Captain America #600

This Week in Geek is a weekly blog about new comics written by WorthPoint comic book Worthologist Matt Baum. Every Wednesday, Matt takes a look at the week’s new comics from a collector’s point-of-view and discusses which books may be hard to find in the near future and why. Make sure to click on the hot links for previews and more information on the comics, characters, story-lines and creators discussed here. Also, feel free to post your comments in the new “comments” section below.

Ooh, Marvel Comics; it seems you really blew it this week. Not too long ago, Marvel sent out special ordering instructions for Captain America #600, which was going to be such a big event that it would even ship early. The catch was there was no info on the comic made available; just a promise of a media announcement so big that it would send collectors into a fit scrambling for the issue. So the retailers ordered, trusting Marvel to launch a media blitz. There was speculation that the actor playing Steve Rogers in the upcoming Cap movie might be announced.

Well the day came and went. Oh, you mean you didn’t hear the news? Cap #600 shipped this past Monday and the big news, Steve Rogers is coming back from the dead. And who was the national news outlet that broke the story that no one heard? The “New York Daily News” ran the story… Not CNN, not “USA Today.” Heck, Fox News didn’t even try to put a spin on this one. Not to take anything away from the “Daily News”—it’s a fine paper and website—just not the major media source most retailers were hoping for. When all was said and done, piles of Cap #600 showed up at shops on Monday and, for the most part, nobody knew. It was announced that Steve Rogers was coming back from the dead and, for the most part, nobody heard. In reaction to Marvel’s media debacle, writer Robert Kirkman sent out a very humorous press release for the upcoming issue of his comic Invincible. Maybe next time Marvel…

Like most people, I didn’t pick up my Cap #600 on Monday so you’ll be noticing it on my list of comics I’ll be purchasing this Wednesday, June 17, which you will find below. For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Action Comics Annual #12
Batman and the Outsiders #19
Batman: Streets of Gotham #1
Cable #15
Captain America #600
Captain Britain and MI:13 #14
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #4 of 5
Dark Reign: Hawkeye #3 of 5
Dark Reign: Mister Negative #1 of 3
Dark Reign: Young Avengers #2 of 5
Hellblazer #256
Incognito #4
The Invincible Iron Man #14
Mighty Avengers #26
Punisher #6
Supergirl #42

Thoughts on the pile: A huge pile indeed! This week is wallet-crushing but I just can’t pass on any of it. Action Comics continues to deliver and the one-two-punch of Rucka and Robinson is exactly what Supes needed. I admit I’ve never read Marc Andreyko’s Manhunter but am looking forward to him and Paul Dini’s Batman: Streets of Gotham (although the title is a bit of a mouthful). Four Dark Reign titles in one week? Yes, I’m a total Marvel slut. They’ve got me. But the writing is excellent; on all of them. Peter Milligan takes over Hellblazer this month and Simon Bisley supplies the cover art; sold! If you’re not reading Remender’s Punisher you are missing out. So yeah, I read a lot of comics. What of it?

Now let’s have a look at my Speculator Picks of the Week. These are titles that could sell out pretty quickly leaving unlucky collectors paying top dollar. Pay attention nerds.

Batman: Streets of Gotham #1: DC

Batman: Streets of Gotham #1

Solicitation: An all-new Batman series by the DETECTIVE COMICS creative team of Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen!

As a new Batman rises on the streets of Gotham City, the heroes, villains and citizens take notice. How will the police feel about this new Batman, and can he control the crime in Gotham the way the old Batman did?

This new series also features a regular ongoing co-feature starring Manhunter, written by Marc Andreyko and illustrated by Georges Jeanty (Buffy Season 8)! Kate Spencer lost a friend during the chaos of BATTLE FOR THE COWL, and now she wants payback. As usual, she’ll use any means necessary to get it!

40 PGS
$3.99 US
APR090156
Written by Paul Dini and Marc Andreyko; Pencils by Dustin Nguyen and Georges Jeanty.

Why it’ll go fast: I’m pumped for this one. Paul Dini’s Batman is always fun but add a Manhunter back-up by Marc Andreyko and this comic irresistible. I’m predicting Street’s of Gotham #1 outsells Dini’s Detective Comics by a solid margin. I mention Detective Comics because most retailers will be using their numbers on Detective to gauge how to order this title. The $3.99 price tag could make retailers a bit squeamish when ordering as well. Especially with all the special-event comics coming from Marvel this summer eating up DC sales.

G.I. Joe: Cobra #4: IDW

G.I. Joe: Cobra #4

Solicitation: The shattering conclusion!

