Todays New Trades 28/08/13

BOOM! STUDIOS

Higher Earth Volume 2 TP

DARK HORSE COMICS

Crime Does Not Pay Archives Volume 5 HC
Number 13 TP
Savage Sword Of Conan Volume 14 TP

DC COMICS

Absolute Superman Batman Volume 1 HC
Fables Deluxe Edition Volume 7 HC
Hellblazer Volume 6 Bloodlines TP
Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C. One Man Army Corps TP
League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen Omnibus TP
Legion Lost Volume 2 The Culling TP
Sandman Omnibus Volume 1 HC
Sword Of Sorcery Volume 1 Amethyst TP
Talon Volume 1 Scourge Of The Owls TP

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

Masks Volume 1 TP

IDW PUBLISHING

Library Of American Comics Essentials Volume 3 Polly And Her Pals 1933 HC
Rip Kirby Volume 6 HC
Sam Kieth Samplings And Dabblings A Cartoon Art Museum Exhibition TP
Steve Ditko's Monsters Volume 2 Konga HC
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Animated Volume 2 Never Say Xever The Gauntlet TP
Transformers Classics Volume 5 TP
Visual Funk The Art Of Jim Mahfood HC

IMAGE COMICS

Progeny Volume 1 TP
Spawn Origins Volume 9 HC
Spawn The Dark Ages Complete Collection HC

MARVEL COMICS

Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Volume 1 HC
Daredevil By Mark Waid Volume 4 TP
Fury MAX Volume 2 My War Gone By TP
Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 1 Cosmic Avengers HC
Marvel Masterworks The Fantastic Four Volume 15 HC
Marvel Masterworks The Incredible Hulk Volume 3 TP
Secret Avengers Volume 1 Reverie TP X-Men Legacy Volume 2 Invasive Exotics TP
X-Men Magik Storm And Illyana TP
Young Avengers Volume 1 Style > Substance TP

Todays New Trades 21/08/13

Happy new comic day folks. I would imagine volume 7 of Chew will be a big seller for your LCS today. I've fallen behind myself so might just hold back for omnibuses.

Over at Marvel the NOW books continue to roll out with the latest Deadpool and Fantastic Four trades. Two end of an era books with Bendis' New Avengers and Slott's last Amazing Spider-Man trade Dying Wish, no spoilers! :p

I'm still to combine my love for comics and Star wars and the Knights of the Old Republic omnibus looks like a good buy. Collecting the first 18 issues (volumes 1-3) together for only £15. If you have any Star Wars recommendations then please feel free to comment bellow.



DARK HORSE COMICS

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Willow Wonderland TP
Dragon Age Volume 3 Until We Sleep HC
Nexus Omnibus Volume 3 TP
Sacrifice HC
Savage Sword Of Conan Volume 14 TP
Star Wars Omnibus Knights Of The Old Republic Volume 1 TP

DC COMICS

Captain Atom Volume 2 Genesis TP
DC Universe Presents Volume 2 Vandal Savage TP
Green Lantern Sector 2814 Volume 2 TP
World Of Warcraft Bloodsworn HC

IDW PUBLISHING

Berkeleyworks The Art Of Berkeley Breathed From Bloom County And Beyond HC
G.I. JOE The Complete Collection Volume 1 HC (Red Label Edition)
Judge Dredd The Complete Carlos Ezquerra Volume 1 HC (Red Label Edition)
Transformers Last Stand Of The Wreckers HC (Red Label Edition),

IMAGE COMICS

Chew Volume 7 Bad Apples TP

MARVEL COMICS

Avengers The Complete Collection By Geoff Johns Volume 2 TP
Deadpool Volume 2 Soul Hunter TP
Fantastic Four Volume 2 Road Trip TP
Marvel 1602 HC (10th Anniversary Edition)
Mighty Thor Omnibus Volume 2 HC (Esad Ribic Cover)
New Avengers By Brian Michael Bendis Volume 5 TP
Spider-Man Dying Wish TP
Superior Spider-Man #16
Superior Spider-Man Volume 2 A Troubled Mind TP,

Catabloguing Thor. JMS - Marvel NOW

One of the main reasons I started this blog was to help people collect in trade, especially books that are worth reading but nearly impossible to follow through renumberings and title changes. Thor is probably the best example of this about. I considered just doing from Siege up to Marvel now but to read the whole story you really have to start at JMS' volume 1 and I guarantee you will be rewarded with one of the best modern comic sagas on your shelves. 

