Geeks’ Picks for New Comics: June 10th, 2015

New Comics Wednesday is upon us again, and some of us here at Outright Geekery are running down the top pick on our comic stacks for this week. What are you looking forward to reading this week?

CAPTAIN MARVEL AND THE CAROL CORPS #1 Soars Over The WARZONES! This June

They are the elite. The best of the best. And this June they are rocketing into Secret Wars for a high-flying, explosive adventure. Today, Marvel is pleased to present your first look at CAPTAIN MARVEL AND THE CAROL CORPS #1 – a brand new Secret Wars series from Blockbuster Captain Marvel creative team Kelly Sue Deconnick and David Lopez along with Marvel newcomer Kelly Thompson!

Marvel Brings ‘Captain Marvel and The Carol Corps’ to Secret Wars

CAPTAIN MARVEL AND THE CAROL CORPS #1 Takes to the Skies Over the WARZONES! This June!

They are the elite. They are the best of the best. And this June they are rocketing into Secret Wars in CAPTAIN MARVEL AND THE CAROL CORPS #1 – an all-new Secret Wars series! Blockbuster Captain Marvel creators Kelly Sue Deconnick and David Lopez join Marvel newcomer Kelly Thompson for a high-flying tour of Battleworld from the inside of a cockpit!

Welcome to Hala Field, where if you’ve got the guts – if you’ve got the moxie – you just might make it as a member of the Carol Corps. The chosen few, the proud, the brightest pilots of all – the Carol Corps defend Hala Field from the worst Battleworld has to offer.

Geeks’ Picks for New Comics: January 14th, 2015

New Comics Wednesday is upon us again, and some of us here at Outright Geekery are running down the top pick on our comic stacks for this week. What are you looking forward to reading this week?

Geeks’ Picks for New Comics: August 13th, 2014

New Comics Wednesday is upon us again, and some of us here at Outright Geekery are running down the top pick on our comic stacks for this week. What are you looking forward to reading this week?

Geeks’ Picks for New Comics: April 9th, 2014

New Comics Wednesday is upon us again, and some of us here at Outright Geekery are running down the top pick on our comic stacks for this week.

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Jules: All-New X-Men #25

Brian Michael Bendis is bringing another giant collaborative issue this week. Regular artist Stuart Immonen is joined by Art Adams, Bruce Timm, Dan Hipp, David Mack, David Marquez, J. Scott Campbell, Jake Parker, Jason Shiga, J.G. Jones, Jill Thompson, Kent Williams, Lee Bermejo, Maris Wicks, Max Wittert, Paul Smith, Rafael Grampa, Robbi Rodriguez, Ronnie Del Carmen, and Skottie Young, so this issue is bound to at least look awesome! Coming off the heels of the Trial of Jean Grey, a crossover with the Guardians of the Galaxy, we find the original X-Men in disarray. Young Cyclops has left the team to pursue adventure with his father in space, leaving X-23 to help lead the team. Jean having now discovered a new side to her powers, which just may match her Phoenix abilities. Will Beast now swoop in on Jean now that Cyclops is gone? Is everyone gonna start paying attention to Angel? I really cannot wait to see what Iceman has to say about all of this. Grab this issue.

ALL-NEW X-MEN #25
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (Writer)
ISSUE #25 – STUART IMMONEN, ART ADAMS, BRUCE TIMM, J. SCOTT CAMPBELL, SKOTTIE YOUNG, RAFAEL GRAMPA AND MORE! (Artist)
ISSUE #25 –
• OVER-SIZED 25th ISSUE!
• Artist Stuart Immonen is joined by a practical comic book artist hall of fame for this special landmark issue!
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

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Jesse: East of West #11

It’s hard not to look forward to the beautiful alternate American History Epic that has been Jonathan Hickman’s East of West. As Death grows closer to finding his son, the mysterious Judge looks to step in as the next trial. With the Chosen continuing to make a mess of the known world, I honestly can’t say I know what’s gonna happen next?! I can say I can’t wait to finish the issue and stare at Nick Dragotta’s seriously brilliant art he provides for this title. Every issue has been worth every cent. If you haven’t touched this title you need the trades, and everything that leads to this issue.

EAST OF WEST #11
story JONATHAN HICKMAN
art / cover NICK DRAGOTTA
MARCH 26 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.50
“THE NATION, XIAOLIAN”
The Bride of Death makes her first moves in the great game of Nations. The Chosen begin to splinter.

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Taylor: Captain Marvel #2

Issue #2 of Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Captain Marvel hits the shelves this week, continuing the title character’s adventures through space. With the plot picking up steam and the venue expanding to cosmic proportions, this issue promises to be a lot of fun. And honestly, it’s hard to not like a book where the main character names her cat “Chewie”.