Chuckles has sacrificed everything to get into a position where he can bring Cobra down from within. Now that he’s finally there, will he succeed in destroying Cobra… or himself?

$3.99 US
APR090864
Written by Christos Gage and Mike Costa; Pencils by Antonio Fuso; Cover by Howard Chaykin.

Why it’ll go fast: G.I. Joe: Cobra is being called the best Joe comic ever written by guys who have read G.I. Joe Comics from day one. This series was underestimated since issue one and has been selling out every month. EBay is finally starting to see back issues, but they are not selling cheap. I’m even kicking myself for not reading this series and, to be honest, I can’t remember the last time I read a G.I. Joe comic.

War of Kings: Ascension #3 of 4

War of Kings: Ascension #3 of 4

Solicitation: A WAR OF KINGS TIE-IN! The true purpose of Darkhawk… finally revealed! But is this sinister secret more than Chris Powell—or the entire galaxy—can take? Can he rise to greatness, or will this crushing weight pull Darkhawk down into the abyss? It’s shocks aplenty from the storyline. CBR.com calls it “…an angst-filled adventure that will have repercussions for months to come”! Rated T.

32 PGS
$3.99 US
APR090523
Written by Andy Lanning and Dan Abnett; Pencils by Wellinton Alves; Cover by Guru-efx.

Why it’ll go fast: I can’t tell you how much it blows my mind that I’m talking about the popularity of comic that stars Darkhawk, which just goes to show how good Abnett and Lanning really are. War of Kings is another cosmic hit for Marvel, and Ascension seems to be the most under-ordered of the tie-ins. Most retailers have given up on Ascension after not being able to re-order sold out issues of #1 and #2, so don’t expect to see piles of issue #3.

Nerdy Question of the Week:

Who made a special trip to their comic shop this past Monday to pick up Cap #600? If you did make the trip, how did you find out the comic was shipping early?

Thanks again for your continued input and keep the answers to the nerdy questions coming. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question below in the “Leave a Reply” section below. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your comics in the “Ask a Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

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The list of the top 300 comics in sales for March came out this week and with it, I can breathe a little easier. After months of biting my fingernails and worrying about the future of comics like Guardians of the Galaxy (58th) and Nova (62nd), I was happy to see both titles moved up in sales, possibly fueled by sales of War of Kings #1, which checked in at the 14th spot on the chart—much higher than I expected. Other titles that saw big jumps were Deadpool #8 (26th) and Thunderbolts #130 (30th), which are currently in the midst of a crossover. The top two comics were once again Avengers titles—Dark Avengers #3 and New Avengers #51—and in the number-three spot was Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1. I was shocked to see Ultimate Wolverine Vs Hulk in the number-nine spot, with it being more than three years late. It just goes to show, as much as we complain about late comics and grossly missed shipping dates, we comic fans love the abuse. Besides, Marvel wouldn’t beat us if they didn’t love us, right? For the complete list, click here.

Speaking of Wolvie, as you know, the new “Wolverine Origins” movie premiers next week and Marvel has released a barrage of titles staring the Old Canuklehead in conjunction with the film. One of my favorite Wolverine stories has been reprinted and is hitting stores this week. Wolverine: Not Dead Yet, by Warren Ellis and Lenil Francis Yu, has been collected and is being released in a Premiere Hardcover format. The story deals with a mercenary from Wolvie’s past named the White Ghost who has seemingly returned from the dead. It’s a wonderful tale of espionage and superheroes as only Warren Ellis can tell. Not Dead Yet reprints Wolverine #119-#122 and retails for $19.99.

Lots of great new comics this week to talk about so let’s get to it. Below you’ll find the list of titles I’ll be picking up this Wednesday, April 22. For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Astonishing X-Men #29
Avengers: The Initiative #23
Batman and the Outsiders #17
Daredevil #118
Dark Reign: Elektra #2 of 5
Detective Comics #853
Guardians Of The Galaxy #13
Hulk #11
Immortal Iron Fist #25
Incredible Hercules #128
Mighty Avengers #24
New Avengers #52
Supergirl #40
Thor #601
X-Force #14

There’re a few titles on my list this week that are on “last chance” status before they are dropped. Avengers Initiative isn’t bad, but since the end of Secret Invasion, has felt a little directionless. Also on the list is Hulk. I’m starting to wonder why I read this title. It’s not bad and a fun read usually, but is far from the Incredible Hulk title written by Greg Pak that it was spun-off from. We, the readers, still have no idea who the Red Hulk is, and after 11 issues, I’m not sure I even care anymore. Rounding out the list is Dan Slott’s Mighty Avengers. I want to love this title, I really do. I’m just not sure we, the readers (again), need this title. Presently, the New Avengers title is telling the story of the Avengers proper, while Dark Avengers is showing us the bad guys masquerading as Avengers while the Mighty Avengers has a cast of B-listers. Yes; as much as I love him, Hercules is a B-lister on some type of magic adventure on the trail of the Scarlet Witch. I just don’t know if I care, but, like I said, I’m giving each of these titles one more shot.

