(Unrelated Sidebar)

The week this album came out on cassette, I had to make the tough decision between this or De La Soul Is Dead…I copped Mr. Hood, and I have not once regretted it since. Besides, my man MPE got that De La…so it was win/win. I spent a summer in Albuquerque once, and all I had was this tape and One For All (maybe I bought the first Cypress Hill when I was there). You know what? That was enough. And now, back to our show.

(Sidebar Ends)

So…comics. I like ‘em. This week, I will buy some. What will they be? Well, I’m no psychic, but here’s one possible future. Marvel Comics Presents–What if…This Were My Pull List?

Captain America #43: This will be the first issue in a new Cap saga. Steve Rogers is dead, Bucky has picked up the shield, and for all intents and purposes he is the new Captain America. But really…really? Is Steve really dead? Is Bucky really compelling enough for me to follow this series from here on out? We’ll see. A lot of people will be deciding to drop this book or not based on the next couple issues. Good luck, gentlemen.

New Avengers #46: The original Metal Face Villain, Doctor Doom, figured heavily in Brian Bendis’ Secret War saga a few years back. That story turns out to have laid important groundwork for Secret Invasion. How? Well…maybe we’ll find out in this here issue of New Avengers. I am tired of these tie-ins basically being told in flashback, but I like Doom. So…it could go either way with this one.

Secret Invasion #7: Isn’t this thing over yet? Almost. Only time will tell what effect the sweeping changes of Secret Invasion will bring. My best guess, based on previous universe-altering events like House of M and World War Hulk, is none. More or less. This issue (I’m pretty sure it’s the penultimate one) needs some punch, something to start pulling the story together and driving it to its (hopefully) heart-stopping conclusion. Secret Invasion has had a lot of big reveals, but we oughta still have a couple more cherries left in the basket. For instance, what happened to all of the heroes that got replaced? Are they dead? Are they coming back? And how do they figure into the upcoming Marvel Apes vs. Marvel Zombies: Re-Ultimatum miniseries?

Criminal #6: For those who like their films noir and their crime fiction pulpy, have I got a series for you. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ Criminal is like a sleazy 70’s detective tale if the crook were the hero. Peopled with boozers, floozies, grifters, and wheelmen, these stories are perfect for fans of seedy underbellies everywhere. Check it out if you get bored of dudes in tights.

I guess that’s all for now. Better go wash some cars and rake some leaves if you wanna have enough dough to buy all your books this week. I’ll be out front, as usual, in my lemonade stand. Holler at me. I got the hook-up.

Until then….

Keep it bagged and boarded,

Grip