Credit to Strazynski for the solid foundation and fantastic re imagining of this classic Avenger and hilarious ensemble cast but the real work here is from Gillen and Fraction, now two of the biggest names in comics because of the hard work they did on titles like this and Invincible Iron Man.  

Gillen doesn't just pick up the loose threads from JMS' run and try his best to tie them off. Instead he runs with it, adding layer upon layer that are still paying off right at the end of his JiM run. Fraction's Thor doesn't get the same recognition as his other Marvel works like Hawkeye or Iron Man but his incarnation of Thor will always be my Thor. *blushes*

Thor v.1

JMS/Coipel
#1-6.

Thor v.2
JMS/Coipel/Djurdjevic
#7-12 & Giant Sized 600.

Thor v.3 
JMS/Djurdjevic
#601-603 & Giant sized finale.

Thor: Latverian Prometheus
Gillen/ Tan
#604-606, Sif #1 & Mini Marvels.

Siege
Bendis/Coipel
#Siege 1-4 & The Cabal.

Siege: Thor
Gillen/Tan/McKelvie/Elson/Braithwaite/Henrichon
#607-610, New Mutants #11 & Siege:Loki.

Thor: Siege Aftermath
Gillen/Elson/Braithwaite
#611-614.

Thor: The World Eaters
Fraction/Ferry
#615-620.1 & Thor Spotlight.

The Mighty Thor v.1
Fraction/Coipel
#TMT 1-6.

Journey into Mystery v.1 Fear Itself
Gillen/Braithwaite
#JiM 622-626, Thor & Fear Itself Spotlight.

Fear Itself
Fraction/Immonen
#Fear itself 1-7

The Mighty Thor v.2
Fraction/Ferry/Kubert/Larraz
#TMT 7-12 & Fear Itself 7.2 Thor.

Journey Into Mystery v.2 Fear Itself  Fallout
Gillen/Rodi/Portacio/Ferry/Elson
#JiM 621.1 & 627-631.

Journey Into Mystery v.3 The Terrorism Myth
Gillen/Breitweiser/Elson
#JiM 632-636

The Mighty Thor v.3
Fraction/Kitson/Larraz
#TMT 13-17 & 12.1

Journey Into Myster/New Mutants: Exiled
Gillen/Abnett/Lanning
#Jim 637-638 & New Mutants 42-43.

Journey Into Mystery v.4 The Manchester Gods
Gillen/DeMatteis/Elson
#JiM 639-641 & TMT Annual #1.

Journey Into Mystery & The Mighty Thor: Everything Burns
Fraction/Gillen/Davis/Hans/Kitson/Di Giandomenico
#JiM 642-645 & #TMT 18-22

What to read next.

Thor: God of Thunder by Aaron/Ribic
Journey Into Mystery by K. Immonen.

Other reading.

Dark Avengers.
Thor: Secret Invasion.
Siege tie ins.
Fear Itself Tie ins.
Avengers (Heroic Age onwards)
Chaos War.