For those of you chasing the Wolverine Art Appreciation Variant covers, make sure you look out for the variants of Amazing Spidey #592, Hulk #11 and Daredevil #118.

Now, here’s my Speculator Picks for the Week. These are comics that, for one reason or another, I’m predicting will sell out very quickly only to resurface on the web for ridiculous prices.

New Avengers #52 Bachalo Variant: Marvel Comics

Solicitation: Who is the new Sorcerer Supreme? The entire Marvel Universe hangs in the balance as the Avengers race to help the fallen Doctor Strange battle the forces of the Dark Dimension as they make their earthly power play.

• 32 PGS
• $3.99 US
• FEB092493
Written by Brian Michael Bendis; Pencils by Billy Tan and Chris Bachalo; Cover by Billy Tan; 1:15 Variant cover by Chris Bachalo.

Why it’ll go fast: It’s simple math: If you look at last months sales numbers on New Avengers—95,340—and divide that number by 15, you end up with 6,356 variant covers. That’s a pretty rare comic. The trick is getting the variant for the right price. If you can grab a 1:15 variant cover of a comic like New Avengers for under $8, I would recommend doing so. If you can get it for cover price I want to know where you shop. These variants are already rare, there’s no question of that. The real question is will they hold their value? In the sense that a 1:15 variant will be worth thousands of dollars some day? Probably not. Will they be worth more than $8? Without a doubt.

Dark Reign: Elektra #2 of 5: Marvel Comics

Solicitation: Even for a lethal ninja assassin who’s been to the far side of death and back, Elektra faces the fight of her life! Freed from her torment at the hands of mad Skrull scientists, and delivered straight into the grabby hands of Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R., Elektra’s been imprisoned, tortured, vivisected, and even replaced with a genetic double. But the deadliest woman in the world still managed to free herself, and now, hobbling and wounded, she struggles to clear her name for her impostor’s crimes even as she fights to stay alive!

• 32 PGS
• $3.99 US
• FEB092501

Why it’ll go fast: I picked up issue one on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. Issue #1 checked in at the 41st spot on the sales chart for last month. Most retailers tend to order higher on issue #1 of a mini-series than of #2, for obvious reasons. It’s always easier to sell a first issue. Look for issue #2 of this Elektra mini to sell out pretty quickly, especially with the buzz going around on how good the first issue was.

Azrael: Death’s Dark Knight #2 of 3: DC

Solicitation: The Suit of Sorrows worn by Azrael grants the power of wrathful vengeance. It magnifies the wearer’s sins of imperfection. It is a death sentence waiting to be exacted. So then why do so many people want it? And why does Azrael, the new soldier for the Order of Purity, refuse to give it up even when he knows it will eventually kill him? With Gotham City torn apart by BATTLE FOR THE COWL, the new Azrael seeks to fill the void left by Batman’s absence and redeem his tainted legacy, but the League of Assassins wants the suit for Talia and her own heir to The Dark Knight’s mantle. And through it all, someone watches, waiting to snatch the prize from the winner…

• 32 PGS
• $2.99 US
• FEB090160
Written by Fabian Nicieza; Pencils by Frazer Irving; Cover by Guillem March.

Why it’ll go fast: Mark another hash in the “pleasant surprise” category for Azreal. Issue one was a great read and left me wanting more. Azrael #1 checked in at #36 on last month’s sales chart, but like Elektra, I would expect most retailers to decrease their order on #2. Keep in mind that when retailers are ordering their monthly comics, they do so two months ahead of time. It’s not uncommon for a title like Azraeal, which sold well with issue #1 and was well received by fans to sell even better with issue #2, but be even harder to find due to unforeseen demand. Don’t be surprised to have trouble finding issue #2 if you don’t get to your local comic shop early.

