An action figure makes the list! And Mark Waid’s back again!
Mark Waid, Alter Ego Comics, Muncie, Ind.
Dr. Who: Prisoners of Time #10, IDW. I’m very much digging this storyline, a perfect comics-medium celebration of the Doctor’s 50th. Lot of Who fans in our store, and they have their eyes on these books.
Legends of Red Sonja #1, Dynamite. We are very much fans of Nancy A. Collins. We are especially glad to see Devin Grayson writing comics again (and I’ve read the script, and it’s awesome, best Red Sonja story I’ve ever read). Add to that some newcomer named Gail Simone who, I hear, is going places, and that’s a book we can proudly sell.
Hawkeye Vol. 1 hardcover, Marvel. This book is a monster. Not just this volume — the series overall. If you like Daredevil, AND WHO DOESN’T?, I WANT NAMES, you’ll love Hawkeye. Matt Fraction, David Aja and friends have something really special going here, and it’s a dead-solid perfect “Are you new to comics?” intro book for anyone who walks through our door.
Ted Alexander, manager, Midtown Comics’ Downtown location, Manhattan
Grindhouse Doors Open At Midnight #2, Dark Horse. Alex De Campi provided a fun B-movie feel to the first issue of this series. You really do feel like you’re sitting in a cinema.
Amazing X-Men #1, Marvel. The return of Nightcrawler! I can’t wait to see how they explain his return.
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Aimee LoSecco, JHU Comic Books, Manhattan
Arkham City: Kai Armor Batman and Robin, Play Arts. We all wait every year with baited breath for Play Arts to unleash their newest releases upon us. And there’s a reason. These figures are gorgeous. Batman and Robin from Arkham City are so beautifully detailed and articulated, they’re perfect in your collection or as a gift. You know you want them. And you must have them. Both. Side by side. As was meant to be.
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Menachem Luchins, owner, Escape Pod Comics, Huntington, L.I.
Hinterkind #2, Vertigo. After a very entertaining first issue, this series is back with its mission statement firmly in place: Post-apocalyptic fairy tale. Ian Edginton and Francesco Trifogli have set up an interesting world, one in which mankind is slowly recovering from the end of modern society while also facing threats from all sort of fantasy creatures they never knew existed. The compelling characters and straightforward storytelling in the first issue means that I’m eagerly awaiting #2.
Grindhouse: Doors Open at Midnight #2, Dark Horse. Speaking of great first issues, Alex de Campi knocked it out of the park with the first issue of Grindhouse. Giant killer bees, some exploitation-style making out, and a cigar-chomping, motorcycle-riding, badass lady cop made for one of the most entertaining reads last month. Issue #2 promises an escalation in both the action and the bizarre WTFness of one of the best books out there. Do yourself a favor and pick it up.
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Dimitrios Fragiskatos, manager, Midtown Comics’ Grand Central location, Manhattan
Mighty Avengers #3, Marvel Comics. No Avengers, no Fantastic Four. It’s up to our resident hero for hire, Mr. Luke Cage, and a ragtag group of heroes who have to defend this world from the forces of Thanos and his army. Al Ewing and Greg Land have been doing an awesome job delivering the birth of a new team in the spirit of the Avengers called, well, umm the MIGHTY Avengers.
Quantum and Woody #5, Valiant Comics. Suprisingly, Quantum and Woody isn’t just a buddy book, but one with substance. We’ve watched the brothers, gain their powers, uncover a secret conspiracy, meet an omnipotent goat, and come to terms with their relationship with their father. I am very excited to see where James Asmus and Lee Garbett take us to next.
All Crime #2, Art of Fiction. I love anthologies. I love Silver Age comics. I love crime comics. So I’d be a moron if I didn’t pick up an anthology of crime comics that winks at the Silver Age, especially when they give us covers from Bruce Timm!