This Month In Comics: July 2010

[Jin Kazama]

Highlights of the Week!

Welcome to This Month in Comics for July 2010!

This is the place to discuss the comics you've bought this month, whether it be a brand new title or old back-issues. We also welcome and encourage talk about comics in general - news you've read on comic news sites, the state of the industry in general, upcoming issues you're excited about, etc. All we ask is that you please use spoiler brackets in the event that your comments get too detailed concerning a particular storyline. This way the book won't be ruined for anyone who hasn't read it yet.

It's New Comic Book Day for the week of June 30, 2010 - July 06, 2010!

For a list of the new items shipping this week, please consult Diamond Comics' Shipping List (http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/lists/comiclist-for-06-30-2010).

To find a comic book store near you, check out the Comic Shop Locator Service (http://www.comicshoplocator.com/).


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Top Picks Of The Month


.......http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100166.jpg...............................................................http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100651.jpg.....
.Time Masters: The Vanishing Point #1 (of 6) (DC Comics)......................................Scarlet #1 (Marvel Comics)



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Highlights of the Week!



Xurk's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ap/apr100141.jpg
Green Lantern #55



Antiyonder's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ap/apr100748.jpg.......................................................................http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ap/apr100541.jpg

The Sonic The Hedgehog #214.....Batman The Brave and The Bold #18.....X-Men Forever 2 #2.....Spider-Ham 25th Anniversary Special



Jin Kazama's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ap/apr100567.jpg..............................http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ap/apr100151.jpg
Captain America #607...................................................................The Flash #3..


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[Jin Kazama]

For the staff's picks of the month, we went with "Scarlet" and "Time Masters: The Vanishing Point."

Scarlet is he new creator-owned series by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, who have a very well known history together, working on both Daredevil and Spider Woman. Marvel's been really pushing their creator-owned items as of late, with such books as Kick Ass and Nemisis, and with the talent involved here, this looks to be no different.

Time Masters: The Vanishing Point is a tie-in to DC's big event right now, The Return of Bruce Wayne. But, maybe more than that, it's a huge push for Booster Gold, a character that many love, and a comic that many love, that may not be getting the eyes on it that many would hope. Yes, it revolves around Batman. Yes, it stars Superman and Green Lantern. But the focal character is Rip Hunter, and this comes directly out of the Booster Gold comic. This is a big push for the character.

As for my personal picks this week? I went with Captain America #607 and The Flash #3. The Captain America/Zemo storyline looks to be great, and while I'm still not sold on Barry Allen, the new Flash series has been pretty good, so I'm sticking on.

[ryandcow]

So possibly Vanishing Point is going to be the next big crisis type crossover for DC. They mentioned it In the first LOSH, and they changed the name of the Rip Hunter series. Just my theory. I think time will vanish. Booster heavy, to see if they can push him to the A-list sales wise.

[Antiyonder]

The Spider-Ham comic wasn't one I planned to get from the beginning of the month, but after hearing about it, I decided to go for it. Pretty fun skimming so far, so I imagine it will be better when thoroughly read.

Also a bit of a nice find. Though it has minor tears, I found "The Ren & Stimpy Show Special: Powdered Toastman #1" for 25 cents.

[ToonFaithful]

I saw Green Lantern #55 at my comic book store today. I was planning to get it but then I had my eyes on Green Lantern: Rebirth.

[Xurk]

Highlights of the Week!

It's New Comic Book Day for the week of July 07, 2010 - July 13, 2010!

For a list of the new items shipping this week, please consult Diamond Comics' Shipping List (http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/lists/comiclist-for-07-08-2010).

To find a comic book store near you, check out the Comic Shop Locator Service (http://www.comicshoplocator.com/).



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Highlights of the Week!



Xurk's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/MA/MAY100109D.jpg
Brightest Day #5



Antiyonder's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may101077.jpg

Smurfs #1



Jin Kazama's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100606.jpg..............................http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100612.jpg
Hit Monkey #1 (of 3)............................................................Steve Rogers: Super Soldier #1..


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[Jin Kazama]

My picks this week were, surprisingly, both Marvel. I usually try to pick one DC and one Marvel, so that both companies get some love (unless something else pops up like Lone Ranger), but DC didn't have anything this week that interested me.

I've seen online that Hit Monkey isn't exactly loved by the fans, but I thought he was great in the "Monkey Business" story of Deadpool, and the one-shot was pretty good. Not sure how he'll hold up maintaining his own mini, but I'm more than willing to give it a shot.

As for "Super Soldier," I'm on the fence about it. I love Brubaker's take on Steve, and Eaglesham's done some amazing work. But I don't really feel the need for it other than "Steve's Back, Now We Have To Do Something With Him." I like him in the Nick Fury role, and he has part of the spotlight in Secret Avengers. Hopefully it will be good, but I'm not sure on it.

