A fairly light week of books, but a solid one.

Monthly Comics

Agents of Atlas #7 – The team continues their underwater vacation with Namor.  This isn’t necessarily a bad book, I’m just not drawn into it.  I think this’ll be my last issue, dropped!

Astonishing Tales #6 – Again, three out of four stories are fantastic, the fourth is ok.  The Wolverine & Punisher as well as Iron Man 2020 wrap up their stories.  Hopefully this is the last of the Mojoworld arc too, it’s been the weak point.  A great short story is of second (or third or possibly fourth) tier hero Sabra.  The story looks at the mandatory service Israeli’s must endure and the choices they make.

Batman and Robin #2 – I haven’t been a fan of Grant Morrison’s work but I’m enjoying this series chronicling the new dynamic duo. A petulant brat of a Robin and a Batman full of doubt in filling the shoes of his mentor.

Cable #16 – Hope is separated from Cable as the techno-virus begins to take over his body.

Captain America: Reborn #1 – What was a symbol of America’s corruption and moral decay is undone as we learn Captain America may not be really dead.  It was hinted at that there were issues with the body presented, but now we learn the true fate of Steve Rogers.  In just this issue the impact of such a poignant moment is lessened as yet another “dead” super hero really isn’t.  And as a whole this issue just doesn’t hold up up to Brubaker’s usually high standard.  And why is this a mini-series?  Shouldn’t this be a part of the regular series?

Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #1 – The regular Deadpool series is fantastic, this is just plain horrible.  Why is this needed other than trying to make some cash of the awesomeness that is Ryan Reynolds!?  Fail Marvel, Fail.

Destroyer #4 – We know Kirkman can write violence.  With one more issue to go, we’ll see how this limited series filled with the good ole ultra-violence ends.

Fantastic Four #568 – I’ve been intrigued by the villain Millar has been leading up to.  I’ll follow this series until this arc ends and then I’m done I think.  How this ties into the rest of the Marvel Universe canon right now leaves my head scratching.  A similar issue that plagues last week’s New Avengers.

Green Lantern Corps. #38 – I need to read through the issues I’ve missed as Blackest Night is almost here.

the Invincible Iron Man #15 – Pepper and Tony hang out in Russia.  Oh yeah, Madame Masque is there too.  Hill seeks out the Black Widow to deliver her package to Captain America.

Secret Six #11 – The teams latest job is laid out for them and doesn’t sit well with some.  Lines are drawn in the sand for one of the most fun and dysfunctional teams out there.

Uncanny X-Men #513 – The Dark X-Men are introduced as Osborn’s law and order comes down on San Francisco.

War of Kings #5 – We learn Black Bolt’s final plan as their last hope dies on the Shi’ar home planet.  DnA bring continue to reflect on our current political climate and ask “how far will you go to create peace?” and “what right’s do outside forces have in guiding another people’s future?”

It’s a pretty packed week of books.  I swear this is more limited series coming out of Marvel’s Dark Reign then all the issues dealing with the Skrull invasion that led up to it.

Monthly Comics

Astonishing X-Men #30 – Really?!  We’ve been waiting for this for how long?  I have to say Warren Ellis’ first arc on the series has been such a let down.  The characterization of Forge was so off, but it did open him up to being a great long term x-villain.  Overall, not impressed at all and if this wasn’t an “X” title, it’d of been dropped a while ago.

Avengers: The Initiative #25 – The new status quo is set as Osborn sets up the Initiative’s new leadership and some of the old recruits set up the resistance.

Dark Avengers #6 – The Sentry heads to the west coast to deal with the terrorist cell as Osborn slowly descends into madness.

Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Dark Utopia #1 – Without a doubt there is clear reason that Matt Fraction chose San Francisco’s Castro District as almost the epicenter of this morality tail of acceptance.  In the current age of the real Prop 8, the fictional Prop X has taken on the role of maguffin in this series tail of tolerance and hatred.  The mutants placed in an accepting San Francisco are no representing the civil rights movement.  But instead have taken on the allegory role of today’s battle of same-sex relations.  Marvel’s mutants are no longer a tale reflecting people’s tolerance of skin color, it is now a tale of who we can love.

