The Next 'Johnny the Homicidal Maniac'

Jamie Smart has a new 4 issue quarterly comic coming out from SLG. This is going to be the next Invader Zim/JTHM, you can mark my words on it.



Check out the preview here

PICK OF THE WEEK

Every Wednesday new comic books arrive at my store and I choose my favourite as my personal ‘Pick of the Week’. This decision is made before I read the issue and is based upon several variables. Contributing factors include the creators, cover, story summary, previous events in the comic, and personal interest in the comic. The options I choose from our only limited by what Diamond has listed to release this week according to their shipping list (and in some rare cases the issue won’t even arrive at my shop). So without further adieu, this week’s pick is:

GREEN LANTERN #28



Geoff Johns, Mike McKone, & Andy Lanning
The bizarre introduction of the Alpha Lanterns concludes as the trial of the Lost Lantern ends! But what does the induction of the Alpha Lanterns mean to the future of the Corps? What fate awaits the rest of the Lost Lanterns? Plus, Hal has a startling revelation about the "Blackest Night!"

Sure, I could go on about The Boys yet again or take a risk with Wildstorm's New Dynamix...even send some love towards Marvel or Darkhorse with Dark Tower and Buffy coming out this week. However, Green Lantern constantly impresses me and hearsay is that this issue gives us a peek at yet another colour on the spectrum of Lanterns. (that being said, since I'm coming back from vacation with this info on Wednesday...there is already proof given to anyone who popped in a comic shop today).

Checkmate in Check

Recently soliciations over at DC comics is making news out of an underappreciated title. Checkmate is a beautiful DC series written by Greg Rucka and, more recently, Eric Trautmann about the multi-operational UN agency that keeps the DC universe "safe" well under a slightly more legal form than the vigilante stuff of Batman and the like. This series, much like many by Greg Rucka, has been vastly underappreciated and unloved when it should be one of the top selling titles. It reminds me of Rucka and Brubakers earlier piece of perfection, Gotham Central, which was also a title that deserved far more recognition than it recieved.
Sometime ago Greg Rucka decided that issue #25 would be the last set of pages in his tenure for Checkmate. Now normally DC would go about the BS process of cancelling the series. Thankfully they chose not to do this and Greg pushed to let Eric Trautmann take over the series. Over at his blog, Eric even claims he was offered AND accepted the position of taking over Checkmate with issue #26.
Well here is the part that made the news and upset many. DC recently released their May solicitations and under Checkmate #26, there is no Rucka, there is no Trautmann, there is only Bruce Jones. Now I have no problem with Bruce Jones, but I also have no love for Bruce Jones, the guy writes very similiar to the way Chuck Austen did and because of that, nothing stands out. Bruce Jones is very much like a filler writer, he writes stories that seem to just do a circle, nothing standing out and nothing of note being accomplished. You can't hate that, but its ignorable and not something you particularly like.
So my question is how much longer will Checkmate remain this amazingly under-rated comic series? Will it end with Rucka and Trautmann's departure in issue #25? Maybe Bruce Jones will pull an ace out of his sleeve and finally find a book he was just made for on Checkmate...I find that as unlikely as the majority of you, but never say never.
Still, lets end on this note, a question aimed at DC. Why not Eric Trautmann? has he not proved himself well enough on Checkmate? Did Rucka's recommendation mean nothing? Or is Bruce Jones just racking up favours under the desks of DC offices?

PICK OF THE WEEK

Every Wednesday new comic books arrive at my store and I choose my favourite as my personal ‘Pick of the Week’. This decision is made before I read the issue and is based upon several variables. Contributing factors include the creators, cover, story summary, previous events in the comic, and personal interest in the comic. The options I choose from our only limited by what Diamond has listed to release this week according to their shipping list (and in some rare cases the issue won’t even arrive at my shop). So without further adieu, this week’s pick is:

