Well, well, back again with more comicky books. I think I missed a week or something…probably because I had a crazy fever for 7 days. It was the best. Anyway, I didn’t have too many funny folios to tide me over during my illness, since the last couple weeks netted me approximately (who has time to really add them all up?) four single issues. What were they? What, indeed…

Since last we spoke, I read the final issue of Captain Marvel (blah), the end of the KIA arc in Avengers: The Initiative (blah), Captain America (rah) and the Mighty Avengers (hah?). The MA was pretty cool (while at the same time not being about much), reuniting one of my favorite teams (Bendis and Maleev) for a story touching on the fallout from Bendis’ Secret Wars miniseries of a few years back. Meaning it featured Nick Fury, always a plus for me, especially since he’s mostly in hiding these days. But the old Eye-Patch oughta see some action during Secret Invasion, and this issue of MA was probably just a prelude to all the sweet monocular fun. A decent read, even if Mighty Avengers as a whole is pretty aimless of late…

So what’s comin’ our way this week? Looks like it could be a good one…some of my favorite titles are flying off the presses as we speak.

First up, New Avengers #40. If you haven’t been reading this one, Secret Invasion probably makes slightly less sense to you. If you have been reading it, you know it’s been one of the best team books in a hot minute. I expect good things from Bendis and company, and so far this book hasn’t disappointed. Just look at that cover! Those are some pretty big-name Skrulls. Prob’ly just a ruse, but I say “Ruse on!”…or I would say it, if it wasn’t gonna make me sound like a total rod.

Next, we have Avengers: The Initiative #12. After the last arc (which kinda wasn’t as good as the first), I may have scratched this title off my master pull list. But the new issue sees the return of Iron Man to Camp Hammond, and I bet he’s pissed. Shellhead is maybe the most interesting character Marvel has going right now, even if his own book doesn’t always feature his best work (still a good read, though). By the way, the Iron Man movie? Will be dope. Agreed.

Now, we all know I love Daredevil. And there’s a Daredevil book coming out called Daredevil: Blood of the Tarantula. I can’t tell if it’s just a thick one-shot (it costs an extra buck like many one-shots nowadays) or what…it seems to focus on (you guessed it) the Tarantula, one of DD’s supporting characters. It’s by Brubaker, but it has a different artist than the main run. I don’t know about fill-in stuff like this. I smell a rat..or…a tarantula? We’ll see.

Another of my favorite titles ties up an arc this week. Immortal Iron Fist #14 should finish the epic kung-fu contest held in the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven. This is a great, fun book. It should be stupid, but it isn’t. Like a Bruce Lee flick. Kudos to Matt Fraction and David Aja for a job well done.

Ultimate Human #4 will also grace us with its presence on Wednesday (at least according to www.marvel.com), and I’m not sure what to expect. This has been a pretty strong story. Last issue focused almost entirely on cranially-challenged villain The Leader, and the only Iron Man and Hulk we saw were on the (thusly misleading) cover. Here’s hoping this issue features its heroes a little more…still, so far, so good.

Lastly, the fancy hardcover version of Messiah Complex is finally here. I trade-waited on this one (even though everyone told me how good it was), and now I may have to put my (insufficient) money where my mouth is. I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. Or will I? Or will I…..

I guess that’s all for now. The real windfall of the last few weeks for me is this: my local library has an ongoing book sale, and I just got every Sandman trade available for $1.50 a piece. As Eddie Murphy impersonating the owner of a Chinese restaurant would say, “What a bargain!” I’ve already read the first three. Not your average comic book, and definitely deserving of its many accolades.

Why don’t you go get a library card? There’s a world of adventure waiting just for you, deep inside the stacks. Your grandmother would be so proud! Until next time…

Keep it bagged and boarded,

Grip

Posted by Grip Grand on Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 at 1:08 pm.