Dark Reign: Elektra #4 – An interesting limited series.  We’ll see how it ends to allow me to fully think through it.  Not bad action, but it’s a quick, short read.

Dark Reign: Lethal Legion #1 – I keep saying that the best thing to come out of Marvel’s new focus is the rise of second tier villains.  This series has an interesting way of telling the story and so far so good.  I’m actually looking forward to the next issue.

Dark Reign: Sinister Spider-Man #1 – Focusing on Norman’s Dark Avengers version of Spider-man.  An interesting series that gives a little more depth to the character.  Much more than a monster that eats people as he’s mostly been portrayed.

Dark Reign: The Hood #2 – I love the Hood and the focus on him in the current Marvel story arc.  This series ads some depth and background to such a fun character.

Dark Reign: Zodiac #1 – Has this character been in anything?  A good start to a limited series that’ll definitely get me to come back for the second issue.

Green Lantern #42 – The battle between the Green and Orange Lanterns continues as we lead up to the coming of the Black Lanterns.

Guardians of the Galaxy #15 – The War of Kings comes to Knowwhere.

the Immortal Iron Fist #27 – I still need to catch up, sue me.

the Literals #3 – And thus comes the conclusion of “the Great Fables Crossover”.  I have to really think over this crossover and it’s greater meaning as this issue drops the wall and recognizes the writers of the comic who must deal with the villain who is trying the rewrite the series.  A interesting philosophical meta-problem that is more a statement of the meaning of a greater power, I think.

the New Avengers #54 – the New Avengers, Doc Strange, Hellstorm, and the new Sorcerer Supreme Brother Voodoo battle the Hood and his demon.  Not sure how this jives with what’s going on in other books.

Nova #26 – Missed some issues it would seem.  Need to go back and fill in the blanks.  But, overall the series comes off as a poor man’s Green Lantern Corps.

Secret Warriors #5 – Howling Commandos vs. H.A.M.M.E.R. vs. Hydra, nuff said!

Thor #602 – I’ve never been a huge Thor fan in the past but this latest series is one of the best being published today.  A must read with every issue.

Thunderbolts #133 – The team takes a break as we learn more about each member’s motives and an interesting twist at the end.  One of the top series out there.

Timestorm 2009 – 2099: X-Men – A like at the future X-Men.  I remember liking the original series, but I have to ask just like the Spider-man one shot, why this couldn’t be part of the regular series?

Uncanny X-Men #512 – Well at least one question I’ve had since issue 500 was answered.  The scientists head back in time to get blood samples, a pretty so-so issue that screamed filler.

Unknown Soldier #9 – We learn more about Jack Howl and Lwanga’s possible next target.  Another fantastic series that’s a monthly must read.

Dark Wolverine #75 – A nice change focusing on Osborn’s version of Wolverine.  Should be a good series and there seems to be a hint that Daken might be more complex of a character than I’ve seen previously.  Interesting enough throughout this “first” issue, there are numerous references to his sexuality which in what it shows very well may be bisexual.  I can’t think of another Marvel character who is also one.

X-Factor #45 – Well, I didn’t see that ending coming.  Also, we see that the enemy that both Maddrox in the future and the team in the present are dealing with might be one and the same.

X-Force #16 – And thus ends the “Messiah War”.  A pretty decent mini-event that’ll lead to a lot of future story lines I’m sure.

X-Men Forever #2 – I missed the first issue so this one is on hold until I get a copy of it.

Here’s two weeks worth of books (I just didn’t get a chance to cover last weeks books even though they were bought and sitting there).  Reviews will be updated throughout the week.

Monthly Comics

Cable #15 – The team battles Stryfe in what is one giant battle issue all leading to the final issue of this crossover.  A nice surprise too of an X-related character who’s not quite crossed over into the greater universe.

Captain America #600 – A decent tribute and what I’d expect from a tribute comic.  It doesn’t quite feel spectacular enough to be #600 though.  A good read though and one of the more entertaining parts is a look at all the covers to grace a Captain America comic book.

Captain Britain and MI13 #14 – It’s a shame this series is being canceled.  An excellent and entertaining book about the heroes of England.  Also, while I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Annual, it does play an important role in this storyline and should be considered issue #13.5.

