Comics: 2-27-08

ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL #4
Plot: Joss Whedon & Brian Lynch
Writer: Brian Lynch
Illustrator: Franco Urru
Colorist: Jason Jensen
Letterer: Robbie Robbins
Editor: Chris Ryall

Every issue of After The Fall so far has successfully added new information and, with this issue, re-introduced the entire main cast. There have been surprises and shocks, twists and turns, and everything is coming to a head quickly. There's no decompression here and this feels more like an old school comic book than a padded-for-the-trades title. But something is not clicking.

That something is the art.

Franco Urru may be a solid penciler, but he is definitely not a solid inker. His figures are ill-defined, doughy, and lack any type of emotion. He's a competent enough storyteller but his characters do not emote and, in some cases, don't even have proper faces. It's ugly, distracting, and a major detriment to the title. Honestly, Rob Liefeld would almost be preferable because even though he is a horrible storyteller and has no grasp on anatomy, at least his characters have a kind of structure and energy behind them. Liefeld's work has a completely misguided passion behind it that at least resonates so strongly that it causes outright disgust and laughter. Nothing comes through from Urru's work. No passion, no emotion, not even the urge for me to mock it. It's simply bad. I mean, look at the preview for next month's issue. "The Gang's All Here." Illyria, Angel, Spike, Connor, Gunn and Lorne I recognize. I assume the guy in sunglasses (?) is Wesley. The two females have to be Gwen and Werewolf Lady, although I would hardly consider them part of the gang and they aren't even that distinguishable from each other. And then there's...Xander? Matthew Perry? Jon Stewart? Seriously, who is this guy?

The story, as I said, is okay so far. I like that things are moving along quickly; this issue feels more like #7 than #4. The arrival of Groo is...well, who really wanted to see him again? It feels more like he's there because this is a comic and producers don't have to convince the actor to return (although I doubt it would be hard to pull him away from whatever romance novel cover he's posing for). Whatever, it's an okay development.

I just read that issues #6-8 will feature different artists, including John Byrne. Hopefully Urru won't come back.

MY SCORE: 7.8/10


KICK-ASS #1
"Issue One"
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colorist: Dean White
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Alternate Cover: Steve McNiven
Cover Inks: Klaus Janson
Editor: John Barber
Editorial Assistant: Michael Horowitz
Production: Anthony Dial & Irene Lee
SVP of Business Affiars & Talent Management: David Bogart
Created By: Mark Millar & John Romita Jr.

Between this and the surprise of X-Men: Legacy, this was Romita Wednesday. For a first issue featuring a completely original character and world, Kick-Ass kicked my ass. I am immediately invested in the lead character, I'm totally hooked to the next issue by the cliffhanger, and I can't wait to find out how he gets into the predicament that opens the book. I felt sympathy for Dave when it was revealed that his mother died of a non-revengeable aneurysm. I love that Dave's dad is a good man who loves his son and not a stereotypical abusive absentee. All of the nerd trappings and the lovingly drawn pictures at the top make the horror of what happens to Dave at the end of the issue even more gripping. I'm a little bit in love with this issue.

The art is a true standout. Romita Jr. is detailed, dynamic, and one of the best storytellers in comic history. Dean White's colors go well with Romita's art, giving it a both realistic and nostalgic tone. The palette is soft, reminding me almost of A Christmas Story in a way. It's warm and inviting, and then horrific. Awesomely done.

A lot depends on issue #2, I guess. If it can keep up at least half of the momentum, it'll be a must-buy. For now, it's a darn fine start.

MY SCORE: 9.2/10


NEW WARRIORS v.4 #9
"Thrashed part 1"
Writer: Kevin Grevioux
Penciler: Paco Medina
Inker: Juan Vlasco
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Nic Klein
Production: Paul Acerios
Editor: Daniel Ketchum
Executive Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Jubilee gets a new costume. And is called variations of Jubilee throughout the issue. But I assume she's still Wondra. Come on, a title like New Warriors where the entire cast is almost interchangeable does not need to start changing costumes and, apparently, codenames! We haven't even learned the old ones! Surely it wouldn't be hard for Marvel to slap some character IDs on the recap page. They do it for Young Avengers Presents and this book has twice as many characters. I'm starting to get the hang of it. Even though I can't tell you the codenames to anyone on the cover aside from Night Thrasher and Jubilee/Wondra, I can at least figure out who the rest of them used to be. Except for the black guy whose sister died. Still don't know who he is.

