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. 

JUSTIN’S PICK :: NOVA #1 : There was a time when Nova was heir apparent to Spider-Man. Peter Parker had graduated high school and was moving on to more adult concerns, and Marvel positioned Richard Rider to take the premiere teen superhero role. The character never set the world alight, however, and has gone through a few different iterations over the years. Regardless, Nova remains a cult favorite for many Marvelites (myself included), an icon in his own right. Now, super scribe Jeph Loeb teams up with the inimitable Ed McGuinness to breathe new life into the Human Rocket. Join them for the ride, won’t you?

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! You’re going to L-O-V-E this update! So many great guests are coming to HeroesCon this year but we don’t want to make your heads explode by telling you all their names at once. I think 10 is a good safe number to avoid head explosions.

ANDY BELANGER – Writer/Artist:  Black Church, Kill Shakespeare, Swamp Thing, Bottle of Awesome
NATE BELLEGARDE – Artist: Nowhere Men, Atom Eve, Hector Plasm
BECKY CLOONAN – Writer/Artist: The Mire, Batman, Wolves, Conan

TOM FOWLER – Artist: Hulk, Mysterius the Unfathomable, MAD Magazine

ED PISKOR – Writer/Artist: Hip Hop Family Tree, Wizzywig
JIM RUGG – Writer/Artist: Afrodisiac, Street Angel, The Guild, The PLAIN Janes, One Model Nation
TOM SCIOLI – Writer/Artist: American Barbarian, Godland, Captain America: Hail Hydra

ARTHUR SUYDAM – Artist: Marvel Zombies, Deadpool, Batman, Army of Darkness
CORY WALKER – Artist: Invincible, Destroyer, Shadowpact
LEE WEEKS – Artist: Daredevil, Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man

RICO’S PICK :: FATALE #12: I look forward to this book every month. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips are so consistently good that I kind of hate them. This issue is special for 2 reasons:

1. Elizabeth Breitweiser colored it. She couldn’t be a more perfect choice for this book, she is one of the very best

2. This is a stand-alone issue, everything you need to know is all wrapped up right here.

And just in case you didn’t know, there are great extras in every issue of Fatale that aren’t included in the trade collections.

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. 

ANDY’S PICK :: COMICS JOURNAL #302: First of all–Boy do I miss the old Comics Journal published 8 times a year. But times change, comics change, so comic journalism and criticism must change as well. Now TCJ functions predominantly on-line accompanied by a mammoth annual print volume. Last years TCJ book edition–#301 was a monumental tome that included a an unprecedented discussion of R. Crumb’s Genesis. This year’s model #302 promises– A career spanning interview with Maurice Sendak conducted by Fantagraphics co-publisher Gary Groth (one of the best interviewers around!), an interview with French comics legend Jacques Tardi, an article about classic children’s comics by Art Spiegelman, a previously unpublished interview with Roy Crane along with an article from comics historian Bob Levin that details R. Crumb’s litigation issues caused by the surprising success of Keep on Truckin’. You want more you greedy people?
OK – how about some comics by Lewis Trondheim previously unpublished in English and a creator round-table discussion about the blurry lines between comics and fine art? And still more…much, much more! It’s 624 pages and it’s only 30.00!! You’ll be reading it for months!

Sometimes it takes two men to do the job of one woman. Starting this month, Seth and Rico team up  to tackle April’s telephone book-sized edition of Previews and let you know what grabbed their attention. Of course you can also get your very own copy at the store, flip through every page and let us know what we slept on. What’s good Seth?

Seth Peagler (SP): The first thing that caught my eye when I opened April’s Previews was ABE SAPIEN: DARK AND TERRIBLE #1 (of 3) (p. 42).  Regular readers of the Heroes Blog know I’m a huge fan of the Mignolaverse, but this new miniseries offers a good jumping-on point for new readers.  Not only does it feature adventures of Abe Sapien in his new and further mutated form, but it finally kicks off a series of miniseries that will deal with everyone’s favorite fish-man. Turning over to DC, what jumped out at you?

Rico Renzi (RR): SOLO (hardcover p. 138) was one of those rare occasions where a big company with beloved characters turned some of comics’ best cartoonists loose on their marquee characters free of the shackles of continuity.
SP: True. I remember this being significant for that reason, but also for the variety of genres that were included. You’ve got artists like Darwyn Cooke, Mike Allred, Tim Sale, Richard Corben, Paul Pope and more telling the exact stories they want to tell.  There’s everything from superheroes, to westerns, horror and everything in between.

RR: There’s also a new Dustin Nguyen book, BATMAN: LI’L GOTHAM #1 (p. 143).  Nguyen has taken his hobby of drawing the residents of Gotham in adorable kid form (like Arthur Adams did with the X-Men in the 80’s) and turned it into a new series for DC.
SP: I read some of these stories when they were digital-only releases, and they definitely appeal to fans of all ages books. Also, if you like Skottie Young’s baby variants on the recent Marvel Now relaunches, I’m betting you’ll dig Nguyen’s take on these Bat tykes.