Todays New Trades 13/08/13

Never thought I would be most looking forward to a comic based on Smallville but after loving volume 1 I can't wait to read v.2. Never been a fan of the show though. The latest offering promises a showdown between Superman and some mysterious bat guy :)

I don't usually mention books to avoid but please, I beg of you not to pick up The First X-Men. Praised as the return of Neal Adams. Having already read through the Panini reprint I can assure you that it is pointless and truly awful. Plus $20 is too dear even for 5 issues of a decent comic 

DARK HORSE COMICS

B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth Volume 6 The Return Of The Master TP
Ex Sanguine TP
Mike Norton's Battlepug Volume 2 This Savage Bone HC

DC COMICS

Flash Volume 1 Move Forward TP
Flash Volume 2 Rogues Revolution HC
Nightwing Old Friends New Enemies TP
Smallville Season 11 Volume 2 Detective TP

IDW PUBLISHING

Amelia Cole And The Unknown World TP
G.I. JOE Volume 1 Homefront TP
Mark Schultz's Xenozoic Tales Artist's Edition HC
My Little Pony Digest Volume 1 TP
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Classics Volume 1 TP
Transformers 30th Anniversary Collection HC
Transformers Dark Prelude TP
Zombies Vs Robots Diplomacy SC

IMAGE COMICS

Frank Cho Women Drawings And Illustrations Volume 2 TP
Invincible Compendium Volume 2 TP
One Trick Rip-Off Deep-Cuts TP

MARVEL COMICS

Alpha Big Time TP
Avengers Assemble Science Bros TP
Dr. Strange And Dr. Doom Triumph And Torment TP
Essential Fantastic Four Volume 9 TP
Fearless Defenders Volume 1 Doom Maidens TP
First X-Men TP
Wolverine Volume 1 Hunting Season TP
X-Force Phalanx Covenant HC

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT

Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Jungle Book Volume 2 Last Of The Species TP

Review: The Cleaners.

Volume 1. Absent Bodies.
Dark Horse Comics.
#1-4 & sketchbook.

Written by Mark Wheaton & Joshua Fialkov.
Art by Rashan Ekedal.

This random grab from the cheap pile, from creators previously unknown to me, turned out to be a really solid book. Starring ex surgeon Robert Bellarmie and his crime scene clean up crew as they pick their way through the horrific aftermaths of seemingly related crime scenes.

From the start you're aware that Robert has more invested in this career than just making a living.  He's also extremely knowledgeable when it comes to blood, disease and all manner of grisly shit. The story quickly becomes one of mystery, with the cleaners rushing to figure out what is going on after they are contracted to clean up two different crime scenes, dismissed as illegal blood bank dumpings. The supernatural twist at the end was great as well but way to spoilerific to get into on a review.

The Cleaners is really well paced and manages to tell a lot of story over 4 issues. The characters are intelligent and likable, they always know a lot more than about what is going on than the reader and this helps build a great tension in this mystery story. The writers have also done a thorough job researching all the medical science involved in telling a story like this.

Ekedal's art is top notch, it stays well detailed even in the smallest of panels and the action scenes are brilliant. I will definitely be looking out for more work from these guys!

New Trades 07/08/13

Things are slowly starting to pick up after a quiet couple of weeks for trades. Got excited for Savage Wolverine unitl I realised it was premier HC. Although if there's any display of Frank Cho's incredible artwork, similar to his Ultimates pull out cover in the back of Thor reborn, then I will throw money at it.

Looking for a smart investment?  Pick up volume 2 of the Locke & Key special edition. The first volume regularly sells for over £200 now.

AVATAR PRESS

Alan Moore's Fashion Beast HC 
Alan Moore's Fashion Beast TP
Crossed Volume 6 HC
Crossed Volume 6 TB

BOOM! STUDIOS

Damned Volume 1 TP

DARK HORSE COMICS

Lone Wolf And Cub Omnibus Volume 2 TP
Orchid Volume 3 TP
Trekker Omnibus TP

DC COMICS

Batman Arkham Unhinged Volume 1 TP 
Batman Arkham Unhinged Volume 2 HC
Disturbingly Awful MAD TP
In The Days Of The Mob HC
Saucer Country Volume 2 The Reticulan Candidate TP


DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

Garth Ennis' Battlefields Volume 7 The Green Fields Beyond TP
Red Sonja Volume 11 Echoes Of War TP

