1-23-08

Blue Beetle #23

This is one of those books that are just waiting to be done as a "you should be reading this." A while back I did a personal list for myself of the 10 comics I would buy if I could only buy 10 a month. I decided it would probably be the issues that every month when it comes out, I can't wait to read it. This is one of those titles. Every story is fun and smart, and unlike most other superhero teens like Robin or Wondergirl, Blue Beetle has no experience whatsoever. And that's part of what makes it so great. This comic has great characters, and ropes in an extremely interesting supporting cast of original characters, and also characters from around the DCU (like Guy Gardner and Blue Beetle's girlfriend, Traci 13). Right now the writer, John Rogers, is working up to the end of the second year of Blue Beetle, and the conflict involved with the Reach, which is where the scarab that gives Jaime his powers.

 

Countdown to Mystery #5

Whenever I first picked this up, it was kind of on a whim. I figured why not, Doctor Fate story may be cool, and hey, Matt Sturges of Jack of Fables fame is writing the Eclipso backup. This has probably turned into the best random pickup of the past year. The art changed up on this particular issue, and continued the new adventures of Eclipso and the Spectre. Also, more development regarding the character introduced and killed in the last issue during the Doctor Fate section.

Punisher #54

Punisher has a baby! omg! This may be a reference to early in the series, which I have not read all of yet. And Barracuda may be one of the most frightning, most fucked up villain ever. If this had been the last story arc, it would have been a fitting ending to Ennis' run. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.

Ultimate Fantastic Four #50

Mike Carey has done amazing work on this book, and the underlying storyline that's been running since God War begins coming to a head 

here. There's alot of stuff in this that is not only the classic Jim Starlin cosmic Marvel stuff, but also Kirby's Fourth World (which for you noobs is DC), which as you might imagine, is somewhat of a challenger when working for the competing publisher...