Indy Comic of the Week:

The Beats a Graphic History: Hill and Wang

Solicitation: From Publishers Weekly: “Well researched and earnest, this book might work best as a superficial Cliffs Notes on the beats, but in no way does it inspire or open the mind as the works of the authors covered do. Much of this volume feels like leftovers from coauthor Pekar’s American Splendor, and one wonders if that magazine’s ‘drab and normal’ style of illustration is appropriate for the more adventurous/experimental/flamboyant beats. Nor does it help that the art used on the best-known authors (Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs) feels rushed, with little detail and little variation. Because Joyce Brabner’s script about ‘Beatnik Chicks’ takes a genuinely critical eye to an aspect of the beats others prefer to ignore—their rampant sexism— it’s probably the best and most passionate writing in the collection, with Jerome Neukirch’s art for the bio of proto-beat Slim Brundage being the artistic standout illustrations. Lance Tooks, Peter Kuper and Nick Thorkelson also make strong contributions, while Jeffrey Lewis’s story on poet/musician Tuli Kupferberg is a wonderful puzzle piece to work through; it’s the most ambitious entry and may be the truest to the artistic vision of the beats themselves.

Why you should care: If you haven’t read Kerouac’s On the Road, now is your chance to see why so many clove-cigarette-smoking hipsters are crazy about him and the other Beat writers. I went through a phase shortly after high school where I had to read every poem, essay and dirty limerick written by these guys. Not for the faint of heart but the Beats will certainly be an interesting read.

Nerdy Question of the Week:

Last week the rumor that Geoff Johns and Jim Lee would be taking over JLA spread like wild fire. The rumor got me to thinking. When was the last time JLA was great? Even though the title sells in the top 10 every month it’s hasn’t been great for a while. What was the last JLA story you loved or do you love the current storyline? Discuss.

Thanks again for your continued input and keep the answers to the nerdy questions coming. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question below in the “Leave a Reply” section below. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your comics in the “Ask a Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

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Gotham Gazette

Black Panther

Deadpool

Solomon Grundy

This Week in Geek is a weekly blog about new comics written by WorthPoint Comic book Worthologist Matt Baum. Every Wednesday, Matt takes a look at the week’s new comics from a collector’s point-of-view and discusses which books may be hard to find in the near future and why. Make sure to click on the hot links for previews and more information on the comics, characters, story-lines and creators discussed here. Also, feel free to post your comments in the new “comments” section below.

It’s finally here. “Watchmen” opens in theaters everywhere this weekend. My only worry is that no matter how good the film is, I may be disappointed. Perhaps the hype could be the very thing that brings the Watchmen movie adaptation down. Then again, I remember and even bigger hype behind the second Batman film, “The Dark Knight,” and geeks everywhere are still living happily ever after. Maybe, just maybe, director Zack Snyder will meet or even exceed our expectations and “Watchmen” will join the small, elite fraternity of successful comic book adaptations. We shall see very soon. I’ll post my reaction to “Watchmen” on this blog late Thursday night so check back here Friday.

In other news, the un-restored issue of Action Comics #1 that went up for auction last Friday on comicconnect.com is up to $277,300.00, which buries my bid of $10. Like the guy on eBay that drops a $10 bid on a Porsche, I was thinking, “hey, it’s worth a shot.” For more on the 6.0 CGC graded action #1 click here.

And now onto discussion of the new comics for the week of Wednesday, March 4, 2009. Below you will find my pile of comics that I’ll be adding to my collection. For a complete list of this week’s comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Agents of Atlas #2
Black Panther #2
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #23
Cable #12
Daredevil #116
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1 of 5
Deadpool #8
Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead?
Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #4 of 8
House of Mystery #11
Punisher #3
Secret Six #7
Secret Warriors #2
Solomon Grundy #1 of 7
Superman: World of New Krypton #1 of 12
War of Kings #1 of 6

So let’s discuss this list briefly. As you can see, there’re a couple of new additions to the pile. I’m giving Reginald Hudlin’s Black Panther a chance, for the second time, mainly because I love Ken Lashley’s art, and to be quite honest, the first issue was pretty good. I’m picking up Deadpool #8 because it’s a tie-in with Thunderbolts centering around Deadpool’s plan to assassinate Norman Osborne. It could be fun. In the DCU, I’ll be checking out Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead, which sets up the upcoming “Battle for the Cowl” storyline but probably won’t sort out any of the confusing details of Bruce’s “death.” Also, Solomon Grundy looks to explore the role DC’s second most loved swamp monster, behind the Swamp Thing, of course, will play in the upcoming Green Lantern: Blackest Night event. Also of note this week; I’ll be taking a look at New Avengers: The Reunion, the story of Mockingbird’s return to the Marvel U after being replaced by a Skrull (it was a whole, huge thing too long to go into here), but not buying until I give it a good skimming. This stuff is getting expensive you know.

