KC COLUMN: PICK HITS TO CLICK

KC Carlson by Stuart Immonen

KC Carlson by Stuart Immonen


by KC Carlson

I haven’t done one of these recommendation columns in a long time, so here’s some of MY picks from today’s Diamond Previews for you to consider — or reconsider — ordering.

MARVEL COMICS

Lockjaw #1

Lockjaw #1


One of the stranger things this month (in a month of other odd goings-on) is a four-part miniseries devoted to Lockjaw, the teleporting Inhuman dog. And I swear to Rao that I’m not making this up, but it’s written by a newcomer called Daniel Kibblesmith. Really? A guy named KIBBLEsmith is writing about a mutant dog? Anyway, Lockjaw is cool. You’ll like this.

X-Men Red #1

X-Men Red #1


There’s also the new X-Men Red #1 title. Along with X-Men Blue and X-Men Gold, it appears that the mutants aren’t just satisfied with taking over the comics world… they’re also coming after our COLORS!!!… The first story arc seems to be Jean Grey-centric (so why not X-Men Grey?… I know, I know… don’t give them ideas…), all about her most recent return to the Marvel Universe. Plus lots of variant covers (including one spotlighting Namor!), if you’re still into that kind of thing.

Doctor Strange: Damnation #1

Doctor Strange: Damnation #1


A new Doctor Strange miniseries called Damnation for some reason actually crosses over into the regular Doctor Strange series. Am I the only one that thinks that’s strange?

Avengers #680

Avengers #680


Avengers is still weekly for the second month in a row. Since the story arc is titled “No Surrender”, I’m wondering if Avengers is now weekly for all time! So much Avengers!

Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock

Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock


The solicitation for a new 40-page one-shot called Infinity Countdown Prime offers no useful information whatsoever other than two variant cover artists. It’s CLASSIFIED! Although not CLASSIFIED! enough to reveal that there’s also an Infinity Countdown one-shot starring Adam Warlock. Does he actually pull in big-time sales, or is that CLASSIFIED!?

Finally, it appears that Marvel is finally going to tell us where Wolverine has been. (No, not the Old one — the other one who “disappeared” a while back… basically sealed up like a statue… you forgot about that, didn’t you?) Except Marvel is revealing this info in dribs and drabs in “post-credits scenes at the end of key Marvel titles starting this January!” Of course, there’s no list of where or when this will happen, so I guess you’ll have to buy everything Marvel publishes in January. Like they didn’t plan this… (sigh)

Thanos: Infinity Siblings

Thanos: Infinity Siblings


There is one thing Marvel is doing next April (although you have to pre-order it now) that actually looks to be worth checking out: Thanos: Infinity Siblings is the first of what appears to be three 112-page graphic novels about Thanos and his bizarre family and foes, written by Jim Starlin (who also provides the cover art) and pencilled by Alan Davis. I’m up for some classic cosmic Marvel these days!

CROSS COUNTRY AT DC…

Action Comics #1,000: 80 Years of Superman

Action Comics #1,000: 80 Years of Superman


The biggest Historical Event in the comic book industry happens next March with the publication of Action Comics #1,000 (the first comic book needing a comma in its number!). There will be more details about that specific comic book next month, but this month, DC is soliciting Action Comics #1,000: 80 Years of Superman, a hardcover collection which will be published in April. It’s a collection of Superman history with the first appearances of key Superman characters collected in this almost 400-page volume. There are also fact- and memory-packed essays by folks like Jules Feiffer (who has first-hand recollections of when Action Comics #1 first hit the newsstands!). Former DC Publisher Paul Levitz (who’s guest-editing this volume) provides historical background. Other bonus features include a 30” x 39.75” poster of all 1,000 Action Comics covers, and a previously unpublished Superman tale believed to be written by Jerry Siegel with art by the Joe Shuster studio — salvaged fifty years ago and hidden away until now! If you’re a fan of the history of comic books — you do not want to miss this great collection!

The Terrifics #1

The Terrifics #1


The Terrifics seem like a really odd teaming of some really diverse DC characters, including Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Plastic Man, Phantom Girl, and Tom Strong! (The cover art also shows what appears to be a Legionnaire and perhaps a gorilla or two. My kind of Super-Team!) It’s written by Jeff Lemire with art by Ivan Reis & Joe Prado. Debuts in February, but pre-order now!

JLA/Doom Patrol Special #!

JLA/Doom Patrol Special #!