Geez. That's a problem.

Thankfully the art is back in the capable hands of Paco Medina. He has a distinct style and is finally on a book that seems to match his talents for drawing flashy heroics, a talent wasted back in his New X-Men: Academy X days. Grevioux is finally letting his "Night Thrasher is sneaky" subplot boil over to satisfying results. I like that it's Jubilee calling him out on it to Chamber, er, Jono, er, whatever his new code name is. They do have history and Chamber's confiding in Jubilee is a great touch. I'm also happy that a non-X-book (even if the book stars 100% former X-Men) acknowledges Destiny's diaries and then realizes that Jubilee could see through it. Continuity, good.

The action in the issue is pointless; Alpha-Clan is unknown to me and the fight between them amounts to "let us pass" and "no." As a way to show how manipulative Night Thrasher is, it works. As a part of the story I should care about as a reader, not so much at all.

An okay issue. It is beyond ludicrous that none of the characters are identifiable and this book is, so far, surviving on really good art and the mystery with Night Thrasher. That isn't going to be enough for much longer.

MY SCORE: 7.8/10


SHE-HULK v.2 #26
"The Whole Hero Thing conclusion"
Writer: Peter David

Penciler: Shawn Moll with Val Semeiks

Inker: Victor Olazaba

Coloring: Avalon’s Rob Ro

Lettering: Dave Sharpe

Cover Artists: Greg Land, Jay Leisten and Rainier Beredo

Production: Paul Acerios

Assistant Editor: Thomas Brennan

Editor: Stephen Wacker

Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada

Publisher: Dan Buckley

I've started reviewing comics at Comixfan, so from time to time I'll link to that site for the review. This is one of those times. Link! Odds are I'll repost the entire review with my own 1-10 rating next week when it's not so topical.


ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #119
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Cover: Stuart Immonen & Richard Isanove
Production: Irene Lee
Assistant Editor: Lauren Sankovitch
Editor: Bill Rosemann
Senior Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Another fun issue of Ultimate Spider-Man, which has become more of a joy to read with Stuart Immonen's fresh take on the series. There's no new ground being broke here, just more of the same with characters you've come to really enjoy. While "more of the same" may sound bad, it's actually a good thing considering the rest of the Marvel and Ultimate universes are being gobbled up by big events. Liz's reaction to being a mutant (maybe) is the freak-out we actually don't see all that often. I'm trying to think, but most stories I can recall feature most mutants already having had their powers for enough time to either be comfortable with them or depressed. It's rare that we see the eruption of power and the confusing rush of emotions that follow. This is one of the few times where, as a reader, I think Peter Parker is a little bit nuts. We get to see how he really thinks and his own motivations come through when he basically tells Liz that she has to be a superhero now. It's actually a lot more simple than that, and I agree with Liz. She doesn't have to be a hero (she does have to go to school, so I don't agree with all of it). Iceman's immature asides are also hilarious, especially the bit with Spidey pointing out Iceman's huge ice trail. The end would have worked better if it wasn't completely spoiled by the cover; still, Immonen's Magneto is an imposing figure indeed.

Good issue. Immonen is still making this title fun.

MY SCORE: 8.3/10


X-MEN: LEGACY #208
"From Genesis To Revelations"
Writer: Mike Carey
Pencilers: John Romita Jr. & Scot Eaton

Inkers: Klaus Janson & John Dell

Colorists: Christina Strain & Frank D'Armata

Assistant Editor: Will Panzo

Editor: Nick Lowe

Executive Editor: Axel Alonso

Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada

Publisher: Dan Buckley

This comic surprised me completely. John Romita Jr. My favorite penciler in all of comicdom making a return to the X-Men universe after 15 years (which is coincidentally how long I've been collecting X-Men comics). Romita was the first regular artist I associated with the X-Men and to see his art on the first page without knowing about his involvement prior made my inner fanboy giggle. If the premise of your retitled X-Men book is a trip down the secret parts of Xavier's brain and the X-Men's history, no other currently working artist can do it BUT Romita Jr. He has drawn the X-Men to amazing results twice and is one of the biggest names in the industry. And, unlike John Byrne, his art is just as powerful now as it was in his x-days. The giant collages of X-Men past and present are so beautiful, I want to frame them and put them in my living room (sorry, roomie). Scot Eaton's art is good as well and provides a nice contrast to the "mindscape" art.