And now, on to the Speculator Picks of the Week. These are books that, for one reason or another, may sell out quickly and become instant collectibles. If you don’t pay attention and get to your local comic shop in a timely fashion, you could be paying way too much for these comics very soon.

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1; Marvel Comics
Solicitation: Dark Reign strikes Marvel’s first family—in an explosive way! Prepared to be blown away as HAMMER agents attack the Baxter Building. Reed changes everything. The Human Torch suffers a horrible loss and Franklin and Val go shopping. There’s time travel, alternate realities, Celestials, Eternals, Deviants and Doombots… and more important than all of that, we find out the answer to the question: What is the Bridge?
• 32 PGS
• $2.99 US
• JAN092472
Written by Jonathan Hickman; Art by Sean Chen; Cover by Simon Bianchi; Variant cover by Marko Djurdjevic

Why it’ll go fast: It’s no secret that I love Jonathan Hickman, and until each-and-every one of you love him as much as I do, I will continue to pick his comics as “must-haves” every week. I’m calling my shot here; This FF limited is the Hickman’s try-out for the regular series, and if it sells well I’m guessing he takes over writing duties on the regular FF monthly after Mark Millar finishes his run. If you’ve read Hickman’s Sci-Fi work then you know he’s perfect to write the FF. If you haven’t, check out Red Mass for Mars and Transhuman from Image comics if you can find them.

Superman: World of New Krypton #1 of 12, DC
Solicitation: Following the events of the “New Krypton” crossover, the Man of Steel has had to embrace his past to ensure humanity’s future. And while a devastating armed conflict with Earth may have been averted, keeping the peace will be Superman’s greatest challenge yet. Hot new writer Andrew Kreisberg (BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL) and fan-favorite artist Pete Woods (ACTION COMICS, SUPERMAN: UP, UP AND AWAY!) lead Superman through a world of interstellar treachery and deadly machinations where the lives of two races hang in the balance!
• $2.99 US
• 32 PGS
• JAN090192
Written by James Robinson and Greg Rucka; Art by Pete Woods; Cover by Gary Frank; Variant cover by Jose Ladron.

Why it’ll go fast: It may not go fast at all. This title seems like a pretty big gamble on the part of DC. Although sales on the title have been good (#25 on the top 300 comic sales for Jan 2009) Robinson’s Superman book has yet to break the top 20 in monthly sales since his run began. To give him and Greg Rucka a title that puts Supes on a different planet for a year raises some questions. Will fans be turned off by the main character leaving earth for a year? Will retailers order more of Supes WOK than of the regular title or vice versa? We’ll see very soon.

War of Kings #1 of 6; Marvel Comics
Solicitation: In the aftermath of the Secret Invasion, Black Bolt has led the Inhumans on a shockingly savage path to restore their strength and security. But that path has brought them into direct confrontation with the Shi’Ar Empire—and their mad ruler, Vulcan! Who will get in the first strike? Who will fall on the bloody battlefield? Who will rule? The Imperial Guard, the Starjammers, the Inhuman Royal Family and more of your favorite sci-fi characters are locked on a collision course… and it all starts here! Join the acclaimed team of Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (NOVA) and Paul Pelletier (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY) for a pivotal turning point in Marvel’s cosmic history! Rated T+
• 32 PGS
• $3.99 US
W: Andy Lanning; W: Dan Abnett; W: N Dan Abnett; P: Paul Pelletier; C: Brandon Peterson

Why it’ll go fast: Even though this book has the same team that brought fans the hugely successful Annihilation series Marvel, in their infinite wisdom, is not calling this comic Annihilation: War of Kings. WHY? Both Annihilation series sold very well, reinvigorated Marvel’s cosmic characters and made me care about the Guardians of the Galaxy yet Marvel is not going with the Annihilation title even though War of Kings has the same writing team, takes place in space and stars many of the same characters. (Was that a run-on sentence or what?) I don’t get it, and I’m guessing not using the Annihilation title will make most retailers scale back their orders slightly. $3.99 for a Marvel cosmic—event that isn’t a proven seller—is a high price tag for retailers who have seen negative or no growth in the comic market for the past two months. With that said, regardless of the title, War of Kings is going to be a great read and will sell out very quickly.