CAPTAIN MARVEL #2
Kelly Sue DeConnick (Writer) • DAVID LOPEZ (Artist)
Artist Variant by J.G. Jones
• Higher, faster, further…. WAR?!
• Captain Marvel forges towards the final frontier—and is thrown into the frontlines of battle.
• Can this half-alien survive in an all alien-world?
• The breakout hit of 2012 makes a glorious return!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

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Christian: Batman Eternal #1

This is a book I’ve been looking forward to for a while now. If any single character in the DC Universe deserves a weekly title, it’s the Dark Knight himself, Batman. I’m expecting a face-paced, entertaining story that not only makes this first issue a must-read but also shows some building for the future. They’ve got a lot of issues to fill in this series, and if they want to sell all those issues this first one is going to have to be awesome. So look for it to be.

BATMAN ETERNAL #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, JOHN LAYMAN, RAY FAWKES and TIM SEELEY
Art and cover by JASON FABOK
1:50 Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT
On sale APRIL 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
Don’t dare miss the start of the Bat-story so big it’s going to take every week of the month to tell! A massive cast of Gotham City’s best (and worst) examines the relationship between Batman, his allies and his city. In this debut issue, Commissioner James Gordon is caught on the wrong side of the law!
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Gaumer: All-New Ghost Rider #2

There were moments in Ghost Rider issue #1 where my jaw dropped and I audibly gasped at the speed and beauty of Tradd Moore’s amazing work on art, and I have the highest confidence that he will be repeating that brilliance with issue #2 of All-New Ghost Rider. Writer Felipe Smith was no slouch on the story from ish #1, either, and I’m really excited to learn more about the newest Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes, as we go on this life-altering journey along with him. There’s plenty of questions leftover from the first ish of this series, and I’m ready to get to some answers.

ALL-NEW GHOST RIDER #2
FELIPE SMITH (Writer) • TRADD MOORE (Artist)
Variant by FELIPE SMITH
Vehicle Variant by Pop MHAN
“ENGINES OF VENGEANCE” PART 2
• ROBBIE REYES has been given a new awesome power but can the teen handle it or will it drive him to a path of destruction?
• Who owns the HAUNTED RACE CAR and what will they do to get it back?
• What are the PINK PILLS and who is behind their creation?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
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Those are our picks, what’s on the top of your stack this Wednesday?

This post brought to you by Comix City Too! in Madison Tennessee, Outright Geekery’s local comic shop of choice. Check out everything coming out this week in stores here, and be sure to get out to your local comic shop.

Review: Captain Marvel #1

CAPTAIN MARVEL #1
KELLY SUE DECONNICK
DAVID LOPEZ (A/C)
32 PGS.
Rated T+
$3.99

The one, the only, Carol Danvers is back! It’s funny because I didn’t realize she left in the first place. Oh, I knew she was there before. People couldn’t stop ranting and raving about the amazing job Kelly Sue DeConnick was doing with Captain Marvel, a character that was never really able to carve out her own personal niche. Alas, Captain Marvel’s groundbreaking last run was canceled a month or so ago and was then relaunched with this first issue of Captain Marvel, and all I can ask myself is “why?” Why cancel a book that has reached a certain standard of success and begin a new volume? Honestly, I can’t figure it out, and this first issue of Captain Marvel makes almost no sense at all in its own context.

The Good

The art in this book is very strong, quite consistent, and does a great job of carrying a story full of flashbacks, alien worlds, and superhero shenanigans. The writing was equally nice, with each and every character coming off as authentic, and each and every scene transitioning nicely to the next. This first ish was supposed to set up Carol’s whole “journey of self” via journey through space adventure; culminating with her joining the Guardians of the Galaxy at some point; and that aspect of this new direction for the character showed nicely. Despite this being an issue #1, however, it felt more like the last issue of a run, not the first.

The Bad.

Although the book begins with Captain Marvel on an alien planet with some unknown alien cohorts, the majority of the issue is a flashback, giving some closure to what I can only assume were things that occurred in the previous volume of Captain Marvel. Now that’s all fine and good for readers of THAT comic, but this was NOT that comic. This was supposed to be something new to attract new readers, and it was nothing more than an homage to a previous piece of work, and a reward for long-time readers. While I’m really happy for those devoted readers, this first issue of a new volume did nothing to help attract new readers, which should be the goal of a new volume and a #1. It felt more like a blatant bait and switch and abuse of the relaunch than I have experienced in quite some time.

The Verdict

This was a great comic book, but a really bad first issue. If this had been the bridging title between two story arcs it may have been closer to a perfect comic, but because of the terrible presentation and misdirection of an assumed relaunch, everything just fell flat. I love Carol Danvers as a character, and I can’t wait until she joins the Guardians, but Captain Marvel #1 was not the book I was looking for, did not feel like the first issue of a new volume, and should not have been released as such. Issue #2 promises to be a true “first issue” story, but I’m not going to be taking the chance.

