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…)

RICO’S PICK :: HAWKEYE #4: It’s still a great time to start following the new Hawkeye series. Javier Pulido is drawing a two issue story arc starting this issue. It’s great when the regular series artist takes a couple months off and someone with a unique visual style steps in. Pulido had great runs on Spider-Man, Robin and Catwoman and he’s going to be a perfect fit on Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye.Dav

HEATHER’S PICK :: DEADPOOL#2: I find myself completely shocked to be selecting a Deadpool title to recommend this week. I mean, this is a character that previously fought a vampire cow, for goodness sake. (AND ate that vampire cow when he turned into a burger after being staked…) However the Marvel NOW team on Deadpool made me decide to give this title a chance and I am glad I did. Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn’s writing is funny and on-point. Tony Moore’s art matches the playful spirit of the story very well. Geoff Darrow’s covers are wonderful and we can’t ignore the bang up coloring job by that sweet guy, Val Staples. I would also be remiss if I failed to mention that ex-president, Teddy Roosevelt, punches a bear in this issue. That’s right, punches a BEAR right in the face. Now that’s a leader a free world!

JUSTIN’S PICK :: BRAVEST WARRIORS #2: Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward trades in the fantasy tropes for sci-fi in this charming new series. Hearkening back to the halcyon days of 80s team adventure (think SilverHawks or Voltron), the action is undercut with a quirky and disarming sense of humor. Great for readers young and young-at-heart, Bravest Warriors should please any fan of Ward’s, Adventure Time, or cartoons in general.

SETH’S PICK :: NEXUS OMNIBUS VOL. 1:  There are lots of new books that look interesting to me this week.  There’s horror in the  Baltimore: The Play one shot, super heroics in Hawkeye #4, and pulpy adventure goodness in Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #4.  Still, when I saw Dark Horse’s first volume of Nexus omnibi on the list, I had to pick it.  If you’re among those who haven’t experienced this classic take on superheroes and space archetypes from Mike Baron and Steve Rude, now is your chance to read the earliest adventures in an affordable format.  It’s fourteen classic comics for $25, and it’s a volume that deserves to be in any comic fan’s library.  Besides that, it’s comprised of over 400 pages of Steve Rude art, and that alone is worth every cent.

Looking Ahead is our monthly column where we talk about some key things you’ll find in the most recent issue of Previews.  You can order any of these books and more by simply looking through Previews and letting us know which ones you’d like.  Just make sure you get your orders to us by November 18.

To kick off 2013, DC’s popular Death of the Family storyline will be continuing in such titles as Batman, Batman and Robin, Detective Comics, Batgirl, Nightwing and Red Hood and the Outlaws.  Check out these titles to see how the Scott Snyder-directed new version of the Joker will continue to wreck havoc on the Batman family. (pages 93-103)

Dark Horse will ring in the New Year by bringing us brand new series to enjoy.  First up is a new Star Wars ongoing series by Brian Wood.  The key here is that this one focuses on untold stories set in the days of the classic trilogy with Han, Chewie, Luke, Leia and Vader.  Dark Horse will also be debuting a four issue mini series, The Black Beetle: No Way Out, from Francesco Francavilla.  Francavilla’s one of comics most in-demand cover artists, but somehow he found time to write and draw this mini series which will undoubtedly be packed with plenty of pulp-noir goodness. (pg. 34, 48)

Image celebrates the tenth anniversary of Invincible with issue #100.  In addition to answering lots of questions and potentially leading the character in a new direction, this issue also features a ton of variant covers from the likes of Cory Walker, Marc Silvestri, Bryan Hitch, Art Adams and more.  Some of writer Robert Kirkman’s diehard Walking Dead fans are slowly realizing he writes other comics too, so don’t be surprised if this one goes quickly.

Image is also bringing a brand new printing of Paul Pope’s One Trick Rip-Off.  Not only is this 288 page volume newly colored (for the first time), but over 150 of the pages comprise a Deep Cuts section, featuring a plethora of unpublished and rarely seen work from Pope.  Some of the stories here were original published in Japan, and have never been seen by an American audience.  (pages 184-185)

For the Comic Strip enthusiasts among you, there are plenty of reasons to look forward to January.  Over 15 classic Calvin and Hobbes books have been newly reprinted, and some of these haven’t been available for quite a while.  Whether it’s a collection of Sunday Strips or one of the many best of collections (The Indispensable, The Authoritative, etc.), or one of the early collections, there are many options in this month’s Previews. (pages 232-234)

If you prefer comic strips that are a bit darker in their humor, Fantagraphics debuts a brand new collection of Tony Millionaire’s Maakies in January.  Millionaire’s highly regarded for the way he combines classic strip cartooning (and fine line work) with subversive humor.  Green Eggs and Maakies continues the long-running exploits of Drinky Crow and Uncle Gabby as they find new and self-destructive ways to get themselves into trouble.  (pg. 296)

January also finds Marvel continuing their big Marvel Now campaign with a slew of new series.  Among the new titles are a Sam Humphries/Ron Garney helmed Uncanny X-force #1, a Black Panther-focused New Avengers title from Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting, Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman’s Peter Parker-less new Superior Spider-man #1, Frank Cho’s Savage Wolverine #1, and Young Avengers #1 which reuintes Phonogram‘s Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie.  (Marvel Previews pages 2-23)

Take a look through Previews for yourself and remember to let us know by November 18 if you’d like us to order or reserve a copy of a January book for you.

What is the Great American Comic Strip? Does such a thing exist? Like trying to figure out what book is the Great American Novel or which songwriter is the Great American Composer, it is a fun exercise but there are too many diverse (and worthwhile) opinions.  It is a no-win argument. But still….  Many would choose Peanuts, Pogo or perhaps Little Orphan Annie and those are fabulous choices, but in my own opinion, there is one clear cut leader for that elusive title:  Gasoline Alley


Gasoline Alley was created by Frank King in 1918 as a single panel cartoon for car enthusiasts.  Soon characters began to emerge from the group of amateur alley mechanics and by 1921, the strip had it’s star-young, rotund, tough but loveable Walt Wallet.  Then on Valentine’s Day 1921, Walt is awakened in the middle of the night to find an abandoned baby boy on his doorstep.  For the next 94 years (and counting) Gasoline Alley has told the story of Walt Wallet and his family. (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.