The DCU and Young Animal have crossover action in February with JLA/Doom Patrol Special #1, Mother Panic/Batman Special #1, Shade, the Changing Girl/Wonder Woman Special #1, and Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye/Swamp Thing Special #1. Then it all comes together in a different Doom Patrol/JLA Special #1, which features “a mind-blowing conclusion that establishes new realities for all the DC/Young Animal titles.” March sees the return of Cave Carson, Shade, and Mother Panic, with new stories in new directions. I guess the others just have to wait until later…

Young Monsters In Love

Young Monsters In Love


Even DC monsters deserve love, so in February (just in time for Valentine’s Day), look for the 80-page Young Monsters In Love anthology featuring all-new monster stories by Paul Dini, James Robinson, Jeff Lemire, Gulliem March, Frazier Irving, Kelley Jones (who’s also the cover artist), and more.

Mera: Queen of Atlantis #1

Mera: Queen of Atlantis #1


DC short takes: Mera: Queen of Atlantis gets her first-ever six-issue solo miniseries in February by Dan Abnett and Lan Medina, with a cover by Nicola Scott . . . Mister Miracle #1 gets a 48-page Director’s Cut one-shot, which features a new eight-page origin story by Tom King and Mike Norton . . . Scooby-Doo and company meet the Smarter Than Average Yogi Bear (and Boo Boo) in Scooby-Doo Team-Up #35! Pic-a-nic baskets are not included . . . The acclaimed DC Comics: The Art of Darwyn Cooke collection will now be available in a new softcover format in March with over 20 additional covers, not in the original hardcover. 408 pages . . . At least DC hasn’t completely forgotten about the Legion of Super-Heroes. The 680-page hardcover LSH: Silver Age Omnibus is on sale next June and will wrap up the classic early era of LSH stories by Jerry Seigel, Edmond Hamilton, John Forte, and Jim Mooney — and debut the next classic era of stories by 13-year-old Jim Shooter and Curt Swan! Features a new cover by Evan “Doc” Shaner . . . In other Omnibus news, Wonder Woman by George Pérez Omnibus Volume 3 is also available in June. It collects Wonder Woman #46-62, War of the Gods #1-4, and Wonder Woman #168-169 and #600. Artists include Jill Thompson, Cynthia Martin, Colleen Doran, and Phil Jimenez. Cover by Pérez… Speaking of Princess Diana, she teams with the Bat in a new six-issue miniseries: The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman, written and drawn by Liam Sharp… DC’s newest chapter in its Earth One book series is Green Lantern: Earth One Volume 1, a 144 page hardcover by Gabriel Hardman with Corinna Bechko. It offers up a brand new origin story for the Emerald Warrior!

ELSEWHERE IN COMICS…

Elfquest: The Final Quest #24

Elfquest: The Final Quest #24


It’s a Finale 40 years in the making! Elfquest: The Final Quest #24 by Wendy and Richard Pini and colorist Sonny Strait draws the final curtain on the 40-year-old series. Journeys begun in the Original Quest will finally be resolved here — some with unstoppable consequences affecting elves and humans alike. Can the Great Wheel of time and history, broken so many thousands of years ago, ever be made whole again? On sale in late February from Dark Horse Comics, but don’t forget to pre-order now!

Kick-Ass #1

Kick-Ass #1


Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.’s Kick-Ass returns in a brand new series in February from Image Comics. Apparently there’s now a new face behind the old mask, wearing that famous green and yellow spandex…

Back Issue #61

Back Issue #61


I wholeheartedly applaud TwoMorrows’ decision to go back to print on Back Issue #61, the notorious issue all about Treasury-sized comics, originally published as a treasury-sized magazine! The novelty was there for all of about five minutes, until collectors everywhere realized that there was no logical place to store such a magazine! (My issue disappeared into the bowels of my comics storage room years ago, and I haven’t seen it since!) So, Hip! Hip! TwoMorrows! for finally doing the right thing and reprinting it as a normal sized magazine! It’s full of great stuff about other historical Tabloids and Treasuries, and it has an awesome wraparound Legion of Super-Heroes (the largest super-team in comics!) cover — painted by Alex Ross!

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KC CARLSON: Shouldn’t you know who I am by now? (Shouldn’t I know who I am by now?) Roger! Unlock this door!!!

WESTFIELD COMICS is not responsible for the stupid things that KC says. Especially that thing that really irritated you. You know, I feel more stupid than usual (as if that was actually possible…).

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