Since the biggest selling point on this issue is the art, I will talk about the coloring next. D'Armata has gotten plenty of high profile gigs despite being one of the most annoying colorists in recent memory. Every one of Eaton's characters are impossibly shiny, looking like they just lubed themselves up. It's unnatractive at best. Also, it's pretty obvious that Exodus is some non-white ethnicity (his wiki entry states that he has fuschia skin, which I never knew was on purpose), but he is colored almost purple in this issue which is completely against his past colorations. It's extreme. He has been colored white or the same color as the Native American characters in previous appearances and to all of a sudden look like a victim of Willy Wonka's factory is jarring. Christina Strain, the gorgeous colorist for Runaways, does some breathtaking work with Romita's images.

For a premise change, this one is interesting. The title change is justified and I'm excited about where this is going. Maybe it was just seeing Moira MacTaggert alive with all of her fiery Scottish passion. Maybe it was seeing Xavier defending his questionable idea of making a mutant army. Maybe it was seeing Cyclops' role as brilliant tactitian and uncapable leader restated this month like the last issue of Uncanny. Mike Carey knows his mythos and I'm excited to see what else he digs up.

The notion that Exodus would save Xavier to preserve a mutant champion when they most need him is far-fetched in theory but in line with Exodus' history. He's never been outright evil, more a follower and a proponent of the survival of mutants. I could see him overcoming the obvious ideological differences he has with Xavier to save him. Plus, there's always the reasoning that Xavier is way more dangerous as a martyr. Carey doesn't explain how Exodus and Karima survived apparently dying during Messiah Complex. I know we should rarely believe that a character has died, but this issue flashes back to that battle and Exodus looks just fine. Very inconsistent and, um, that should have been addressed.

It seems like the fallout from Messiah Complex is a big nothing. All of the books are out now save Cable and every one of them seems to be low key and self contained. I'm fine with this since we're not rushing headlong into the next event. Bold new direction with Romita Jr.? I'm on board.

MY SCORE: 8.9/10

Comics: 1-16-08

ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL #3
"Chapter Three"
Plotters: Joss Whedon & Brian Lynch
Scripter: Brian Lynch
Illustrator: Franco Urru
Colorist: Jason Jensen
Letterer: Robbie Robbins
Editor: Chris Ryall

I'm having a hard time buying this series, both conceptually and justifying spending the $4 a month on it. Issue #2 was an improvement over the first, maybe because the shock of the series had worn off. With #3, I'm starting to get a grasp on the world the comic lives in. It lives in hell. And that's my big problem. Before, Angel was set in what could possibly still be Los Angeles. It was relatable and contained real human character and heart. Now it's set in the most fantastical hell I've seen in a while and is constantly exploiting the medium's whatever-you-can-imagine scope. Angel rides a dragon. Seriously. This is Angel in such a large scale that it almost doesn't feel like Angel. The characters are all there and Lynch captures all their voices very well. It's just depressing seeing all these characters carrying on in this horrid existence when I would much rather picture every single one of them dead fighting for their cause in "Not Fade Away." Even that episode's one definitive casualty, Wesley, is back as a ghost.

This issue is half a fight with Illyria and half setting up the climactic battle with the demon powers of Los Angeles that will probably close off this first arc. The fight with Illyria is done well and part of it hints towards the issues big surprise twist. The challenge proposed by Angel at the end of the issue is a good old Angel moment and I'm really interested to see how it plays out. Angel as L.A.'s king, trying to put the city back together again is so much more interesting than the freedom fighters in hell angle.

The art is still dreadful, though, no matter how solid the story is (and the story is solid, even if it all seems like a bit too much). Urru's art seems sloppy, malformed and unfinished in 70% of his panels. He gets the likenesses down, no problem, but there's an overall lack of detail and a rushed quality to the work that makes the series a huge let down. It might not be his pencils but the fact that he also, apparently, inks his own work. The inks are so thick that they muddy up the pictures. It's not so pleasant and I'd really like to see what another inker or artist could do with this series. A Bryan Hitch or Steve Epting, a dramatic and realistic artist could do wonders with this (but that's just a dream, kinda like Adrian Alphona on Buffy season 8).

MY SCORE: 8.3/10


NEW WARRIORS v.4 #8
"Reunion 2 of 2"
Writer: Kevin Grevioux
Penciler: Jon Malin
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Nic Klein
Production: Anthony Dial
Editor: Daniel Ketchum
Executive Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Okay, the actual New Warriors bits are pretty good. Seeing Midnight's Fire again is a nice shout out to the past, even if he isn't identified until the bottom of the fourth page of this story. Also, the possible subplot of Justice and Rage rejoining the team makes me so happy since this story could actually use some characters. Which brings me to my biggest problem with this series...

