Week of February 15th

Honorable Mention

Avengers # 22 (Marvel)

Daredevil # 9 (Marvel)

Legion of Super-Heroes # 6 (DC Comics)

Planet of the Apes # 11 (Boom Studios)

X-Factor # 232 (Marvel)

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

Avenging Spider-Man # 4

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Zeb Wells, Artist: Greg Land, Inker:  Jay Leisten, Colorist: Wil Quintana, Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna, Editor: Stephen Wacker

All-Star Summary for Choice: I’m not a Spider-Man fan. I think he is one of the most overused characters in comics today and I was saturated with him a long time ago. So...why has this book made the All-Star cut? Why am I even reading it when I have such a distaste for the character? Because the book is awesome...that’s why. The presentation of Spider-Man in this book is a lot less of an idiotic wise guy and more of a mature hero with a good sense of humor.

The issues before this featured the Red Hulk, and they made for a great story. This issue features Hawkeye and the interaction between him and Spider-Man is absolutely superb. I’ve learned more about the inner thoughts of Hawkeye in this book than I have in all the other stuff I’ve read with him in it. The fact that all this is pivotal to the action in the book just bumps this book up a notch. The expressive art of Greg Land accents the story masterfully and makes this issue a seriously good read!

All-Star Quote of the Book: “It’s me I don’t miss.”

Batman # 6

Company: DC Comics

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

All-Star Summary for Choice: The final splash page of issue number five is where this book starts off...and the ride just gets wild from there! This book drives home why Batman is such a dangerous character. After eight days of captivity consisting of sleep depravation, starvation, and drugged water...the Owl comes to finish the job. A gaunt and emaciated Batman doesn’t stand a chance against him...or does he?

Batman has been planning and assessed how to overcome his situation the whole time in captivity. The final piece of the plan is to get torn to pieces by the Owl...just enough to have enough. This issue gives new meaning to the word punishment and exemplifies the word endurance. The artwork and writing set a tone for the book that make it very hard to put down once reading has started. In fact, I recommend not putting it down...and reading it twice!

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Batman, the Court of Owls has sentenced you to die.”

New Avengers # 20

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, Artist: Mike Deodato, Colorist: Paul Mounts, Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna, Editor: Tom Brevoort.

All-Star Summary for Choice: It’s Ragnarok versus the New Avengers! For those unfamiliar of forgetful of who Ragnarok is, he’s the Thor clone from the Civil War storyline that killed Goliath. He’s mean, deadly...and nothing like the real Thor...except for the fact that he has tremendous strength, wields a hammer...oh, and can call down lightning from the sky. Ok, he’s just like Thor...but Thor is the New Avengers friend, Ragnarok is trying to kill them!

Norman Osborne’s plan has come together without a hitch, and the New Avengers are coming up smelling like sewer water in the eyes of the public...and the government. The artwork of Mike Deodato is very nice and his presentation of Wolverine and Luke Cage getting...uh, hammered, by Ragnarok, is one for the ages!

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Fist him!”

Star Trek/ Legion of Super-Heroes # 5

Companies: IDW/ DC Comics

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Chris Roberson, Artists: Jeffrey Moy, Inker: Philip Moy, Colorist: Romulo Fajardo, Letterer: Shawn Lee, Editor: Chris Ryall.

All-Star Summary for Choice: I was loving this issue right from the cover. It pays homage to all the classic “Trek” lore in so many subtle ways, that if you’re a fan like me...it’s simply fantastic. The cover with Captain Kirk surrounded by all the women from the Legion of Super-Heroes just speaks volumes about how much fun this book really is.

The Legion and the Enterprise crew have teamed up and split up, with one team going back to the past and the other team trying to figure out the present. Both teams are trapped in a universe that is neither of theirs...but both of theirs meshed together. The immortal Flint and Vandal Savage are the same person...and it just gets better from there.

In true science fiction fashion, we are treated to a splash page of all the artifacts of the time travelers Flint/ Vandal has interrogated and disposed of. I spent my time on these two pages...especially when I spotted the Tardis, a Stargate, the Cosmic Treadmill, the Time Machine and the DeLorean...among other devices. Not to be outdone, the end of the book presents an even bigger surprise!

If you’re a fan of the Legion and Star Trek...and you’re not reading this book, you’re going to be angry with yourself when you finally do...for waiting so long to have such a good time.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Forget it Captain. It is not going to happen.”

Wolverine # 301

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Jason Aaron, Artists: Billy Tan, Jason Keith, Steve Sanders and Sotocolor, Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit, Editor: Jeanine Schaefer.

All-Star Summary for Choice: This book has it all. The Yakuza versus The Hand...and Wolverine is caught in the middle trying to save his daughter. Add Sabertooth and the new Silver Samurai to the mix...and you have a kaleidoscope of blood and body parts.

It’s always a treat to see Wolverine fight Sabertooth, more so when the art and action is so clean...and those handy healing factor’s keep the action going. The Wolverine versus Silver Samurai segment of the book is a great battle that displays the power of the new Silver Samurai, and the endurance of Wolverine.

The skill of Wolverine is shown in the last segment wherein he has a sword duel with an honorable ninja and without either of them moving, wins the fight in 487 moves...that weren’t moves...except they were. Trust me...it’s one of those things you have to see for your self to appreciate.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Go ahead and finish your screaming. We’ll talk more when you’re done.”