[Antiyonder]

Not sure if I'll commit to the Smurfs Graphic Novel, but #1 being sold for a dollar seems like a good deal to me.

[Ed Liu]

Aw, MAN, Atlas is getting canceled (http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/07/13/jeff-parker-ken-hale-on-gorilla-man-the-end-of-agents-of-atlas/). Admittedly, it's Jeff Parker doing it and not Marvel Editorial Fiat, but I loved this series with the firey passion of a thousand exploding suns (or something) and I'm going to be sad to see it go.

On the other hand, this means that's one less thing I gotta buy from Marvel on an ongoing basis and I don't have to watch them turn to crap slowly, I guess.

[Jin Kazama]

Aw, MAN, Atlas is getting canceled (http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/07/13/jeff-parker-ken-hale-on-gorilla-man-the-end-of-agents-of-atlas/). Admittedly, it's Jeff Parker doing it and not Marvel Editorial Fiat, but I loved this series with the firey passion of a thousand exploding suns (or something) and I'm going to be sad to see it go.

On the other hand, this means that's one less thing I gotta buy from Marvel on an ongoing basis and I don't have to watch them turn to crap slowly, I guess.



Kind of reminds me of a Comic Critics strip (http://comiccritics.com/2010/06/17/agents-of-atlas-anonymous/) from not too long ago.

I keep telling myself that, with as much of a good word of mouth the series has, I need to get into it. I read the first issue when Marvel made it one of it's $1 "Marvel's Greatest Comics" issues, and wasn't wildly impressed. Then again, some of my favorite series had some fairly lackluster first story arcs before acquiring greatness.

[Xurk]

Highlights of the Week!

It's New Comic Book Day for the week of July 14, 2010 - July 20, 2010!

For a list of the new items shipping this week, please consult Diamond Comics' Shipping List (http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/lists/comiclist-for-07-14-2010).

To find a comic book store near you, check out the Comic Shop Locator Service (http://www.comicshoplocator.com/).



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Highlights of the Week!



Xurk's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100551.jpg
Amazing Spider-Man #637



Antiyonder's Picks:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Pyvi3dh7L._SL250_.jpg............................................................................. ...........http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100561.jpg

Case Closed V 35..Booster Gold #34..Sonic Universe #18..Super Hero Squad #7..X-Men Forever 2 #3..Uncle Scrooge #393..The Spectacular Spider-Girl #3



Jin Kazama's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100148.jpg..............................http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100149.jpg
Batgirl #12............................................................Superman #701..


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[Jin Kazama]

I had to make up for picking two Marvel titles last week by picking two DC ones this week. :D

Seriously, though. My picks were Batgirl #12 and Superman #701.

Batgirl? Look at that cover. That thing is awesome. Love that cover to death. The series has been great, probably my favorite thing to come out of this "Batman: Reborn" thing, so that helps. But....look at that cover. So great.

I also went with Superman #701 because I really enjoyed Superman #700. The whole "Grounded" storyline seems fun. I'm not sure if I like it happening for a year (which is how long it's going for, I think I remember reading), as the novelty is probably going to wear thin. But I'm going to give it a shot for a few issues.

[Jin Kazama]

DC Comic Creative Team Line-Up Changes!

DC’s announced via their Source Blog a ton of creative team changes/adjusts (as well as a few new titles) this week.

On the Batman front, Tony Daniel is staying on as writer/artist of the main “Batman” title (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/07/14/confirmed-tony-daniel-ongoing-writerartist-on-batman/) once his RIP/Final Crisis interlude with Grant Morrison is over with. And Paul Cornell and Jimmy Broxton are doing a six-issue “Knight and Squire” mini (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/07/12/paul-cornell-takes-on-the-knight-squire/). Right off signing his exclusive deal with DC, Scott Snyder of “American Vampire” fame is going to be the new writer for Detective Comics (http://http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/07/14/meet-your-new-detective-comics-writer-scott-snyder/). Lastly, the creative force once behind Green Lantern Corps, Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason, are the new creative team on Batman and Robin (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/07/15/batman-and-robin-met-peter-and-patrick/).

Speaking of both Green Lantern Corps and exclusive contracts, Tyler Kirkham has signed one and is the new artist for Green Lantern Corps (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/07/16/tyler-kirkham-%e2%80%93-exclusive-to-dc-and-drawing-green-lantern-corps/). Marc Guggenheim is going to be the new writer of the flagship Justice Society of America comic (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/07/14/marc-guggenheim-joins-up-with-the-justice-society-of-america/), and Nicola Scott is drawing the J.T. Krul-penned Teen Titans (http://http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/07/14/nicola-scott-joins-jt-krul-on-teen-titans/), with a familiar line-up and the possible addition of a certain bat-related character.