Story: 2 out of 5
Art: 3.5 out of 5
Overall: 2.5 out of 5

Geeks’ Picks for New Comics: March 12th, 2014

New Comics Wednesday is upon us again, and some of us here at Outright Geekery are running down our top pick on comic stacks for this week.

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Jules: Avengers Undercover #1

If you you missed out on Dennis Hopeless and Kev Walker’s run of Avengers Arena, do yourself a favor and pick it up. It may not have been the most original story. It may have been Battle Royale with Avengers Academy/Runaways/random Marvel teens, but it was a ton of fun. The creative team looks to further their story which began in Avengers Arena into Avengers Undercover. What remains of the characters are now going behind enemy lines and working with such Villains as Baron Zemo! I’m stoked! Avengers Arena was the big shock of Marvel Now! for me, and I hope Avengers Undercover will be the shock of All-New Marvel Now!

AVENGERS UNDERCOVER #1
DENNIS HOPELESS • KEV WALKER (A)
Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
VARIANT cover by Mark Brooks
WHEN TEEN HEROES INFILTRATE THE MASTERS OF EVIL, WHO WILL BREAK BAD?
Damaged by their experience in Murder World, five conflicted young superhumans go rogue and infiltrate the Masters of Evil, planning to bring the Avengers’ rivals down from within. But the longer the teens spend undercover, the more they descend into darkness, and as they start to build relationships with these multi-layered criminals, the line between good and evil blurs. What will happen first…joining the Masters for real, or getting exposed and killed? If you thought Murder World was dangerous, just wait until “Most Promising New Talent” Harvey award-winner Dennis Hopeless and acclaimed artist Kev Walker surround you with Evil!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

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Gaumer: Black Widow #4

It’s a relatively light week for me, but an important one for the relationship I’m having with one Natalia Alianovna “Natasha” Romanova. This is issue #4 of Black Widow, and while the first three single, seemingly one-shot, issues of this comic were a tour de force of artwork, the story, while quite entertaining, was missing that long-term plot that it so reminiscent of Marvel Comics. Sure, that’s a breath of fresh air, but Black Widow is way too important and interesting a character for her to be limited in such a way. I’m looking for the “big picture” to start revealing itself, or I may be looking for a replacement book. Either way, I’ll be reading this one first come Wednesday, it’s on the top of my stack.

BLACK WIDOW #4
NATHAN EDMONDSON • Phil NOTO (A/C)
• From the cold streets of old Russia, the Hand of God reaches out to crush Black Widow—and it is merciless.
• Outmatched by the brute force of a powerful new villain, Natasha finds a deadly plot unfolding that spans the entire globe
• Jump on to the sensational new series as the most lethal The Avenger faces her deadliest test!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

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Taylor: Captain Marvel #1

The best new thing that not nearly enough people were reading is getting another relaunch this week as Kelly Sue DeConnick and David Lopez bring us another volume of Captain Marvel. Don’t miss out this time around.

CAPTAIN MARVEL #1
KELLY SUE DECONNICK
DAVID LOPEZ (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY JOHN CASSADAY
ANIMAL VARIANT BY DAVID LOPEZ
YOUNG VARIANT BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
HIGHER, FURTHER, FASTER, MORE begins!
Hero! Pilot! Avenger! Captain Marvel, Earth’s Mightiest Hero with death-defying powers and an attitude to match, is back and launching headfirst into an all-new ongoing series! As Captain Marvel, a.k.a. Carol Danvers, comes to a crossroads with a new life and new romance, she makes a dramatic decision that will alter the course of her life and the entire Marvel Universe in the months to come. It’s time to go HIGHER, FURTHER, FASTER and more in the most super-powered comic around!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

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J. Jonah Jesse: Minimum Wage #3

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Bob Fingerman’s Minimum Wage since it relaunched in Jan. Fingerman really nails the “slice of life” comic style and keeps you asking for more of his jaded self deprecating sense of humor. In this issue we are promised a new milestone in his current relationship and the meeting of a favorite tv star of his childhood. This series is definitely worth checking out and there is no time like the present to jump on the bandwagon for this great title.

MINIMUM WAGE #3
story BOB FINGERMAN
art / cover BOB FINGERMAN
MARCH 12 / 24 PAGES / BW / M / $3.50
Rob and May reach an unforeseen milestone in their relationship, but that’s nothing compared to his chance encounter with the eccentric co-star of one of his favorite childhood TV shows. Uncomfortable hugs, inappropriate cabbies, obese Klingons, and really creepy puppets flesh out the third issue of BOB FINGERMAN’s so-real-it-hurts series.

