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 :: CAPTAIN AMERICA #2 : My personal favorite of the Marvel NOW! relaunch couldn’t get a second issue out soon enough. With a star-studded creative team like Remender, Romita Jr., and Janson (not to mention unsung hero Dean White), this book is getting Cap back to basics: frantic fisticuffs, scintillating sci-fi, and vile villains. If you missed issue one, fear not! Issue two is sure to deliver the same level of quality entertainment.

SETH’S PICK(s) :: HELLBOY IN HELL #1/AVENGERS #1:  Yes, it’s a two pick week for me.  Hellboy In Hell #1 brings creator Mike Mignola back to full-time illustrating his most famous creation.  Yes, he killed Hellboy, but now he can take him through all the different realms of hell.  Now that HB’s free from the physical world, Mignola can draw whatever he’s always wanted to, without needing to be bound to continuity.  It says a lot to me that with all the things Mignola might have done (and it could’ve been anything from more movies to continuing to have other talented folks like Duncan Fegredo illustrate his creation), he really just wanted to get back to drawing Hellboy.  That’s something I respect, and have looked forward to seeing for quite a while.

Avengers #1:  When the Marvel Now books were announced, I said the two near-guaranteed most promising titles were Thor: God of Thunder and this book.  Writer Jonathan Hickman has proved countless times over that he can handle large casts (Fantastic Four and FF) and big concepts (S.H.I.E.L.D. and Manhattan Projects).  Now he’s tackling an enormous cast of over 18 characters, and returning the Avengers to big, cosmic stories.  Artist Jerome Opena really left an indelible mark on Uncanny X-force, and brought a visual dynamic to Rick Remender’s stories that I don’t think anyone else could’ve done.  On paper this title looks like a no-brainer, and I’ll be really shocked if this doesn’t end up being a great book.

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…)

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.

JUSTIN’S PICK :: FANTASTIC FOUR #1 :: Based on the preview book that accompanied the kickoff of Marvel NOW a few weeks ago, the new Fantastic Four title is getting back to basics, that is: a family of adventurers, adventuring. In just four pages, writer Matt Fraction demonstrated he can ably handle the dynamics of bickering relatives. As for stalwart penciller Mark Bagley, he’s won me over after years of indifference, and his ever-improving style looks great on Marvel’s first family. Pick this one up and get in on the ground floor.

PLEASE JOIN US TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT!

Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find helps usher in a new era of greatness in the Mighty Marvel Manner with the launch of UNCANNY AVENGERS by the team supreme of Rick Remender and John Cassaday!

At the Marvel NOW! Launch Party you get to be the first kid on the block to get a hold of UNCANNY AVENGERS #1!

We’ve got the full assortment of variants for this once in a lifetime event, including the sure to be classic“DEADPOOL CALL ME MAYBE VARIANT” by Mighty Mark Brooks and “UNCANNY AVENGERS #1 BABIES VARIANT” by Sensational Skottie Young!

We’ve got some great swag from our friends at the “House of Ideas”, including:

• Uncanny Avengers Mini Posters
• Uncanny Avengers Party Lithographs
• Uncanny Avengers Pins

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

• Heroes being Heroes, we’re pricing our regular Avengers and X-Men back issues at HALF OFF during this special late night event!

AND HEY, THAT’S NOT ALL!

• As a super special treat for our loyal RESERVE CUSTOMERS who want to burn that midnight oil, if you come clean out your reserve bag and make a minimum purchase of $10, you get the regular cover of UNCANNY AVENGERS #1 ABSOLUTELY FREE!

If that’s not a good reason to stay up past your bedtime, we don’t know what is!!