Indy Comic of the Week:

Strongman, Slave Labor Comics

Imagine the Dark Knight if Batman had been a Luchidore. Tigre, a masked Mexican wrestler, was huge in Mexico in the 1970’s, a crime-fighting movie star. These days, he’s 65 and drunk, living in Manhattan. When a beautiful woman begs him to stop an organ trafficking ring, the old warrior decides to take one last, epic shot at redemption.
• $9.95 US
• JAN093940
• 120 pages
Written by Charles Soule; Drawn by Allen Gladfelter

Why you should care: Does it get any better than aging Mexican Wrestlers fighting crime? Strongman looks like and homage to El Santo, a famous Mexican wrestler from the ’50s-’80s who made several movies where he battled supernatural villains such as Dracula, witch covens and zombies. I came to own two Santo films on VHS years ago and fell in love with the campy Mexican horror films and the legend of Santo.

Nerdy Question of the Week???
The last time Superman took the back seat in Action Comics was back in the late ’80s and resulted in Action Comics starring WildDog, Deadman and a host of others. Starting next month Superman is off-planet dealing with problems on New Krypton and Nightwing (not Dick Grayson) and Flamebird, along with Mon El or Valor (I’m not sure what he’s called now), will be protecting Metropolis. Are you in? Do you care about these Superman replacements or are you skipping the whole thing all together?

Thanks again for your continued input and keep the answers to the nerdy questions coming. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

It’s the first new comic Wednesday of 2009 and to celebrate I’m changing the format of this blog yet again. It’s only a slight change but hopefully a useful one. In the Picks of the Week section I’ll be including the solicitations from the publishers along with my analysis. Hope you dig it.

With the holidays behind us, it’s time to settle back into everyday life. Hopefully, 2009 is a little more lucrative than its predecessor. It looks like tax breaks for all are in our near future; which is good in the face comic prices rising to $3.99 soon. Even in the face of a recession, comic-themed movies dominated the box office this year and are poised to do so again in 2009, with Watchmen and Wolverine coming soon. In comics news: Between the two giant comic publishers, Marvel and DC, Marvel seems to have come out as last years big winner, dominating the market share once again. And fans seem to be excited for the next big crossover storyline “Dark Reign,” which spins directly out of last year’s “Secret Invasion” storyline. I’ll be watching these crossover issues to see what they do in the back issue market and reporting back later this year. DC’s “Final Crisis” event has sold well but still seems to be trying to find its legs, and news of re-writes and artist changes have soured many fans to the now three months off schedule series. In my opinion, the DC Universe has never felt so fragmented. Hopefully, 2009 is the year DC gets it together. But enough of this reflection. I’ll be writing a “Best of 2008, The Year in Comics” blog later this week, where we can reflect on all this and more. Let’s get to the here and now, shall we?

Here’s my pile if comics for the week of Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2009. As always, I welcome your criticism, praise or threats of bodily harm based on what I am or am not reading/collecting. You may have noticed a new section below where you can respond to this article; it’s the perfect place to agree with or lash out at me for all to see! (No rhyme intended) For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #21
Cable #10
Detective Comics #852
Faces of Evil: Grundy
Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #2 of 8
House of Mystery #9
The Invincible Iron Man #9
Jonah Hex #39
Marvel Zombies 3 #4 of 4
Punisher #1
Secret Invasion: War of Kings
Secret Six #5
Wormdye

Now, let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this blog is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Faces of Evil: Grundy

Faces of Evil: Grundy; DC; Written by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins; Art by Scott Kolins; Cover by Shane Davis; 32 pages, $2.99.

The marsh monster stars in his first solo book ever! Who was the man who would be reborn as Solomon Grundy? Discover the secret history of the creature as his curse is explored and redefined in this one-shot special!

Why it’ll go fast: This week DC begins its “Faces of Evil” event (several books written from the villains point-of-view) with Grundy. I love the character of Solomon Grundy and just about everything John’s writes. With that said, Grundy is a “B-list” villain at best and retailers will probably order lightly on the first F.O.E. offering. These stories are going to be fun and will probably sell as a nice lot on eBay later on.

Punisher #1

Punisher #1; Marvel Comics; Written by Rick Remender; Art by Jerome Opena; Cover by Mike McKone; 48 pages; $3.99.

“Living in Darkness,” Part 1
The fight against the “Dark Reign” begins as the duty of chronicling Frank Castle’s war journal is passed to new regular team of writer Rick Remender (End League, Fear Agent) and Jerome Opena (Wolverine, Fear Agent). One man with one bullet, in the right place, at the right time, can change the world. That’s why the Punisher is perched atop a building on the Jersey shore with a high-powered Skrull rifle, his crosshairs trained on a target in Midtown Manhattan. But who is his target? And why? One thing’s for sure: They’re anything but helpless. Someone is watching their back. Someone big. Enter: The Sentry!