My personal thought on some of this? I’m glad. I was, literally, months away from dropping everything “Batman.” I was playing it out until the “Return of Bruce Wayne” mini ended to see what the status quo was going to be, but I’ve been very unhappy with the direction Morrison has taken the franchise for some time now. Having not just a new creative team on Batman/Robin, but a great creative team that made an amazing comic in Green Lantern Corps, has me staying on. Daniel didn’t “wow” me with his writer/artist gig so far, but it hasn’t been terrible either, so I’ll stick with it a little longer.

Not to mention, I can finally get back into Teen Titans. That series has been in such horrible shape for a long time now. Scott’s done some great work on Secret Six, and, “Rise of Arsenal” aside, I’ve like Krul’s work on both Green Arrow and Blackest Night: Titans. I’ll easily give this another run. I can stomach Damian long enough to get Bart, Conner and Wonder Girl together again.

[Ed Liu]

Matt Fraction blabs about a whole lot of stuff to GQ (http://www.gq.com/entertainment/books/201006/casanova-matt-fraction-comic-preview-q-and-a?currentPage=1), of all places. It's a whopping 11-page interview and it's as dense and fascinating as the best of his comics. He talks about how Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba essentially did Casanova for free, and how things have been at Marvel after the Disney merger (answer: no change, just as promised), and where he's coming from with all this crazy stuff and more.

Only up to page 3, but it's wicked cool. I think he's kind of the more accessible Grant Morrison or the slightly more humanistic Warren Ellis; he's got Morrison's insane ideas flying fast and furious, but he can craft them into a better story, and he's got the same wicked techno-strangeness of Ellis without the same cold, clinical feeling I get out of Ellis' works.

[Antiyonder]

Gave my imput of X-Men Origins: Deadpool #1 in the talkback. But after some people suggesting it to me, I guess I'll be getting the Simpsons comic mini featuring Comic Book Guy. Though for right now the issues will be put on hold until I have money to spare for them.

[wonderfly]

Awesome! I'm on Amazon.com as an author! (http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Spider-Man-Official-Marvel-Universe/dp/0785145885/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1279553209&sr=1-1-fkmr1) (it's the listing for the just released Amazing Spider-Man Index TPB - which you should get because it has everything you ever wanted to know about Amazing Spider-Man Issues 1 to 600). :)

But I was like "for real, I'm on Amazon?!? Look out, Stephen King!!" :p

[wonderfly]

Dynamite Entertainment launches a new "John Carter: Warlord of Mars" series! (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=27272)

Haven't read those books since High School...but the comic book adaptation (at least the covers) seems faithful to the books!

[Antiyonder]

Highlights of the Week!

It's New Comic Book Day for the week of July 21, 2010 - July 27, 2010!

For a list of the new items shipping this week, please consult Diamond Comics' Shipping List (http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/lists/comiclist-for-07-21-2010).

To find a comic book store near you, check out the Comic Shop Locator Service (http://www.comicshoplocator.com/).



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Highlights of the Week!



Antiyonder's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100875f.jpg

Darkwing Duck #2



Jin Kazama's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100642.jpg...............................http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100217.jpg
X-Factor #207..................................................................Tiny Titans #30


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[Jin Kazama]

Highlights of the Week!

It's New Comic Book Day for the week of July 28, 2010 - August 3, 2010!

For a list of the new items shipping this week, please consult Diamond Comics' Shipping List (http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/lists/comiclist-for-07-28-2010).

To find a comic book store near you, check out the Comic Shop Locator Service (http://www.comicshoplocator.com/).



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Highlights of the Week!



Antiyonder's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/MA/MAY100646D.jpg (http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/400/MA/MAY100646D.jpg)

X-Men Forever 2 #4..........Batman The Brave and The Bold #19



Jin Kazama's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100216.jpg...............................http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may100127.jpg
Batman: Brave and the Bold #19..................................................................The Flash #4


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[Jin Kazama]

For my picks this week, I went with Batman: Brave and the Bold #19 and The Flash #4.

With Batman, I've not been a huge fan of the series. I've picked up a few issues here and there, but, then again, I'm not a huge fan of the show, so it's not that big of a surprise to me. But something about playing out the whole Hal Jordan/Cyborg Superman deal in a kids comic just blows my mind. I have to pick it up just to see it with my own eyes.

As for Flash, I have not been enjoying it as much as I wanted to, but it's still a good series. And having stuff like the recent return of Flash Facts in the last issue, and the Rogue Profile issue coming up soon, gives me much hope that the series will return to the way I used to love it.