregard for one of the most wondrous, beautiful mainstream titles hitting shelves. Canned, canned, canned. While other titles are hitting the shelves, depleted of quality, offering nothing new to existing mythos. I am significantly bummed out about this. Half of me wants to recommend nothing more than this title. A militant stance. But alas, there’s other worthwhile shit dropping, and that would be unfair to them.

But!, please, check this shit out tomorrow. The good news is that apparently they’ve been given the ability to wrap up the storyline by the final installment in January. You’re only six issues behind. It’ll cost you nothing more than something like twenty-four Junior Bacon Cheeseburgers. It’s a refreshing take on an existing origin. The dialogue is great, the artwork is gorgeous. Both of these creators, Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee will assuredly continue on doing dope work somewhere else.

But still. Hit this while you can.

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Elsewhere In the Marvel Universe:
Thankfully, I don’t think we’re failing in regard to following Hickman’s current work on the Fantastic Four. Tomorrow sees the release of Fantastic Four #585, which promises to work towards the conclusion of the “Three” storyline. I have a good idea that someone is going to die. I think maybe the storyline’s name gives that away. Hickman’s continues Reed Richard’s desire to solve everything while grounding it with a thunderous round of heart and humor. Last month when Ben Grimm got his one-week of humanity back, and went to see Alicia? I teared up. I know, fuck me.

Also dropping is Captain America #612 which follows Bucky as he goes on trial for his crimes as the Winter Soldier. While I like the story, and generally everything Brubaker does, I’m wondering how long he’s going to examine Bucky’s guilt over his past. Fair enough it’s been introspective to this point, and now he’s dealing with the public outrage regarding it. As I said, I still dig it. And finally, Invincible Iron Man #32 promises to be a slobberknocker, as Iron Man throws down with Detroit Steel. Fraction penned action scenes being realized by Salvador Larroca? I’m there.

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[images & words is the comic book pick-of-the-week at OL. equal parts review and diatribe, the post highlights the most memorable/infuriating/entertaining book released that wednesday]

Oh snap! It’s already Sunday!? Where did this week go? How could I have let work and personal tragedy get in the way of reading comics? Egads! Well then, the Sabbath will be kept holy! The funnies will be revered!

The best dang book from this week’s pile is THOR: The Might Avenger #4. Although OL’s been keeping an eye on this series for awhile now, we’ve yet to to grant it “best of” status. Which is damn shame, because this incarnation of the God of Thunder’s exploits is fuggin’ astounding. It’s bright and fun and full of the optimistic energy that Marvel is known for. Or used to be. Or still is, I’m not sure.

This issue picks up where the first three left off, bringing the readers through the origin-story of Thor’s arrival on Earth. The beautiful, bulky blond is straight chillin’ with his babe of an Earth-host, Jane Foster. In this retelling, Jane is an expert of Norse mythology and employed by a local museum – so of course she can’t help but take Goldilocks into her care when he stumbles off of the rainbow-bridge. Their relationship is slightly flirtatious, completely well-intentioned, and wholly endearing.

This most recent issue sees Thor’s homeboys the Warriors Three coming to visit him in his new realm. In search of a night of merriment and drinking, the foursome head to a tavern in England. Once there, the normal hijinks ensue; Fandral finds fleeting romance with the female bartender, Hogun keeps mum and Volstagg is the life of the party. And after Thor makes a scene when no one in the bar can tell him how to get to Trondheim, Captain Britain has to come regulate.

The ensuing confrontation between Captain Britain and Thor (with assistance from his buddies) is more of a skills-demonstration than a battle-to-the-death. What we see is warriors duking it out over a misunderstanding, being impressed by one another, and then ending the night by sharing a few rounds of brew! This is the type of friendly competition that is far too-often overlooked in favor of blood-feuds.

Roger Langridge’s script is both lighthearted and action packed. The characters, even when they are in the midst of more serious matters, always bring a smile to the reader’s face; for instance, even the Warriors Three’s investigations of Thor’s inability to recall his banishment is rife with jocular banter and witticisms. Fortunately, Samnee‘s pencils only make the comic stronger, lending a classic cartoon flair to even the most violent fight scenes. Chris Samnee manages to incorporate a level of detail into the art, which makes the almost animated stylings worthy of repeat-readings.

The word I find myself using over and over to describe this comic book is fun. This is a series for children and adults, for comics fans and newcomers, for writers and artists. There is no reason, provided that this quality continues, that this series can’t win and Eisner.

Or a whole heap of `em.