Why it’ll go fast: The first of the $3.99 on-going-series comics are here with the new Punisher #1. Before you freak out, keep in mind this is a 48-page comic which translates to about two cents a page. A dollar more an issue yes, but only two cents a page. Retailers have already heard the grumblings of fans when it comes to $3.99 cover prices and will probably be watching this comic very closely. I would guess most stores are ordering light on this one and then going for re-orders if necessary. Will the new higher price tag push readers away or will the quality writing and art make Punisher #1 a hit? We’ll all find out soon enough.

Secret Invasion: War of Kings

Secret Invasion: War of Kings; Marvel Comics; Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning; Art by Bong Dazo and Paul Pelltier; Cover by Brandon Peterson; 48 pages; $3.99.

It’s finally here…WAR OF KINGS! The Secret Invasion may be over, but the Inhumans are still reeling from the terrible wounds inflicted on them by the Skrulls. And this time, the Royal Family and their massively powered people have been pushed too far! You have never seen the Inhumans like this—and it’s only the beginning! Plus: How will the empire-expanding Vulcan react to these recent universe-shaking developments? Before this double-sized shocker is over, vengeance will be had, daring alliances will be forged, and the first shots in a destiny-changing battle will be fired! The acclaimed team of writers Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (NOVA) and artist Paul Pelletier (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY) unite to revamp heroes, reveal villains and rock the universe!

Why it’ll go fast: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have reinvigorated Marvel’s cosmic heroes with their past “Annihilation” storylines and sold quite a few comics for characters that hadn’t seen their own titles since the mid-nineties in the process. “War of Kings” is their latest cosmic odyssey and looks to be great; one problem. The book doesn’t have “Annihilation” in the title. Why they chose to go with “Secret Invasion” over “Annihilation” is beyond me. I’ll give them the Secret Invasion miniseries sold better than any of the “Annihilation” comics but other than starring Skrulls as the bad guys, it had nothing to do with “Annihilation”. It seems that fans and retailers alike might skip out on this one for different reasons; “Annihilation” fans because it’s titled “Secret Invasion” and vice-versa.

Indy Book of the Week

Wormdye; Secret Acres

Wormdye; Secret Acres; Written and illustrated by Eamon Espy; 128 pages; $13.

Espy’s work has been described as Franz Kafka meets Hieronymus Bosch. Click here for a great review. Here’s the solicitation.

Eamon Espey’s Wormdye is a collection of interwoven tales that deftly illustrate the fever-pitched anxiety of modern life. With locales as varied as the River Styx, the Vatican, the island of Aegina and the Mitchell Corn Palace, Wormdye follows Marco, Tommy and others as they engage in the human struggle: work, religion, death and human sacrifice. Bleak and darkly funny, Wormdye uses myths and iconographic visuals to evoke a world-view that is both absorbing and upsetting, tragic and triumphant.

That’s all for this week true believers. I truly hope this blog has inspired you to pick up at least one comic book you may have otherwise passed on. If not, email me and tell me what I’m doing wrong. I love criticism, both creative and purely insulting. Until next week, keep the questions coming. Also, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss classic yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

WorthPoint: Get the Most form Your Antiques and Collectibles

Speaking of great gifts for nerds-and I hope you’re reading this, mom-Marvel has collected the complete Secret Wars event of the 1980’s in one giant omnibus edition, assembling Secret Wars #1-12 plus Thor #383, She Hulk (2004) #10, and What If? (1989) #4 and #114. The Secret Wars was the first major crossover event that made me branch out from my X-Men comics and set the standard for future crossovers. Nothing better defines Marvel Comics in the 1980s.

Can’t find that perfect gift for the filthy-mouthed, overly-sarcastic, dark-humor-craving-comic- nerd in your life? Search no more; the new Definitive Edition of Garth Ennis’ The Boys collects the meanest, nastiest, most controversial and perversely-funny superhero comics ever written. Ennis is famous for work on DC’s Preacher and Hellblazer and Marvel’s Punisher, but has never been allowed complete free reign with his stories until now. Not for the faint of heart or easily offended, The Boys examines the absurdly dark side of superheroes with deep character flaws. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Here’s my pile if comics for the week of Wednesday, Dec. 17. As always, I welcome your criticism, praise or threats of bodily harm based on what I am or am not reading/collecting. For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you, click here.