RR: Over at IDW, I noticed their new book COLONIZED (p. 169). Drew Moss, an artist a lot of local fans met at the recent Charlotte MiniCon, is drawing Chris Ryall’s new book. It’s Zombies vs Aliens wrapped in beautiful Dave Sim covers.

SP: Also from IDW in April is a the collection of a book whose single issues we couldn’t keep on the shelves: James Stokoe’s Godzilla: The Half Century War (p. 170).                                                                                                                                 RR: Stokoe’s art blows my mind, man. Godzilla hasn’t looked this good in a long, long time.

RR: Image’s solicited cover of JUPITER’S LEGACY (p. 188) would have you believe it’s the gripping tale of love between Russell Brand and Royal Tenenbaums-era Gwenyth Paltrow but that can’t be right can it?
SP: Alas, we may never know. What we do know, however, is that Jupiter’s Legacy is the new, highly anticipated Image title from Mark Millar and Frank Quitely. Also new from Image is a new book from Steve Niles and Tony Harris, CHIN MUSIC (p. 192). It looks like it sets supernatural elements against a gangster backdrop.

RR: If you don’t like your comics all dark and heavy, some beloved characters are getting their own comic this April. The gang from SESAME STREET (p. 244) is being drawn into their very own comic series illustrated by a HeroesCon-favorite guest, Amy Mebberson . Whether you’re looking for something for your kids to read or you’re just a Street fan from way back, check this one out.
SP: April also sees an original ADVENTURE TIME graphic novel (p. 277) by Danielle Corsetto. In addition to being a new story, it’s printed in a pocket black and format, similar to Scott Pilgrim.
RR: Another hugely popular cartoon is finally getting the comic book treatment in April. Writer KC Green and artist Allison Strejlau will try to bring REGULAR SHOW’s (p. 279) absurd brand of comedy to the printed page. This is brought to you by the same company that  successfully translated Adventure Time to comics, so I’m pretty confident that this one will be good too.

RR: Eating is my favorite. Comics and cooking make so much sense together that I’m surprised there aren’t more food/cooking comics. I can’t wait to read RELISH: MY LIFE IN THE KITCHEN (p. 311)… and try out some of the recipes included!
SP: Also on the Indie side of April, there are two new books from Dash Shaw. If you enjoyed his excellent Bottomless Belly Button, April gives you a chance to read NEW SCHOOL (p. 312), his latest graphic novel, and 3 NEW STORIES, (also p. 312) which debuts in single-comic format.
RR: Dave Elliot is what I’d call a GWT (Guy With Taste). When he puts something new together I will usually check it out on the merits of his great taste in art. Dave is bringing his anthology A1 #1 (p. 333) back for a 6 issue run at Titan Comics.    
RR: Recently, original Tank Girl writer Alan Martin put out an open call for artists interested in illustrating his new Tank Girl book, SOLID STATE TANK GIRL (p. 333). Warwick J. Caldwell is the artist Martin selected and his art is pretty interesting.  It’s worth a look.
SP: Some of you might be familiar with Double Barrel. It was a digital effort from Zander Cannon and Kevin Cannon and was comprised of two separate stories, CRATER XV and HECK (both on p. 336). In April, Top Shelf debuts the printed hardcovers of both of these stories, available in print for the first time.

RR: Last year Jeffrey Brown made the hilarious Star Wars: Vader and Son and now he’s following it up with STAR WARS: VADER’S LITTLE PRINCESS (p. 373). It’s like the nerdiest version of Family Circus you can imagine.                  SP: This is one you’ll want to be sure request in your Previews order.  Like Brown’s first Star Wars book, this one should move quickly.

SP: Marvel also has a few new books worth checking out in April. The big one that caught my eye is THANOS RISING. I’m not crazy about Simone Bianchi‘s art, but the fact that Jason Aaron is writing this Thanos miniseries makes it well worth a look.  You know Marvel has big plans for Thanos, and this miniseries will probably be the place where those plans begin to unfold. Also in April, Marvel offers up its most ironic title to date:  Brian Wood and Olivier Coipel‘s X- MEN#1, which is comprised of an all female team.   RR: If Marvel can keep Wood and Copiel together on X-Men with this cast of beloved characters, this book will be huge.

SP: These are some of the books in the new issue of Previews that caught our attention. Be sure to look through a copy for yourselves, and get your special order requests in to the store by February 18.

JUSTIN’S PICK :: TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE HC VOL 2: Michael Kupperman is the finest wit working in comics today, offering razor sharp absurdism that addresses contemporary audiences with an archaic sensibility. If you can read Great Men of History: Bertrand Copillion AKA “The Scythe” without sniggering at least twice, you are certifiably dead inside.