I've just returned to our fair, green and glamorously-wet weather from the States and while I was over there I rediscovered my love for comic books. Having a comic store on every corner and a donut shop right beside them may have helped...
I've picked up too many titles to discuss in one stop, (Deadly Class, Judge Dredd, X-Men '92, etc.) so I'll space them out a little for ease of reading. Many of these I've started reading since I came back too.
Spider-Woman
First up, a title I've never once read before. This one I picked up on a whim since I haven't been all that interested in the many, many, many, many new Spider characters. I'm a bit of a variant cover fiend lately as well and since this was a variant cover of the issue (Kris Anka Design Variant Cover. Limited 1 for 20.) with Spider-Woman's new look it seemed like a bargain for less than 10 euro!
I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the pages though, the art is dynamic with lots going on from panel to panel, the writing is typical cliche Marvel but the character herself is a very good addition to the Marvel world. If you followed Matt Fraction's Hawkeye and found Kate Bishop's 'can't-stop-me' attitude exciting then the current Spider-Woman could be right up your spout (see what I did there? spout? spider? ...so alone). In my view she's vying with DC's very successful New 52 Batgirl and provides a great alternative to those who prefer Marvel over DC (Batgirl is really worth checking out if you haven't yet!). As of July, Spider-Woman is up to issue #9.
Different Story, Same Old Character
Juxtaposing the young, energetic female lead I'm also reading Old Man Logan, a Secret Wars title. For me, Secret Wars doesn't hold all that much appeal personally, it just seems like a cheap trick to fit in as many What-If? stories in one fell swoop. This, for me, is the best book your money can buy right now. It sees our heroic Wolverine cast down decades before this story takes place after being tricked into killing his fellow X-Men.
The cinematics of everything in this series so far; the sky; the scenery; the expressions on Logan's face enhance the story immeasurably. It should come as no surprise that a guy who cites Aaron Sorkin as an influence in creating dialogue that Old Man Logan reads like a motion picture. Not only years now, but decades of misery can be read on Logan's face and after the tragic death of his family at the hands of the Hulk Clan it's come a time again for Logan to do what he does best...
Old Man Logan is different in that the writing and art fit together so perfectly with the story-telling that it doesn't matter what 'Big Story' arc Marvel are trying to architect. This story could stand alone and seems to bridge the gap between Marvel's vision for super heroes and DC's dark story-telling. If, like me, you have been wanting for something to reach back to the glory-days of Barry Windsor-Smith's Weapon X then this is well worth a read.
Blame Canada
I never read Brian K. Vaughan's Saga (stop shouting at me through the internet, it doesn't work.) but after a friend (read enabler/dealer) in my local comic store put aside an issue of We Stand On Guard for me based on what I had previously bought I find myself completely immersed and foaming at the mouth for issue #2 (August 5th).
The story is great and fast-paced with some grandiose atmospheric art pieces scattered throughout to capture the scale of the task set before our heroes: defending Canada from the invading Americans. It appeals to me in that kind of "the island in Lost could have existed" kind of way too. Everything is just believable enough that you can get on board and get behind the characters. Highly recommend it for something new.
-J
