Week of January 18th

Honorable Mention

Avenging Spider-Man # 3 (Marvel)

Battle Scars #1 (of 6) (Marvel)

Fear Itself: The Fearless # 7 (of 12) (Marvel)

Planet of the Apes # 10 (Boom Studios)

...and now for this weeks All-Stars!

Avengers # 21

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, Artist: Renato Guedes, Inker:  Jose Magalhaes, Colorist: Jason Keith, Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit, Editor: Tom Brevoort

All-Star Summary for Choice: The Avengers are under attack by H.A.M.M.E.R...and it doesn’t look like their going to survive. Spider Woman and Hawkeye fall to Hulked-out H.A.M.M.E.R agents. Red Hulk and Storm are felled by Wasped out H.A.M.M.E.R agents. Iron Man’s armor has been compromised and he unwillingly has to take down The Protector. Giant-Men H.A.M.M.E.R agents are sent for Captain America...and the outcome isn’t pretty.

With good artwork and cover-to-cover action, this issue is an adrenaline rush...Avengers style. The bad guys are winning and options for saving the day are dwindling fast. Hail H.A.M.M.E.R.! 

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Tell Osborn the mission was successful. Captain America is down.”

Batman # 5

Company: DC Comics

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Scott Snyder, Artist: Greg Capullo, Colorist: FCO, Letterer: Richard Starkings, Editor: Mike Marts

All-Star Summary for Choice: The Batman has been missing for eight days, captured by the Court of Owls and placed within a maze that seems to have no end, but ever growing additions. With no food and water presumed to be drugged, Batman is slowly losing his mind...and death is lurking near.

This book is great in it’s presentation. The art very distinctive, but also very fitting for the book giving visuals often contrasted between the shadow and the light, adding a sense of “interrogation” to the story. The book make you feel you’re going insane with batman as it turns into a flip book halfway through...then turns completely upside down and has to be read backwards!

The final splash page is one to remember!

All-Star Quote of the Book: “I hate to say it, Commissioner, but it’s been eight days. The Bat isn’t coming.”

Kirby Genesis - Dragonsbane # 1

Company: Dynamite Entertainment

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writers: Robert Rodi & Alex Ross, Artist: Fritz Casas, Colorist: Salvatore Aiala, Letterer: Simon Bowland, Editor: Joseph Rybandt

All-Star Summary for Choice: The Norse mythology hasn’t looked this good since The Mighty Thor. Be prepared however, this isn’t any version of Thor you’re used to, but every familiar element is present. Sigurd Dragonsbane answers the call to bring justice and peace to those in need...and he’s bringing Balduur, Heimdall and Honir with him!.

The art is wonderful and the setting of all the mythologies being simply the land next door is an interesting perspective. Everything feels familiar in this book, but at the same time feels all brand new...and that is an incredible feat to pull off!

All-Star Quote of the Book: “I am called Sigurd Dragonsbane. And I assure you, I have earned the appellation...”

Lord of the Jungle # 1

Company: Dynamite Entertainment

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Arvid Nelson, Artist: Roberto Castro, Colorist: Alex Guimaraes, Letterer: Simon Bowland, Editor: Joseph Rybandt

All-Star Summary for Choice: The classic story of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs seems to finally have been adapted into comics in true “All-Star” form. It’s rare these days that we get the origin of a hero right from the beginning, but this book does just that...in spectacular form. The story is enthralling and tragic, simple to read...and yet stayed with me long after I put the book down. I specifically took notice of how the book begins and ends with the same visual...but not the same picture.

The art isn’t the best ever, but it certainly isn’t bad...and of course, the cover is simply spectacular as is all work done by Alex Ross. I never pictured myself ever being interested in Tarzan, but just the fact the title of the book isn’t “Tarzan” piqued my interest. I’m glad I gave it chance...and look forward to the next issue.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “What are these things?! They’re not apes, they’re not men...what are they?!”

Moon Knight # 9

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, Artist: Alex Maleev, Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth, Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit, Editor: Stephen Wacker

All-Star Summary for Choice: Moon Knight hears voices in his head...but not just any voices. Living with him inside his mind is Spider-Man, Captain America and Wolverine. As if that wasn’t crazy enough, he’s going toe-to-toe against Count Nefaria, a villain with enough power to fight the entire Avengers without any help from anyone else. In fact, he has several times!

This book epitomizes the idea of the “underdog” and as Moon Knight utilizes his bag of tricks copied from the heroes in his head, it’s clear things are going to get a lot worse before they get better...if they get better at all. The art is not clean and there is a lot of shadowing used, but this particular style works for the tone of this book.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “You vex me Moon Knight. What kind of a madman starts a fight he can’t possibly win? You’re like a puppy picking a fight with a lion.”