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CrimsonChris: Batgirl #29

The fact that the name Gail Simone appears on the cover of this book puts it at the very top of my reading stack this week. The fact that this arc has been awesome, the new villain is really cool, and there’s vampires. Like I, Vampire vampires! It seems like too long since that book went away, and seeing some of those elements thrown in here, with Ms. Simone at the helm, is going to be sweet! Am I looking forward to this one? Yeah, just a bit!

BATGIRL #29
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by FERNANDO PASARIN and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by ALEX GARNER
1:25 Robot Chicken Variant cover
On sale MARCH 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Dead before sunrise! Batgirl and the Talon known as Strix race to stop the new villain SILVER, who has ties to I, VAMPIRE star Andrew Bennett!

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Those are our picks, what’s on the top of your stack in comic shops this Wednesday?

This post brought to you by Comix City Too! in Madison Tennessee, Outright Geekery’s local comic shop of choice. Check out everything coming out this week in stores here, and be sure to get out to your local comic shop.

Marvelous Wednesday for Marvel

Coming from a week off Jonathan Hickman’s Infinity hits hard this week Part Four of Six was by most accounts EXTREMELY EPIC. The Combo of Dustin Weaver’s beautiful pages with Jerome Opena’s is a symphony of wonderful art to press on this incredible story. As the cover suggest Thor makes his presence known to the builders in a way I was not even kinda prepared for. The good Captain plan begins to unfold for all to see, and the answer to who would win Between Thanos and Blackbolt (which I don’t agree with but how can I argue when its here in cannon for all to see), oh just for kicks THANOS’ son revealed! Quite frankly there is so much more…The Art is top notch, the writing is Prime, This Is A BUY TWICE….

Moving into the next big event between Marvel pages is the ever continuing cluster that is Battle of the Atom, Chapter 7. I have to say I’ve been very impressed how from title to title this event has flowed so well, you’d have no idea three different writers were at the helm of this event. This week its Wood with plain old X-men, and it kicks all the @$$. Very pleased with how his pretty much All Female team takes to the event. Me also being a product of the 90’s I’m always happy to see Jubilee, even if she’s still a vampire(seriously that’s still a thing? Aren’t the X-men convoluted enough?) Well we see yet another twist that was sorta hinted at in the last chapter, except NO ONE SAW THAT NEW CHARACTER COMING. I don’t care if you saw that cover in previews with Him in it, you didn’t see that reveal coming. Don’t know what I’m talking about…READ IT! David Lopez of course provide the kinda visuals you want in an X-book, Its mos def(not the rapper) a Buy in the Singles

Now if you’re not reading this title you are missing out on one of the best action packed, mindf#(<*ng titles to come out of Marvel in some years. I know what you’re thinking, Captain America, man out of time, Great American Hero, Punched Hitler in the face(seriously cover of issue one, the original issue one, google it) yes the man is all that, but this title takes a look at Cap that hadn’t been really taken. What were his parents like, what would he be like if he was a dad, does he linger on the past too much, is he really acclimating to the present, all of these questions and you get to see Cap Beat some serious @$$. This Issue is pure setup, Cap is struggling after Dimension Z, hangs out with Falcon(so glad he’s relevant again, yeah I think he’s awesome wanna fight about it?). The cover tells no lies and I won’t either when I say you see Pacheco draw Nuke doing some messed up stuff. Rick Remender easily one of my favorite writers out there right now, pick this up in the Singles!!!!

Well I started with Thor I’m going out on Thor! This book is unbelievably episodic! Jason Aaron has taken Thor and made him exactly what you remember him as before movies, cartoons, and all that hoodoo. The title says it all, its about THOR GOD OF THUNDER, and ironically just in time for the next movie, Malekith the Accursed has made his way of becoming the main villain of this title. Now not gonna lie, Malekith being one of my favorite Thor villains of all time(Yes way over Loki, I know you think that actor is cute but read some books, he’s not that lovable far more vile) but I’m gonna be honest Gorr The God Butcher(Yes he killed whole Pantheons through out the Universe) is a serious hard act to follow. But With Ron Garney’s art, a rag tag team of warriors of the Nine Realms(Thor is the only one from Asgard! I’m excited about that, I’m sorry there’s a lot more to lore and mythology than just the Gods and Warriors of Asgard). Jason Aaron has seriously provided a Thor title for Thor Fans. Loved it, Buy it in the singles!!!

Thats all from the Marvel side of things this week folks, JulesTrue here saying I’ll see you next time, Be sure to catch me ramble on about all things Marvel on Weekly Recs on YouTube, and more to come on here!

-julestrue