HEATHER’S FAVORITES OF 2012:

Favorite Super-hero Book of 2012: Wolverine and the X-Men: I haven’t read much of the X-Men since Joss Whedon’s run on Astonishing, but I am so glad Seth insisted we pick up this title.  This has consistently been my favorite super-hero book this year since issue #1.  It’s funny, it survived cross-over madness, and it has more bamfs than you can shake a stick at! If you haven’t been reading this delightful tale by Jason Aaron, you need to add this to your holiday wish list immediately! (more…)

HEATHER’S PICK :: AME-COMI: BATGIRL #1: I am so in love with these adorable comics about the ladies of the DC Universe. To make these comics even better, this month’s Batgirl story features Heroes regular and favorite, Sanford Greene on both the cover and interiors. Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) and her cousin, Carrie (Robin) are taking a break from crime-fighting to focus on concerts and fun, but their night is interrupted by one of my top villains, Poison Ivy, who is joined by friends out for a bad time, rather than the good time our off-duty heroines had in mind.

It looks like departments stores are already setting up their Christmas displays so it’s not too early for me to remind you that Heroes is a great place to do some Christmas shopping while you’re picking up your own comics.  From an excellent All Ages section to art books to comic strip collections, there’s something for everyone on your list.  There’s also the annual Holiday Sale for the bargain hunters among us.  Keep an eye on the blog for that announcement.

Avengers #1 and #2:  Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena take on an expanded Avengers roster as the team entered the Marvel NOW! era.  This title will be shipping twice a month and the preview art is stunning.  (Marvel Previews, pages 4-8)

Amazing Spider-Man #700: While new titles are launching in the Marvel-verse, this long running Spider-Man series is coming to an end.  It’s ending in a big way with 104 pages and some great covers, including a variant with the names of the creators who have worked on the book appearing in the city skyline. (Marvel Previews, pages 47-50)

Monsters, Inc. #1: Marvel is bringing another hit Disney movie into comics with this adaption of Monsters, Inc. in a mini-series that follows the adventures of a human girl who has sneaked into Monstropolis. (Marvel Previews, page 67)

Hellboy in Hell #1: Mike Mignola returns to both writing and drawing duties as we join Hellboy after his sacrifice in Great Britain landed him in hell with both familiar faces and a throne that have been awaiting his arrival. (pages 31-33)

Rotten Apple: Heroes regular, Sanford Greene, teams with writer Chuck Brown on a hunt for a priceless relic in the dystopian city of Rotten Apple. (page 50)

House of Fun:  Evan Dorkin brings the fun in only the way he can with this issue that includes new Milk and Cheese strips, stories from Dark Horse Presents and much, much more.  (page 66)

Django Unchained #1 and #2: Quentin Tarantino’s latest movie hits comics as an adaption of his full screenplay that tells the story of a dentist turned bounty hunter and his partner a newly freed slave.  If that’s not enough, the art for the series is provided by Scalped‘s R.M. Guera and Charlotte’s own Jason Latour.   (page 137)

Sweet Tooth #40: The journey of Gus comes to an end in this final issue of Jeff Lemire’s acclaimed series.   (page 143)

Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer Artist’s Edition New Printing: If you missed out on the first printing of this beautiful artist’s edition, never fear, just in time for the holidays a new printing is available. (page 173)

MARA #1: Brian Wood and Ming Doyle tell the story of Mara Prince, a celebrity athlete with supernatural abilities that is now famous for all the wrong reasons.  Ming’s art is gorgeous and in Brian’s hands this is sure to be an interesting tale.   (pages 182-184)

Chew volume 6: Space Cakes TP : I’ve been reading Chew in trade and I am ecstatic that a new volume awaits me in December.  Collecting issues 26-30, plus the amazing Secret Agent Poyo one-shot, this trade is sure to make the Chew fan in your life have a very happy holidays indeed. (page 203)

Love and Rockets: The Covers: Fantagraphics has collected over 150 covers from Los Bros. Hernandez and brought them together in one glorious oversized art book for our viewing pleasure.  The covers are almost exclusively presented without cover logos or texts (page 296)

Mermin volume 1: Out of Water: Don’t miss the full color hardcover of the adventures of Mermin the Merman and his human friends after he washes ashore following his escape from the underwater kingdom of Mer.  Originally published by Joey Weiser in mini-comics, this new collection is sure to please comic fans of all ages. (pages 306-307)

Chu’s Day: A new children’s book from Neil Gaiman about a cute little panda with a giant sneeze is the only description anyone should need to pick up this adorable picture book.  (page 352)

Get a head start on holiday shopping with this month’s Previews order and don’t forget to throw in a little something for yourself!

It’s no secret to readers of this blog that my husband/Heroes blogger Seth loves all things Hellboy, but he has been completely unable to get me to read anything outside of Hellboy Jr. and the Beasts of Burden crossover one-shot.  There’s no real reason for my stance on this.  I liked the Hellboy movies, but that’s more about my love for Ron Perlman in beastly make-up than any particular attachment to the Hellboy storyline.  (While we’re on Mr. Perlman, can we all have the warm fuzzies again about the Make-A-Wish kid and Hellboy story from this summer?) Anyhoo, back to comics…Seth has full shelves in our house dedicated to Hellboy and B.P.R.D., but they had been gathering dust where I was concerned until recently.