Who are the New Warriors and why should I care?

I was fine with the secrecy surrounding the roster initially; as a storytelling device it worked well for the first issues of the series. After the revelation that the cast is made up of former Xavier's School students and X-Men, I was hoping we'd finally get character development. That's what these two issues were meant for (I would guess so by the super Kraft cheesy toast they all make) but the utterly disgusting and dreadfully amateurish art makes it all bland and confusing. First of all, look at the women. Do any of them look different? No. They are all anorexic amazons with foot long necks. This is such a horrific throwback to Image art that I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight. At least Liefeld and company had some sorta style. Malin's art is so void of style it's....I don't know. That's the problem. There's nothing to this issue at all because the art is so bland. A thoughtful discussion about whether or not the New Mutants are terrorists is completely undermined by the fact that I have no idea whose opinons are what. It doesn't help that Grevioux is, apparently, depending on the art to fill us in on who is saying what since no names are given.

The art is awful. With that said, I have to wonder what regular artist (I hope) Paco Medina will do with these characters out of costume when he returns. The transformation of Beak (scrawny) and Angel (chunky and short) into David and Victoria Beckham in this issue is flat out mind boggling. Really, how are these two pictures of the same character?


Not only that, how are we supposed to believe that the Junior Guardsmen are an equal threat to the New Warriors when they look about as old as Beak and Angel's KIDS (how they aged so quickly, I'm not even going to get into that)? I know they're supposed to be the same age, actually, since the entire cast of New Warriors is in their mid-to-late teens. Apparently all teenagers are 6'4" with rippling muscles and huge jugs unless you're sponsored by the government, then you look like a kid that Screech could pound on. Great.

New Warriors has serious promise and a solid cast. Beak, Angel, and Redneck were created by Grant Morrison, who gave each one of them very defined personalities which only seem to be half present and character designs which have been completely jettisoned. On top of that, Jubilee and Chamber have been around for 20 and 14 years, respectively, and have actually maintained a fairly consistent personality. Why are they so bland? And really, if any character is easy to write, it should be Stacy X, a former mutant prostitute with a major 'tude. She's mildly saucy here. Mildly. Like I said, I almost hope Justice and Rage come back just so we can maybe see some characters with real emotion, unlike these who aren't being done justice yet.

MY SCORE: 6.6/10


NEW X-MEN v.2 #46
"Messiah Complex 12 of 13"
Writers: Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost
Penciler: Humberto Ramos
Inkers: Carlos Cuevas w/ Dave Meikis
Colorist: Studio F's Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Assistant Editor: Will Panzo
Editor: Nick Lowe
Executive Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

New X-Men is bordering on becoming an adult MAX title, right? Last issue, Warpath launched a knife into the head of a Purifier, this issue we get Wolverine getting shot through the noggin, blood spurting out of his eye, and then Scrambler getting both his hands cut off and his intestines opened up on the following page. Yeah, the Marauders are bad news and this battle is horrific, but do we need to see intestines? And since when could we see intestines in a Marvel comic? Later on, Scrambler is stabbed in the shoulder, sending bright red and gooey blood flying, and later Vertigo is bitten almost in half by Predator X. This level of gore takes the action to an almost campy Grindhouse level, which is not the desired effect of what is supposed to be a very serious and dramatic storyline. This was probably the first time that I double checked the rating of an issue and then thought the "T+" rating was too lenient. The coloring is the goriest part, actually. Blood used to always be black to lessen the impact; now it's bright red and all over the place. It's kinda disturbing. And so far, only in New X-Men. The book with the youngest cast is the bloodiest.

The storyline continues merrily on, though, and there are some moments in this issue that truly make me smile. The first lines of the issue are Mystique reflecting on what Muir Island means to her. Destiny died there in Uncanny X-Men #255, she killed Moira MacTaggert there in X-Men #108, and now Rogue is dying there. This touch is welcome, as is any time the X-Books acknowledge any event prior to the year 2002. This does come with a bit of "why didn't they say anything before now"-ness, much like the previous chapter's revelation about Bishop and Cable's knowledge of the mutant messiah. Apparently Mystique has known about this moment since before Destiny died. Okay...sure. Not a big complaint, though.