IMMORTAL IRON FIST: ORSON RANDALL AND THE GREEN MIST OF DEATH # 1



Matt Fraction
Mothers, lock up your daughters when we revisit the continuing adventures of that dashing rogue, Orson Randall, the Golden Age Iron Fist! The last time we flashed back to the life and times of Orson Randall, in the much fan-loved and critically acclaimed IMMORTAL IRON FIST ANNUAL, readers unlocked several secrets affecting Danny Rand, the Iron Fist of today. Now get ready for more! We promise you spine-tingling chills, ass-kicking action and pulp-fiction adventure like you’ve never seen, featuring gorgeous flashback art by Mitch Breitweiser, Chris Brunner, Russ Heath and Lewis LaRosa! Orson Randall goes head-to-head again and again versus none other than…the endlessly mystifying and unstoppably powerful Prince of Orphans! How will their battle through the ages echo in the life of Danny Rand?! You bet your kicked butt it has everything to do with the kung fu tournament of death unfolding in the pages of IMMORTAL IRON FIST!!

Not only does this title take the prize for pick of the week, but that has to be the longest comic title published this month if not so far this year. If you have been reading the Immortal Iron Fist (and you all should be reading it) then this pick would be of no suprise to you. Right now this series is one of the best out there and the one-shots seem to be right on par with the on-going. I could have easily had to fight with myself over this weeks pick, with great titles like Angel, Runaways, JLA, Avengers, and the FINAL Cable & Deadpool...but upon see this title it was a no contest win.

PICK OF THE WEEK

Every Wednesday new comic books arrive at my store and I choose my favourite as my personal ‘Pick of the Week’. This decision is made before I read the issue and is based upon several variables. Contributing factors include the creators, cover, story summary, previous events in the comic, and personal interest in the comic. The options I choose from our only limited by what Diamond has listed to release this week according to their shipping list (and in some rare cases the issue won’t even arrive at my shop). So without further adieu, this week’s pick is:

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #21



Sterling Gates & Nelson (he's a one name kinda guy)
In this story, the saga of the mysterious Alpha Lanterns spills into Green Lantern Corps! Chosen for the elite Alpha Lanterns, Boodikka continues her absolute pursuit of justice and order. When she is assigned by the Guardians to investigate the negligence of her sector replacement, Boodikka is shocked to uncover startling secrets about her own life from before she joined the Corps! Writer Sterling Gates (TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS: SUPERMAN PRIME, GREEN LANTERN/SINESTRO CORPS SECRET FILES) explores the life of Alpha Lantern Boodikka in part one of "The Curse of the Alpha Lantern."

It seems a two part filler for GLCorps this time around, but any character development on this massive group of heroes is more than welcome. After the stunning events of the Sinestro Corps War (with a hardcover being released next week), the Green Lantern titles deserve their time in the light. That being said, the competition wasn't the toughest this week. With interesting DC releases like Green Arrow/Black Canary and Booster Gold #0 there was some challange, but sadly nothing that dove off the shelf. Marvel put up a minor fight with some secret invasion titles like New Avengers and some major spoiler in Captain Marvel (that I cannot confirm as I'm waiting until tomorrow to grab my books). The indy companies didn't even seem to care about the week of Valentines day and Lincoln's birthday. Perhaps indy books don't like American Patriotism or love?

Countdown to FREAKANGELS

It's a better Countdown than to Final Crisis

Mark Waid is the New Chuck Norris

So once again credit goes to Graeme McMillan and the commentators over at Newsarama for filling today with bloggy content. Apparently they've started a new internet meme expressing just how bad ass Mark Waid is.
Based upon rumours popping up over at CBR, apparently claiming that Mark Waid was fired as a DC editor under aggressive circumstances, the jokes are flying around that Waid would kill you just as quick as write you a comic. Here are some of my favourite Excerpts:

Mark Waid once didn’t like how a comic was inked, so he bought three gallons of ink and force fed it to the inker.
-Comment by Jason M. Bryant

Mark Waid knows the Anti-Life Equation. And Darkseid doesn’t.
-Comment by Confirmed Coyle

When Jesse Quick lost her virginity, Mark Waid found it and put it back.
-Comment by Confirmed Coyle

Mark Waid can make Mephisto forget about the Spider marriage.
-Comment by Dave

Before he met Mark Waid, Alan Moore’s hands were steady enough to shave himself.
-Comment by Jason M. Bryant

The real reason Mark Waid left Flash? Wally West couldn’t keep up.
-Comment by Blake Petit