SETH’S PICK :: BATMAN LI’L GOTHAM #1 ::  On paper, it looks like a standout week for new books.  There are sure things like Hawkeye #9, Saga #12, a new Marvel Oz hardcover, and books you should be reading if you aren’t already, like Sledgehammer 44 #2 and Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror #3.  I’ll pick all of these up, but have chosen as my official staff pick, this delightful new series from Dustin Nguyen.  At first glance it might look like DC is trying to jump on the ‘baby variant’ bandwagon, but for those who don’t know, Nguyen started producing these stories as digital only releases last year.  Having read many of the stories online, I’m excited to see them enter our glorious realm of print.  These are fun all ages comics that feature diminutive versions of Batman and his extended family of heroes and foes on holiday themed adventures.  They’re perfect for young readers or any adult fans who appreciate lighthearted palate cleansers. Bonus Pick of the Week:  Most of you know that the majority of the Heroes staff is comprised of creative people.  Several of us are in various stages of developing our comic work.  Rico, of course, colors world class comics all the time, and others like Bridgit are quickly developing into creators on the rise.  Add to that list our own Justin Crouse, who contributed art to three stories in a new book on the shelves this week.  Pick up Center of Gravity from Low Key Comics and see what Justin works on outside of Heroes.  I’m particularly fond of the first story “Monkey Bars.”  There are some nice, quiet moments in it that remind you of  Justin’s skill as a visual storyteller.

SETH’S PICK :: ABE SAPIEN: DARK AND TERRIBLE #1: If you’re at all familiar with the Mignola-verse of characters, you know Abe Sapien’s story is as intriguing as Hellboy’s.  And while you could say that Abe has been largely about a creature trying to hold onto his humanity, in recent years Mignola and company have further mutated the fish-man.  Now he looks less like a man with gills, and more like a relative of the Creature from the Black Lagoon.  Fitting, since the Earth has literally gone to hell over in B.P.R.D.  Now, courtesy of Dark Horse, Mignola, Scott Allie, Sebastian Fiumara and colorist extraordinaire Dave Stewart, we get an all new ongoing series featuring Abe.  It’s a fish-man fighting monsters, travelling the ruined Earth, and trying to make sense of what he was and is.  They had me at fish-man.

SETH’S PICK :: SLEDGEHAMMER 44 #1: I had a long, detailed paragraph prepared as to why I think you should spend your hard earned money on this comic. . .and then it disappeared from my computer.  Instead, I’ll just keep it short and simple.  1) There aren’t many war stories set in the Mignola-verse.  2) This one features an Iron Man archetype fighting Nazis, but is just as much about the normal soldiers on the ground as it is the armor.  3)  Though it was written (by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi) for genius John Severin to draw, when he passed away it was given to Jason Latour, who excels at the kind of detail-oriented research this story requires, and understands the importance of balancing that research with a focus on the characters themselves.  4)  In a week where I could easily write about the Hawkeye vol. 1 TPB, Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror #2, or Ben Katchor’s Hand Drying in America, this is the book I’m most excited about seeing and reading. 

SETH’S PICK :: ROCKETEER: CARGO OF DOOM HC: Didn’t I just write about Rocketeer last week?  Indeed I did, and while there are several other books I’m excited about this week (Winter Soldier #16, Hellboy in Hell #4, Lost Vegas #1), it’s inevitable that I’ll re-read the new Rocketeer collection first thing Wednesday night.  There’s an innocence to Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s take on Dave Stevens’ classic character, but also a love for the traditions of pulp and adventure stories.  Anyone could wax poetic about the genius of the Rocketeer, but it still boils down to entertainment value, and this collection has plenty of that.  Oh, and there are dinosaurs.  A guy with a rocket pack fighting dinosaurs in 1930’s California.  That’s enough for me.

SETH’S PICK :: ROCKETEER: HOLLYWOOD HORROR #1: Whenever I talk or write about IDW’s new Rocketeer stories, I like to mention my opinion that any artists who work on the character pale in comparison with its creator, Dave Stevens.  No one will ever make Rocketeer stories better than Stevens.  However, I usually follow up that statement with this one:  I love the way IDW has created new stories that both revere and uphold Stevens’ legacy.  Their two volumes of Rocketeer Adventures read like a love letter to Stevens’ creation, and the Mark Waid/Chris Samnee miniseries Cargo of Doom fell right in line with the tradition.  This week IDW offers up an all new miniseries by Roger Langridge and J. Bone, along with Walt Simonson on covers.  Langridge, while known for humor and all ages work, has always had a strong connection with comics’ adventure roots.  Look no further than his excellent John Carter of Mars adaptation for evidence.  J. Bone has done lots of work with Darwyn Cooke, and also provided the covers for DC’s Super Friends title.  If you take his previous comics into consideration, it’s easy to see how well he could bring the Rocketeer’s era to life.  Even though I’ll always love Dave Stevens’ work best, it would be a shame if we were denied new stories of his famous creation.  Thankfully, IDW knows how much people care about Rocketeer, and hires creators who equally value the man and his work.  Let’s hope they will continue to produce quality comics that not only pay homage to Stevens, but allow future generations to be exposed to his genius. 