At this year’s HeroesCon, I stumbled into a conversation between B.P.R.D. artists Jason Latour and James Harren in which I mentioned that I had not read B.P.R.D. and I wasn’t sure it was for me.  Not daunted at all by my hesitation, Jason immediately suggested that I start with Plague of Frogs and assured me that I would like it.  August rolled around without me picking up any of the trades on our shelves until I had a week without many new comics in my reserve bag and decided to pull volume 3 and it give it a go.  Cut to about a week and half later and I am about to start volume 13. (more…)

Thoughts of November make me thankful for all the great comics we’ve had this year and we still have a couple of months to look forward to before 2012 draws to a close.  Get ready to pass the pumpkin pie and settle into a month of delicious comics.  Check out the following books in the latest issue of Previews, and let the store know if you’d like any of these for yourself!

Marvel Now! Young Baby Variants: November is the month of adorable over at Marvel thanks to the talented Skottie Young and his baby versions of the characters.  They’re so cute that I can’t even begin to pick a favorite.  Angry baby Hulk and baby Galactus with his pacifier are currently in the lead, but that could change at any moment.  (page 4 of Marvel Previews)

Thor: God of Thunder #1 and #2: Jason Aaron takes on another huge title with the latest Thor series in which our Norse god finds himself in search of a serial killer of gods.  Plus, Esad Ribic art! (pages 16-19 of Marvel Previews)

Bonus Pick: All New X-Men #1 and #2: Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen are teaming up to bring readers an interesting take on the X-Men when Professor X’s original five students are brought to the present.  This will be a good book for non-readers who enjoyed the X-Men: First Class movie.  (pages 8-11 of Marvel Previews)

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HEATHER’S PICK :: WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #16: The somewhat adorable tween Hellfire Club makes a reappearance this month with a business plan that’s booming thanks to the governments of the world and the Phoenix Five.  Fear of mutants got you down? No worries as the Hellfire Club has you covered with various Sentinels for all your mutant fighting needs.  Wonder how Wolverine will deal with these undisciplined brats and their nasty robots?  Sounds like someone needs detention!

HEATHER’S PICK :: JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #12: I was super disappointed when Zatanna’s solo book was absorbed by the New 52 and only grudgingly picked up JL Dark.  I didn’t want a team book, I wanted a female centered superhero book.  Color me surprised when I enjoyed this new team-up and was happy to be introduced to new-to-me characters.  I’ve particularly enjoyed Jeff Lemire’s turn at the storytelling helm as he tackles the House of Mystery and the Books of Magic.  If you enjoy your superheroes with a supernatural twist, don’t miss this one.

HEATHER’S PICK :: SNARKED #11: Boy, do I ever love a good Roger Langridge comic! He has been hitting it out of the park on Snarked, so much so that I hope BOOM! will follow this series up with another new story when the current one ends next month with Issue #12.  Langridge’s refreshing take on the Walrus and the Carpenter from Alice in Wonderland has been a joy to read each month.  Be sure to pick up this issue to find out whether or not the Kingdom with be saved with some Snarked Island treasure (and what exactly that giant beaver on the cover is up to!).  If you haven’t been reading this wonderful all ages story, have no fear Snarked Volume One collecting Issues #0 through #4 awaits for your reading pleasure.

Ah, October, how I look forward to all that your bring from pretty orange pumpkins to the Heroes Pop Swap to lovely and spooky comics.  Be sure to watch this space for details on the Pop Swap as well as Halloween comics.  Be sure to include some of the awesome comics on your list to the Great Pumpkin! Please let us know by the August 18 if we can order anything for you. Thanks!

A-Babies v. X-Babies #1: Some might say there’s been some childish behavior between the Avengers and the X-Men with the battle over the Phoenix and now Marvel is taking it straight to the nursery. Skottie Young is not only writing this fun foray into super babyhood, but he’s also giving us THREE baby covers in October, with variant covers for Uncanny Avengers #1 and A+X #1.  The real battle is now who’s cuter the A-Babies or the X-Babies.  (It might be hard for anyone to top Baby Cap’s little “a”.)  page 8 of Marvel Previews

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HEATHER’S PICK :: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON 9 #12: Since the major world changes from Season Eight, Buffy has had a lot going on as she adjusts to life in post-Twilight era.  (That’s Season Eight’s Big Bad, not the sparkling vamp series.)  Supernatural foes have been replaced by typical post-college woes: maintaining steady employment and paying off student loans.  Slayer training is now put to practical use in a special security gig that brings back one of my favorite Big Bads from the Angel side of the Buffyverse: Wolfram & Hart (oh, those evil lawyers!!).  Come for the beautiful Phil Noto covers and stay for the great storytelling within.