FCBD 2009 Preview

With Free Comic Book Day coming up this Saturday, I figured I would do my duty and talk about comics I have no intention of paying money for (or, at least, the ones I am most interested in!).

Bongo Comics 2009 Free For All (Bongo) -- Bongo's FCBD comics are always a hoot.

Disney/Pixar's Cars  (BOOM!) -- I have not had the chance to check out any of BOOM!'s new licensed AA comics, and I rather liked Cars, so this should be interesting.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Dark Horse) -- My wife and I both like this show, so this might be worthwhile.  I am not really big on Star Wars comics though.

Blackest Night #0 (DC) -- The big one, as far as I am concerned.  

Transformers Animated/G.I. Joe (IDW) -- More for the Joes than the TF.  The TF:A book last year was nothing to write home about, but I have heard good things about IDW's Joe titles.

The Avengers (Marvel) -- Not sure what this one is going to involve, honestly.  But, 1) Last year's X-Men special was very well done, and 2) It's good to have a title just called The Avengers on the shelf, if only for FCBD.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Evolution of a Hero (Archie) -- As a guy who has owned a Sega Master System, Genesis, Game Gear, Saturn, and Dreamcast, yeah, I like Sonic The Hedgehog.

William Shatner Presents #1 (Bluewater) -- Shatner!  Why do you torture me?!

Warhammer Fantasy (BOOM!) -- I have always liked Fantasy more than 40K, so this should be up my alley.

Aliens/Predator (Dark Horse) -- My brother was a huge fan of their licensed stuff back in the 80s and 90s, so it is nice to see them making a comeback.  (Any chance we could get more Robocop?!)

DC Kids Mega Sampler (DC) -- If only to get The Brave And The Bold and Tiny Titans in one spot.

EC Comics Sampler (Gemstone) -- Last year's EC Sampler was AMAZING, and more EC is always good!

The Life & Times of Scrooge McDuck/Mickey & The Gang (Gemstone) -- Well, Mickey I can take or leave, but Scrooge McDuck is the Man.  Well, Mallard, I guess.

TMNT #1 25th Anniversary Reprint (Mirage) -- Turtle Power!

Owly and Friends (Top Shelf) -- The Owly title from last year was really sweet, and with my impending fatherhood I guess I should start looking more into these types of comics.  Johnny Boo is one of my favorites.

Gumby Two-In-One (Wildcard Ink) -- See above.

So what FCBD goodies are YOU on the look out for?

What Looks Good?

Gearing up for FCBD, here's the comics I intend to actually pay for this week!

Justice Society of America #26 -- The epilogue to the Black Marvel Family Saga, and the departure of Johns and Eaglesham from the title.  Should be interesting, at the very least.

Nova #24 -- Richard Rider, Guardian Of The Universe!

War Machine #5 -- Rhodey vs Ares!  Sounds like a "boss battle" in this brawler game style series!

So, what looks good to YOU?

What I Read This Week

I'm really trying to be more on-track with posting.  Don't know what my problem is!

Detective Comics #853 -- The conclusion to "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" ends up briefly touching on the style of the first part, and then expanding on what exactly it means in a very metatextual sort of way.  This allows Neil Gaiman to explore the nature of superhero comics and the strength of good storytelling.  Kubert's art, well, not to put too fine a point on it, but it's pretty darn nice.  This wasn't what I was expecting from this story, but I liked it anyway.  This is not the same situation as Moore's "Whatever Happened to The Man of Tomorrow?" and thus it makes sense that it would not be the same kind of story.  As a coda to Bruce Wayne as Batman (for now), I thought this was very good reading.

The Outsiders #17 -- The battle against the Insiders continues, with the shadowy foes still obfuscated from our heroes.  The conflicts within the team are starting to bubble to the surface, and another threat is looming.  Solid Outsiders story, with the action and tension both being ratcheted up a notch.  Very much enjoying this take on the team, and Owlman is impressing me.

Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion #5 -- With the "Texans" still pinned in by the German mountain soldiers and artillery, the Army is desperate to get them out of there -- moreso now that the media has started to take notice.  Will their last-ditch effort with the battered Japanese-American 442nd break the German lines?  The art takes a somewhat different look this time out, being scratchier and rougher hewn than previous issues.  Was this deliberate for the turns the story takes?  Or perhaps a response to some of the criticisms regarding the art being too "soft" for Rock?  I don't know.  What I do know is that Tucci has turned things up in this issue, with the charge of Nesei being one of the best moments I have read in comics so far in 2009.  The finale should be something to see!

The War That Time Forgot #12 -- The blowoff to the epic soldiers versus dinosaurs miniseries bows here in cataclysmic fashion!  It's all a rush from one point to another, but honestly, that's not only expected but also quite appropriate.  Bruce Jones, Al Barrionuevo, and Graham Nolan have turned in a series that, while not exactly Eisner-winner material, goes to show that there still is a place for fun, exciting, genre titles from the Big Two.  I have really enjoyed this series and hope we get similar off-the-beaten-path ilk in the future!

Guardians Of The Galaxy #13 -- The Guardians split up, with half the team going to Hala to petition Black Bolt to stop the war with Vulcan, and the other half trying to stop Vulcan from inadvertantly ripping a hole in the fabric of reality.  The team is growing just in time for the threats to get even bigger.  My favorite bit is that the bar on Knowhere is called "Starlin's."  Ha!

The Pick of The Pile is Tec, unsurprisingly.  But I'm a sucker for Gaiman writing superheroes.  All told, it was a good week of comics.

So what did YOU read this week?

What Looks Good?

It's starting to get warm here in South Carolina, so I think I had better head over to my local comic shop and cool off.

Detective Comics #853 -- Well that took long enough.  I'll have to go dig up the first part and re-read it, but I liked it so that's not too much of a chore.

The Outsiders #17 -- Who are the mysterious group of kingmakers pulling the strings?  And what chance do they have when the Outsiders go all "a-whooping" and "a-whomping" on them?

Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion #5 -- Pinned down, outnumbered, and low on supplies, the Lost Battalion is running out of options and fast.

The War That Time Forgot #12 -- The finale!  This has been a crazy series and I expect the craziness to continue!

Guardians Of The Galaxy #13 -- The second year of Marvel's best title featuring a talking racoon kicks off by connecting up with War Of Kings!  Woo!

So, what looks good to YOU?

What Looks Good?

It's Wednesday, so you know what that means: rain!  Although, I suppose that is a pretty localized event for me.  Also: comics!

Flash: Rebirth #1 -- Barry Allen's back!  Now, let's see exactly what that means.

Justice Society of America #25 -- A triple cover, so you know it must be good.

Strange Adventures #2 -- Who is stealing the stars from the galaxy?  And what kind of trouble is Bizarro going to get into?

Invincible Iron Man #12 -- Last issue saw the return of a classic Shellhead baddie, and promised another old-school throwdown, so maybe Fraction can turn this title away from "Dark Reign" glumness and sloth.

Pride & Predjudice #1 -- Get this for the wife or not?  Get this for the wife or not?  (Probably wait for the collected version.)

War of Kings #2 -- It's on like Donkey Kong!  And King Black Bolt is pissed!

glamourpuss #6 -- Buy it now while still at the "early, funnier ones" stage!

Also, I wanted to take a moment and address my lack of posting around here lately.  Between work, and family, and travel, and the house, something has had to give and lately that has been the Bunker.  So if I disappear for a few days here and there, I apologize.  I don't know how you every-day guys keep it up, I really don't.