Out today (that you should be buying)

Singles:

Huntress: Year One # 3

This has been really good so far. In terms of DC's move for a Year One series on everyone, this and the Green Arrow ones have been the only one's I've liked so far (though I didn't read the Teen Titans one, so I guess that means I didn't like Metamorpho's). In all seriousness, this Year One (in the first two issues) comes very close to what I imagine as a Year One story should be. In addition, the writer is doing a magnificent job for not having written very many comics before. I'm looking forward to this one today.

Tiny Titans #5

What? you aren't reading this book? For shame! Despite it being mostly a children's book, if you are a fan of the Teen Titans books and also like things that are fun, then check this out. 

NewUniversal: Shockfront #2

And if you didn't get the first issue, I'm sure they've still got some. Warren Ellis' take on the world of the New Universe has been fantastic, and the story continues on here, introducing more people affected by the White Event. Don't know what I'm talking about? First soft trade is out there, with art by Salvador Larocca.

Sky Doll #2

After a few years of being overloaded with manga, finally the US get's us some French comics. Okay, so we've had some French comics translated and brought over here (fantastic stuff too, like Epileptic and Persepolis), but y'know, I'm a junkie. I need MOOOORE. Sky Doll is well written, funny, colourful, and also has naked robot chicks, cause Marvel/Soliel knows what you want.

and The Trades

The Programme Vol. 1

Basically "what if the Cold War produced superheroes," but with a few interesting twists. Like most weapons in the Cold War, these super-powered beings were never used. And when some of the Russian super-powereds accidentally get activated and start wreaking havoc, things go bad. And what's the US's secret weapon doing? Why he's running a bar. And he doesn't really want to fight. Lots of other interesting stuff, including racial tensions and the only other US super-being, an African-American man programmed with the personality of Joseph McCarthy.

The Question: Five Books of Blood HC

Usually I don't make a big deal about hardcovers and just wait for the soft. But in this case, it may contain the case file or a copy of it that was released as promo material. I know that Rucka was pushing for it. Otherwise, herein contains the first Renee Montoya as The Question story outside of the 52 series. I really don't think much else has to be said aside from that, though I think some of the loose ends of the series here may be wrapped up in Final Crisis or elsewhere soon.

Vinyl Underground Vol. 1

Ten dollars folks. Ten dollars. That's all you have to pay to get into this series, which is a neat little horror investigation book. The characters herein are well written and each being quite unique from the other. In this particular story a boy is killed in a way that points back to prominent African man and the use of African magical practices. There's alot of neat stuff in here, and incentive to continue reading from here, the next story goes into a group obsessed with William Blake.

More recent cancellations...

Upon further thought, a few more titles recently facing cancellation came to mind. Some I just became aware of today, much like the other day, when I read the next issue of All-New Atom would be the last. Today, I read the last issue of Midnighter. 

Now, it had occured to me that the solicitations for the new Authority series were a good indication the series would not be picking back up, and that Wildstorm was stream-lining their books again. Regardless, I find it sad, since this has been such a fantastic book, with the only slow spot being in the most recent arc, where there was one issue with almost no dialogue at all. However, the series got off to a brilliant start with Garth Ennis' opening (available currently in trade), and then followed by a series of one-shots by various writers and artists before Keith Giffen took over and took the book in a great new direction, placing Midnighter at the centre-point of a happy-as-apple-pie town under the protection of a patriotic group called Anthem. 

Crossing Midnight can be hard to get into. I tried to read a few individual issues to start off, but it just didn't seem to be happening. "How can this be?" I thought to myself. "I love Mike Carey." And so I took the chance and picked up the first trade, which by the way folks is 9.99. Anyway, what this book brings (much like particular selections from Mike Carey's amazing series, Lucifer) is a great look at Japanese culture and traditions, both current and modern, without actually using a manga format which I usually just hear people complain about. The story of these two twins born on opposite sides of midnight, and find themselves on opposite sides of a battle as to who is the rightful god of blades. Currently there are two trades out, Cut Here and A Map of Midnight, both great stories. The last issue comes out this month, #19.

Also finishing up this month is a book I was aware of being cancelled much further in advance, and I think that mostly has to do with the fact that they were being allowed a chance to finish up their story. Exterminators has become one of my favorite books period. Besides being amusing, and having a captivating story, and being rather disgusting at times, it's just plain awesome. I never thought I would be waiting anxiously for that next issue of a book about exterminators fighting off and ancient Egyptian power controlling the bugs and pests of Los Angeles? There's so much involved in this book... just go read it. #30, the last issue, comes out this month. There are currently 4 trades out, and the last will be the fifth, all decently priced (at least 14.99 or less). 

I'll try to get some pictures up for these soon, but I'm about to pass out. 

For those about to be cancelled

I'm going to be late for work today due to this, but I had it on my mind and wanted to spit it out before I leave. 

3 of the books I read on a regular basis, one of which was on my favorites list, are being/have been cancelled by DC. It's rather sad really, because they were all rather good books. I will say though, that Shadowpact did have a lull there before Matt Sturges took over from Willingham. 

Yes, these three books I speak of are Shadowpact, All-New Atom, and Infinity Inc. And by the way, DC does a spectacularly bad job of announcing the cancellation.

All New Atom had just started getting good in Remender's story arc. The first two issues? No, not so much. Last two issues? GREAT. There just wasn't a great transition between Gail Simone's take and Remender's take. One more issue of that.

Shadowpact is already over and done with, though apparently we'll see most of those folks in Keith Giffen's Reign in Hell. Looking forward to that, and thankfully, we are seeing members of Shadowpact bump around a little more often than we used to. But still, mystical DC book inside the DC Universe doesn't seem to do fantastically, sadly enough.

And finally, Infinity Inc., which aside from the first issue ads, has probably had the worst promotion by DC, EVER. No interviews with Milligan, no nothing. Which is a shame. Milligan has done some clever work here, with each character's power being someone representing in their power manifestation. And we get to see a bit more of the lives of these kids introduced in 52 than we previously had, not to mention some John Henry Irons action. 

For those interested, the first trade of Infinity Inc. just hit this past week. I believe 2 trades of All-New Atom are on the shelves as written by Gail Simone, and 2 of Shadowpact, the first being a decent price at what I believe is 8 issues for 14.99. 

From here on, this will be "You should be buying this," in hopes we can avoid this sort of thing in the future for decent books.