IDW PUBLISHING

FELDSTEIN The MAD Life And Fantastic Art Of Al Feldstein HC
Locke And Key Special Edition Volume 2 Head Games HC
Torpedo Volume 4 TP

IMAGE COMICS

Distant Soil Volume 1 The Gathering TP
Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth Volume 1 TP

MARVEL COMICS

Daredevil By Mark Waid Volume 5 HC (Premiere Edition)
Iron Man Volume 2 The Secret Origin Of Tony Stark Book 1 HC (Premiere Edition)
Savage Wolverine Volume 1 Kill Island HC (Premiere Edition)
Thor By Walter Simonson Volume 1 TP 
Ultimate Spider-Man Ultimate Collection Volume 4 TP
Winter Soldier Volume 4 The Electric Ghost TP

Review. The Manhattan Projects. Volume 2

Manhattan Projects v2

Jonathan Hickman & Nick Pitarra
Image Comics.

MP2 had seriously big shoes to fill after the successful first volume of Hickman's post world war 2, bizarre science masterpiece. Fortunately Hickman has dialled the bat shit crazy up to 10 for the second instalment. We see a shift from The Allies war efforts to more focus on what the soviets have been up to. They have their fare share of monstrosities to rival the Manhattan Projects.

Politics plays a much larger role in the second volume. The two enemies, both ranks full of ex Nazi scientists, try to overcome their differences and join forces to combat the extra dimensional threat introduced in volume one. We see the extend of the Projects autonomy from government as Kennedy's administration begins.

Hickman's writing is still at the top of his game in this book, the time spend fleshing out the characters never detracts from moving the story on at a fantastic pace. The trade is also full of his trademark design elements like logos and quotes, even the gaps in the story are great!

 Nick Pitarra's art is once again outstanding, as much of the story is told through shifting colour changes as is done through the art itself. The back up story featuring Oppenheimer's Civil war, were some of the best pages I've seen in comics all year.

Catabloguing Incredible Hulk. (Greg Pak)

More and more people have been asking me about collecting Greg Pak's Hulk in trade. It suffers from renamings,  renumberings and tie-ins but is rewarding to complete.
While Jeph Loeb's Red Hulk is a really divisive comic, I personally loved it, Ed McGuinness' art is phenomenal and you need it to completely read Greg Pak's run.. An honourable mention for Jeff Parker for almost all the tie in work and for it being tightly written into the overall story. Here goes nothing....

Planet Hulk.
Pak/Pagulayan/Lopresti
# Incredible Hulk 92-105 & Gladiators Guidebook.

World War Hulk.
Pak/Romita Jr
# World War Hulk 1-5 & What if Planet Hulk.

Vol.1 Son of Banner.
Pak/Olivetti/Camuncoli
# Incredible Hulk 601-606 & Dark Reign: The List-Hulk.

Vol.2 Fall of The Hulks.
Pak/Parker/Pelletier
# Incredible Hulk 606-608 & Fall of the Hulks: Alpha.

V.3 World War Hulks.
Pak/Pelletier
# Incredible Hulk 609-611.

Dark Son.
Pak/Reed/Raney/Ching/Kitson
# Incredible Hulk 613-617.

Chaos War: The Incredible Hulks
Pak/Pelletier
# Incredible Hulks 618-622 & 614-617 back ups.

Planet Savage. 
Pak/Eaglesham/Grummet
# Incredible Hulks 623-629.

Heart of the Monster.
Pak/Pelletier
# Incredible Hulks 630-635.

*Other essential reading.

Incredible Hercules.
WWH: The Warbound.
WWH: Damage Control.
Savage She-Hulk.
HULK vol1 Red Hulk.
HULK vol2 Red & Green.
HULK vol3 No More.
HULK vol4 Vs X-Force.
HULK vol5 Fall of the Hulks.
HULK vol6 World War Hulks.
Fall of the Hulks: Red Hulk.
World War Hulks: Hulked Out Heroes.
Chaos War.

What to read next.

The Incredible Hulk by Jason Aaron. 
Red Hulk by Jeff Parker.