The other moment I enjoyed came when Gambit realized that he's free of his debt to Sinister. The character's connection to Sinister has been a hindrance ever since it was alluded to in X-Men #45 well over ten years ago. Mr. Sinister may be my favorite X-villain, but if his death means that Gambit is free to be a decent character again, then it's worth it. I don't completely buy that Mr. Sinister could be tackled by Mystique and then killed by Rogue so quickly, unless her power absorption has been upped by her illness (I can't remember). Something else I can't remember, when did Sunfire become such a blood thirsty jerk? Sure he was always a little cold, but now he's downright psychotic and evil, actively trying to murder people that used to be his allies. I know he was manipulated by Apocalypse, but so was Gambit and he seems over it.

As for Rogue, if her death is part of the climax, I'll be of greatly mixed emotions. Rogue has long been one of my favorite characters, moreso because of who she was in the X-Men cartoon and in the years prior to when I started reading. She fell into a horrible rut around the turn of the century and has only become recognizable under Mike Carey's recent run on X-Men. If she is a goner, then I'm glad that she went out as the character she should have always been but I'll also be upset since we'll be robbed of a character who was nearing the top of her game. We'll see.

The art is typical Humberto Ramos, so...well that's it. It tells the story okay, is hard to follow at times but at least it has high energy and an overwhelmingly unique style.

The penultimate chapter of "Messiah Complex" offers much of the same wham-bang action that we've seen before, but it gives us nice character moments with Mystique and Gambit and finally gets that darn Predator X plot thread into the main focus.

MY SCORE: 8.5/10

Hype Machine: August 2007

Time to take a look at Marvel's comic book solicitations for August. I'm definitely not buying many of these books, but I can still gripe about them!

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #112
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils by STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STUART IMMONEN & RICHARD ISANOVE
There is a huge explosion in the side of the Triskelion—the side housing superhuman criminals. And from the acrid smoke emerges a man seething with vengeance—a man who wants Peter Parker dead! That man is Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin! And for the web-spinner, things are about to get out of control. All this and the Shocker, too! Ya can’t miss it!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

You know what, I can miss it, but the promise of More Money August (still searching for a better name) means I will be there for this, the return of the Ultimate Green Goblin. Here's hoping he comes back as many times as his Marvel Universe counterpart...which I think is only one time. Okay, I'm a little fuzzy on my Spidey facts. I'm more interested in seeing how Stuart Immonen handles the drawing chores. He's a phenomenal penciler and designer, I just don't know how he's going to fit in with this all ages apeal book.

ULTIMATE X-MEN #85
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Pencils and Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
The X-Men have only been reformed for mere days, and they’re already in the middle of a national crisis. The Sentinels have been reactivated—mutants are once again hunted and killed like animals. But who's controlling them this time—and what does it have to do with the newly-formed Mutant Liberation Front?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

For Pete's sake, Ultimate Universe! Grow an original idea! I'm sure the M.L.F. are going to actually be time-traveling gnomes from Nightcrawler's home dimension, all with Wolverine hairdos in an attempt to seem edgy (like Kirkman turning Cable into a future version of Wolverine). But for reals, why must everything be rehashed? Did no one get super powers in this universe that doesn't already have them in the main Marvel one? But seriously, if Kirkman does Ultimate versions of Wild Side, Reaper, Tempo and Forearm, I'm way so there. I have a soft spot for that league of buffoons.

AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #11
Written by TOM DEFALCO
Pencils and Cover by RON FRENZ
Not only has Carnage captured her father and baby brother, but Spider-Girl realizes that its new host is someone she knows! Guest-starring Kaine and Darkdevil!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

You know how you always walk into conversations just as someone is talking about sucking on their mother's pig feet? You know the wrong time? Out of context? That's what this is to me. Kaine? Darkdevil? Is Halloween Jack far behind?

BLACK PANTHER #30
Written by REGINALD HUDLIN
Penciled by FRANCIS PORTELA
Cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM
"GOOD EATIN" Part 3
After taking a wrong turn on the dimensional super highway, the New Fantastic Four have just become the daily special in the Zombie Universe! Seated at table one: Zombie Galacti! At table two: Zombie Skrulls! And at table three: a Zombie Monster from the Negative Zone! Well the Black Panther, Storm, the Human Torch and the Thing better come up with a perfect escape plan…or are they destined to be zombified.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Marvel's done it! They know what sells more than Wolverine and his new sidekick, Topless Chick With Big Guns (And By Guns We Mean Boobs That Shoot Bullets); zombies. And more specifically, zombies of super heroes. And now that they've started popping up in the main Marvel universe (away from poorly constructed crossovers with other companies), there's no stopping them. "Zombies: The Initiative," "Civil War X: Zombie Battalion," "Marvel Adventures starring General Zombie," "Astonishing X-Corpse," "World War Z," the list goes on and on. And that last one was stolen. I'm just looking forward to the Power Pack/Zombie crossover. It's about time Mass Master got what was coming to him.