Dark Reign: Hawkeye #3 – While many of the Dark Reign limited series revolve the depth of the characters and their current status quo, this series has interestingly delved into Bullseye/Hawkeye’s past history in a similar if not so far weaker version of what they’ve done with the crruent Captain America.  A decent read, not great, but not bad.

Dark Reign: Mr. Negative #1 – I didn’t know much about the main character Mr. Negative but I like what I see so far.  This Dark Reign tie in continues the story lines brilliant focus on the lesser known villains of the Marvel Universe.

Dark Reign: Young Avengers #2 – Young Avengers, meet the Dark Young Avengers.  Now fight!

Deadpool #11 – Deadpool and Hawkeye/Bullseye fight with some meat… yeah I don’t have much of an ending for that rhyme.  Definitely fun series, let’s just hope Deadpool doesn’t get over exposed like his other Weapon X compadre.

Destroyer #3 – Kirkman does violence, the Walking Dead has shown us that.  This series is just pure ultra-violence at it’s best.  A simple idea put into a five part limited series.

DMZ #42 – Brian Wood pulls back from it’s main characters to focus on some of the folks left behind in the DMZ and the memories they struggle with.

Ex Machina #43 – With a plague descending upon NYC, Mayor Hundred must role up his sleeves.

Fables #85 – So far the Great Fables Crossover has been underwhelming.  It seems more like a way to get a bunch of loose plot threads to come together in a story that’s a few issues too long.  Can we please get back to Mr. Dark?

Fantastic Four #567 – Not sure what I think of this issue.  A definite pick up from the last few issues.  We’ll see where it goes, it gets a stay from being removed from the pull list.

Flash: Rebirth #3 – While I’m sure this series is great for die hard fans of the Flash, for those whose knowledge is “he runs fast, died, and is coming back” the series unfortunately doesn’t hold up.  Don’t expect to see it in next months “Weekly Purchases”.  In general this like Final Crisis suffers from much of the issues plagued by a lot of DC comics, it’s just steeped in too much history, and isn’t easy to pick up and read.

Green Lantern Corps. #37 – I need to catch up on this series before Blackest Night hits the stand.

Incognito #4 – Zack deals with his stepping into the limelight.  Not as good as some of Brubaker’s other work, but still entertaining.

the Invincible Iron Man #14 – Tony heads to Russia for some help.

Jack of Fables #35 – A pick up in the Great Fable Crossover with only one more issue to go.  I think this Part 8 and Part 7 could of been combined to increase the pacing and cut down the length.

the Mighty Avengers #26 – I feel like I’m currently going down the rabbit hole with Hank Pym as my guide.  It’s great to see such solid Avengers books all competing to be the best on the market, and it’s hard to tell which it is.

Punisher #6 – The Hood explains the situation to his newly resurrected villains as the Punisher hits another Oscorp facility.  One of the best books to come out of Dark Reign.

Thor #601 – Loki’s plans continue to play out.

The Trial of Thor – Thor is accused of crimes.  I’m really not sure the need for so many one-shots.  Just give us the regular series.

Uncanny X-Men #511 – The X-Men take on the Sisterhood.  I’ve had some issues with the story telling as at times it seems fractured and stilted, but overall a not bad start to Matt Fraction’s run on the series.

the Walking Dead #62 – The Hunters prey upon our band of survivors.

War of Kings: Acension #3 – We learn more about the mysterious Raptors.

War of Kings: the Savage World of Skaar – A Kree and Shi’ar must team up to take on Skaar.  We’ll see if the end leads to anything further, otherwise there was not much point in this crossover.

Wolverine #74 – The ending of the two stories from issue #73.  Why these couldn’t of been completed in an issue instead of being split, I have no clue.  Both are decent enough adding some incite into what makes up the man Logan.

Wonderful Wizard of Oz #7 – I’m waiting for issue #8 and then reading this series straight through.  I’ve heard wonderful things (and probably should of waited for the trade paperback).

X-Factor #44 – As usual a top notch series and a must read from any company.  I won’t spoil it as per the writer’s wishes but this is a monthly must read.

X-Men: Legacy #225 – The end of Xavier’s journey leads him back to where it started with a major shift in the status quo and where alliances lie.