Happy New Year! We hope you get to make your regularly scheduled trip to the comic store this week and when you do, take into consideration this Triple Shot!
G.I. Joe gets a new writer that explores the origins of different Cobra Commanders past and present, the new Beetle’s origin starts at a birthday party years ago in The Superior Foes of Spider-Man, and Hulk gets mad when people start invading his space in Indestructible Hulk #17.
Kami is a nice quick chaser over at ComiXology.
G.I. JOE #12
WRITER: Paul Allor
ART: Alex Cal, Steve Kurth
Publication Date: December 31, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: IDW Publishing
UPC: 82771400431101211
Buy it HERE
It is no surprise to anyone that I am a fanatical G.I. Joe fan, I literally wear it on my sleeve in the form of an Arashikage tattoo.
Larry Hama’s Marvel run (continuing to date over at IDW) is what got me into comics, and the reboot of the franchise at IDW has impressed and compelled me to write about the multiple IDW series from the get go.
That was because names like Chuck Dixon, Hama, Christos Gage, Mike Costa and Fred Van Lente were carrying on the legacy.
Sure, the main series has had its low points but in general, overall I have been happy.
To my surprise, a guest on my podcast, a relative unknown writer in the scheme of things, Paul Allor was tapped to take over for Fred Van Lente on Season 3 after his departure. Allor cut his teeth in Comics Experience (online classes led by former Joe Editor Andy Schmidt) and quickly got pro work on several TMNT titles.
Allor is picking up on a Gage and Costa concept from G.I. Joe: Cobra in which the Cobra organization has been around for centuries. Like an anonymous Pope, one Commander is replaced by the next, hiding his identity.
This book tells the story of at least two Commanders, not including the present day as C.C. hires a Press Agent to tell the story behind Cobra.
Taking over for one of comics hottest writers, Fred Van Lente can not be easy, and I am delighted to say Paul Allor pulls it off! I can’t wait for the next issue, and more ghosts of Cobra Commanders past!
THE SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #7
WRITER: Nick Spencer
ARTIST: Rich Ellis
Publication Date: December 31, 2013
Price: $2.99
Publisher: Marvel Comics
75960607941400711
Buy it HERE
Man Alive, Nick Spencer writes great comics.
In the vein of Marvel wunderkind Hawkeye (I just barreled through the whole Fraction series this holiday break) comes a different kind of Marvel Comic.
This self-aware, funny, cleanly drawn exercise in expanding our minds about the current status quo is more than refreshing — it is downright liberating. The type of humor being brought to the table in both Superior Foes and Hawkeye are what you might expect in an independent book, but the great thing is that this exists in the 616.
Am I really writing your 1,000th Hawkeye review for your tired eyes, reader?
No! Of course not.
Well maybe a little bit. These two books work well in tandem is all I’m saying.
Spidey villain Tombstone is responsible for bringing our little girl Janice into the world.
Flashback to her attending a birthday party as a little girl, where she ends up stealing all the presents! Flash forward to Janice becoming the worst evil doer in the world, a lawyer, and begging her daddy for a shot at becoming a super villain. Daddy doesn’t help but maybe Fixer and Zemo can help her become the new Beetle!
This story is a one-shot origin, don’t be scared of the #7.
Recommended if you like books like Hawkeye that aren’t Hawkeye, OK?
Futz, I’ve done it again.
INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #17
WRITER: Mark Waid
ARTIST: Clay Mann
Publication Date: December 18, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: Marvel Comics
UPC: 75960607908701711
Buy it HERE
This has something to do with the Inhumanity ‘event’ at Marvel but to be honest it is only a day into the new year and I’m exhausted from event fatigue!
Maybe I should turn this Gamma Ray light on to expose myself to much needed Vitamin D we are lacking in the winter.
No matter, Waid can still write an in-event comic without boring the rest of us, continuing his great run on Indestructible Hulk.
Particularly great interaction between the book’s guests, Hank Pym, Tony Stark, Hank McCoy and Banner / Hulk.
Not since Fraction’s run have I voiced Iron Man’s character with the snarky RDJ dialogue, Waid nails the essence of Tony and also the friendship between him and Bruce.
Clay Mann (X-Men: Legacy) not only has a great first name, but draws in the style of the book’s first artist, Lenil Yu. Indestructible has a Movie-Universe vibe (in a good way) and could sit nicely on the shelf next to Ultimate versions of the character.
There’s a bomb, there’s a “who’s smarter?” scientist fight, and Black Bolt gets a splash page.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think this was a Lee / Kirby joint!
KAMI #1 (of 4)
WRITER / ARTIST: Clay Eichner
Price: $.99
Imprint: Runky Productions
Page Count: 26
Digital Release Date: December 31, 2013
Age Rating: 12+ Only
Buy it HERE
Kami #1 is a nearly all ages study in Shinto religion whereby objects are given human properties and supernatural powers based on their essence.
We open on a rock, a twig and sprout, on their way to train in the woods with their masters.
They are attacked by the four armed Ganesh and left to fend for themselves! This is a fun spirit play on the hero’s journey, with a backdrop of Eastern religion.
Fun story and art.
