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.