If you’re familiar with the work of Matt Kindt, you know he’s one of the hardest working creators in comics. Over the past several years he’s received critical acclaim for his graphic novels Super Spy, 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man, Revolver, and Pistolwhip.  More recently, you’ve probably seen his work on Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. and in Mind Mgmt, the monthly Dark Horse title he writes, illustrates and designs.  Kindt’s previous graphic novels suggest he possesses one of the more original voices in comics.  Now with Mind Mgmt, not only do you have further support for his originality, but you’re getting monthly examples of it.  For a deeper look at Mind Mgmt, check out my review of issues 1-5 HERE.  In the meantime, enjoy the interview.

Seth Peagler (SP): Mind Mgmt is your first big monthly book, but it’s also one where you’re writing, illustrating and directing the design of every aspect of it. What were some things that contributed to your decision to tackle something of this scale at this point in your career?

Matt Kindt (MK): Well, to be honest, I feel like graphic novels were getting too easy from a creative stand point. I was getting a little bored. And I was tired of disappearing for a year to finish a book and then launching a book and disappearing again. Now I get to launch a new issue every month and get a little more interaction with readers. I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever go back to a GN format. I’m having way too much fun doing a monthly series. (more…)

SETH’S PICK :: BLACK BEETLE #2: In a week where there are several books I’m interested in picking up (Nova, Thor, Avengers, Baltimore, Captain America), I find myself being most excited about Black Beetle.  After just 2 issues (0 and 1), it’s a given that this series will deliver a certain level of quality and entertainment.  This shouldn’t really be a surprise, since it’s being written and drawn by Eisner winner Francesco Francavilla.  I guess the thing that stands out most about this book in my mind is that, while it is full of wonderful art, a memborable pulpy character, and lots of energy, the book feels almost effortless.  It’s a simple and fun read, and while you know lots of hard work went into it, the work doesn’t tax the reader.  For that reason, it reminds me of Hellboy.  Both titles have an insane amount of planning and execution in them, but you can pick up any issue knowing you’ll get a well-crafted comic that entertains you just as much as it impresses you with its craftsmanship. 

SETH’S PICK :: THOR THE MIGHTY AVENGER COMPLETE COLLECTION: This series remains one that I wholeheartedly love.  Though Marvel ended it far too early, and though their attempt to pigeonhole it as an all-ages book may have limited its audience, the book may well be one of the purest examples of super hero comics from the past decade.  You’ve got Roger Langridge writing a charming tale, Chris Samnee doing work that probably helped land him his current Daredevil gig, and perfectly fitting colors by Matt Wilson.  There are obligatory appearances from the likes of Captain America, Ant Man/Giant Man, Wasp, Sub-Mariner and Iron Man, but more than that, there’s a wonderful energy in these books.  These are stories that unabashedly celebrate what made so many of us love super hero comics from our first encounters with them.  The fact that these are innocent tales you can read to your children is really just the icing on the cake. 

SETH’S PICK :: HELLBOY IN HELL #3: The fact is, many times a high profile creator returns to a character they made famous, in spite of publicity, the book somehow doesn’t live up to expectation.  Mike Mignola’s return to drawing Hellboy in this series certainly attracted lots of attention, but it has been far from a let down.  In fact, it’s arguably as good as anything Mignola’s ever done.  You can really see the joy he’s getting out of taking Hellboy in a new direction.  It’s not a rehash of where Hellboy has been before, and Mignola is clearly crafting challenging stories and situations that will only further develop the character.  It’s also worth mentioning the genius-level coloring of Dave Stewart.  He’s long been Mignola’s go-to colorist, but the new setting of Hell has really allowed Stewart to stretch out and use a richer, more varied palette.  These are masters of the craft who are not only enjoying the process of making these comics, but are pushing themselves to evolve their work and the characters they continue to define. 

Bonus Pick of the Week:  I’d be remiss not to mention this week’s debut of our pal Jason Latour as the new writer of Winter Soldier.  All of us around here have long known how hard Jason works at comics, and some of us have even heard about what he has in the works for Bucky Barnes.  Alongside Nic Klein, who may well be the most suited artist to work on Winter Soldier since Jackson Guice, Latour plans to move Bucky forward in genuinely interesting ways.  Ed Brubaker brought Bucky back to relevance, and he’ll always cast a long shadow on whoever else writes the character, but Latour and Klein will distinguish Winter Soldier in ways you’ve never seen before.