JUSTIN’S PICK :: X-MEN LEGACY #4 : Si Spurrier and Jorge Molina heat things up this issue, finally bringing Legion face-to-face with some honest-to-God X-Men. Blindspot has lead Wolverine and company to Tokyo, where David Haller has made protégés of twin Yakuza mutant orphans. Classic superhero misunderstanding fight sure to ensue. But Legion’s mental state is still fractious; anything could happen. Pick it up and find out what. (ed- Also, Mike Del Mundo’s covers are bonkers! -rico)

JUSTIN’S FAVORITES OF 2012:

Favorite Super-hero Book of 2012: This may be a bit premature, but the Marvel NOW! relaunch of Captain America stands head and shoulders above any other new superhero book for me this year. It manages to be kitschy and modern all at once, a post-millennial nod to Jack Kirby’s near autonomous 1970s run that would surely send the King over the moon. I haven’t read a single issue of a comic book so many times this year; I think my current tally is closing in on a baker’s dozen. Rick Remender deserves a big ol’ hug. If he’d come to Heroes Con, he’d get one.
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JUSTIN’S PICK :: BODY BAGS TP VOL 02 : This Christmas, give the gift of outstanding action and cartoon violence with this collection of sundry one-shots by the inimitable Jason Pearson. Hitman Clownface always has a hard time managing his overly-enthusiastic daughter/protégé Panda, and hilarity subsequently ensues. A little John Woo, a little Michael Golden, and presto. And if you haven’t read volume one, by all means, be my guest.

JUSTIN’S PICK :: FF #1: The concept of a “New Fantastic Four” is nearly as classic as Marvel’s First Family themselves. And while you’d be hard pressed to beat a line-up like Spidey, Hulk, Ghost Rider and Wolverine, Matt Fraction and Mike Allred promise some interesting adventures  featuring Ant Man, She-Hulk, Medusa and the love-‘er-or-hate-‘er newbie Miss Thing. This one could go either way, but whichever direction, Allred’s art is always worth a peep.

I’ve always liked the X-Men as characters, but their comics always intimidated me. Between the dense continuity and the scope of the X-corner of the Marvel Universe, it’s hard to know where to start. What other major Marvel characters comprise so many story elements? From the political sphere to magic, time travel, intergalactic adventure, and alternate realities, mutantdom, truly, has it all.

Like many readers, I was caught in the net of Jason Aaron’s excellent new series Wolverine and the X-Men when it debuted. The real coup there is that even through the major upheavals brought on by Avengers vs. X-Men, Aaron managed to keep the book fun and accessible, which is a testament to the quality of his craft. It was the gateway I needed to crash the X-Men franchise. (more…)

JUSTIN’S PICK :: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ANNUAL 2012: Old school Turtles fans rejoice! This oversized annual features a rare treat, a solo Kevin Eastman story starring Raphael and Casey Jones! If you’ve been missing Eastman’s contribution to IDW’s main Turtles ongoing, this’ll tide you over.

Bonus mention: If you’re a Turtles fan and haven’t been checking out the main title, now’s a great time. HeroesCon alum Andy Kuhn is providing the art, and anyone that read the Michelangelo micro-series issue knows, that man can draw a mean Ninja Turtle. For those already familiar with Mr. Kuhn’s fantastic work, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention he ALSO drew up the latest issue of Secret Avengers, so wander on over to that superhero side, genre people!

JUSTIN’S PICK :: BULLETPROOF COFFIN TP VOL 02 DISINTERRED: If you missed this wonderfully bizarre comic in its regular issue format, you are depriving yourself of a rare chemistry. David Hine and Shaky Kane work as a seamless team, turning countless pop culture trends on their ears, with equal parts dread and nostalgia. Volume one was essentially an episode of Twin Peaks with superheroes; Disinterred ups the weird ante considerably. Check it out.

JUSTIN’S PICK :: DAREDEVIL #17: While I’ll be the first to admit that a rotating cast of artists can be frustrating on any book, it also works out sometimes, offering a wealth of stylistic diversity in one handy series. And if Mark Waid wasn’t already a big enough draw to get you to peek at Marvel’s new-ish Daredevil reboot, how ’bout an issue drawn by the one, the only, Madman Mike Allred! Plus: Stilt-Man! Who doesn’t love Stilt-Man?

JUSTIN’S PICK :: OMAC TP VOL 01 OMACTIVATE: When DC kicked in with the New 52 last September, some of the secondary titles got lost in the shuffle. OMAC was one of those. If you’re a fan of bright, simple, action-packed comics, OMAC is a love letter to a bygone era. And Keith Giffen riffing on Jack Kirby is always worth a look.