HEROES FOR HIRE #13
Written by ZEB WELLS & FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by CLAY MANN & JOHN BOSCO
Cover by SANA TAKEDA
The Heroes for Hire find themselves in the middle of World War Hulk when their mission to Hulk's stoneship leaves them on the Warbound's death list! It's divide-and-conquer as each hero is hunted by a member of the Jade Giant's band of alien soldiers.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

This is the cover that's causing a big ol' roar, mainly due to it's allusion to tentacle rape. That's a link to Wikipedia, by the way. I don't go anywhere dirty while at work. Bets are off at home. Oh yeah... What am I doing...? Next.

MS. MARVEL #18
Written by BRIAN REED
Penciled by AARON LOPRESTI
Cover by GREG HORN
A new story arc begins as Ms. Marvel drafts two recruits from the Initiative…Machine Man and Sleepwalker?! When Araña is kidnapped, it's time for Carol Danvers to use her newly expanded strike force to squash an evil that's hit too close to home! The ongoing team of writer Brian Reed and artist Aaron Lopresti kicks off the three-part "Puppets" with a last-page reveal that'll have fans of female heroes buzzing!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

Sleepwalker! Ha! I love that Marvel is starting to embrace the f***ing insanity that was the early 90s. Anyone remember Slapstick? Or Death's Head? Or Dark Angel? The Darkhold Redeemers? Vengeance? Motormouth and Killpower? Everything 2099? Bring them on, Marvel!

NEW WARRIORS #3
Written by KEVIN GREVIOUX
Pencils by PACO MEDINA
Cover by NIC KLEIN
Sofia and Wondra face off as the New Warriors respond to Tony Stark’s offer of amnesty. But will they accept or reject it? Meanwhile, Detectives Sykes and Givens uncover a shocking mystery about the death of the original New Warriors, and a former member may hold the key. Plus, Wolverine shows up…and he ain’t happy!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

So M-Day happens and all the mutants on Earth, save 198ish, are left powerless. Except for Iceman, who got his powers back immediately. And Polaris, who lasted a couple more months. And Professor X, who just got his back. Chamber, who was repowered by Apocalypse. Feral, Wild Child, and Thorn. Oh, and Layla Miller says she lost her real powers, but now she has new ones. And Quicksilver is going around repowering people too, now that he has his powers back, sorta. Sticking in the grand tradition of making things stick, here's the new New Warriors series starring Night Thrasher whose death led to the Civil War. That big thing that Marvel shoved down our throats for a year. And. Here. He. Is. Again. Alive. In the fourth series to bear the name New Warriors. At least Bucky is still dead. Oh, wait...

And, lastly, a special section dedicated to the two Joss Whedon solicits.

RUNAWAYS #28
Written by JOSS WHEDON
Penciled by MICHAEL RYAN
Cover by JO CHEN
“DEAD END KIDS”
Super-star JOSS WHEDON (Astonishing X-Men, Buffy) and rising star MICHAEL RYAN (New Excalibur, New X-Men) continue their landmark run. Pun intended. Love is in the air as the Runaways try and run back from 1907.
Part 4 (of 6).32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

ASTONISHING X-MEN #23
Written by JOSS WHEDON
Pencils and 50/50 Covers by JOHN CASSADAY
“UNSTOPPABLE”
The end is near. The situation is dire. The outlook is bleak. But Cyclops has a plan.
Part 5 (of 6).32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Wow, Marvel is really trusting on his name to sell those issues. After reading those summaries, you can only be certain of this: stuff happens and it will be awesome. My favorite is Astonishing's which is comparable to the Rambo tagline "The first was for himself. The second for his country. This time it's for his friend." Things are near, dire, and bleak, but Cyclops has a plan. Woo wee, I'm first in line for that one! Actually, I am. The solicit could be "JOSSWHEDONLOLZ!!!11" and I would buy it.

August is going to be the most awesome month.