Avengers: The Initiative #19

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #20

Conan The Cimmerian #6

Dark Reign: New Nation

DCU Holiday Special: 2008

Ghost Rider #30

The Invincible Iron Man #8

Madman Atomic Comics! #12

Mighty Avengers #20

Punisher: War Zone #2 of 6

Robin #181

Supergirl #36

Thor: God-Sized

Thunderbolts #127

Uncanny X-Men #505

X-Factor #38

X-Men: Kingbreaker #1 of 4: Kingbreaker

Now let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this part of This Week in Geek is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Supergirl #36; DC; Written by Sterling Gates; Art by Jamal Igle; Cover by Josh Middelton, variant by Chris Sprouse; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: In October, Supergirl #34 came in at 75 on the top 300 selling comics for that month. November’s Supergirl #35 jumped to number 34. What does this huge spike in sales mean? Fans are sold on the new creative team of Gates and Igle, and tying Supergirl’s story directly into the “New Krypton” storyline running through the Superman books was a great idea. I, myself, have never cared about Supergirl as a character before but now find myself calling issue #36 my pick of the week at my local comic shop. Yeah, I’m pretty important. If you’re thinking of jumping on to the “New Krypton” storyline issues of Supergirl, #34 and #35 are still available but going fast.

Thunderbolts #127; Marvel Comics; Written by Andy Diggle; Art by Roberto De La Torre, Cover by Francisco Mattina; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: Another book spiking in sales, moving from 64 in October to 57 in November on the top 300 actual comic sales list, is Andy Diggle’s Thunderbolts. After the events of Secret Invasion #8, Thunderbolts leader, Norman Osborne, is a national hero. For those of you who didn’t know, Norman Osborne is Spider-Man’s nemesis the Green Goblin and a millionaire business owner who’s spun his tech-business, Oscorp, into a full fledged political career. Osborne is now not only running the Thunderbolts, a group of “reformed” super villains working for the US government, but has been offered a promotion after being branded the hero of the failed Skrull Invasion. Tony Stark, Iron Man, is out and Norman Osborne is running things now. Just one problem, he’s still evil and totally insane. The new “Dark Reign” storyline looks like it’s going to be just as much fun as “Secret Invasion” and it starts here in Thunderbolts #127.

X-Men: Kingbreaker #1; Marvel Comics; Written by Christopher Yost; Art by Dustin Weaver; Cover by Brandon Peterson; $3.99.

Why it’ll go fast: Fans of the Marvel “Annihilation” story-lines, which reinvigorated the Marvel space heroes and reinvented Marvel Sci-Fi, are excited for the third installment in the series “War of Kings”. Well, it all begins here in Kingbreaker #1. Scott Summers’ Cyclops, leader of the X-Men, power mad brother, Vulcan has seized power of the alien Shiar Empire and plans to make war on the entire universe. While “Dark Reign” is happening on Earth, the “War of Kings” is beginning in outer space. I’m guessing that retailers will order lighter on this series based on the disappointing sales of the previous X-Men: Emperor Vulcan mini-series that established Vulcan as a universal threat. Kingbreaker looks to tie the story in with the rest of the Marvel Universe, is written by fan-favorite Chris Yost (X-force, New X-Men: Mutant Academy) and leads directly into War of Kings. All of which adds up to a quick sellout of issue #1.

Indy Comic of the Week:

Beanworld Holiday Special; Dark Horse, Written and drawn by Larry Marder; $3.50.

I’ll be honest, I’ve never read Beanworld, but as I’m a sucker for holiday comic specials, and most that I’ve picked up so far this year don’t look too promising, I’ll be picking up the Beanworld Holiday special to see what the buzz is all about. Here’s the solicitation:

“The first new Beanworld story in print in over a decade, the Beanworld Holiday Special is the perfect introduction to Larry Marder’s inimitable creation!

As enjoyable for children as it is enlightening for adults, Beanworld is a grand adventure that explores social dynamics, culture creation, and ecological networks-all in great fun! Take a tour of this magical world, from Proffy’s Fix-It Shop to a Fabulous Look-See Show, in this issue that introduces toys to the baby Cuties and plunges readers into one of the most original and brilliant comic-book universes ever created!

You’ve never seen anything like it–unless you’re a longtime fan of Marder’s, in which case you’ll be thrilled by the return of this wonderful and peculiar comic-book experience!”

“Larry Marder’s Beanworld is a vegetarian update on Krazy Kat with a world and lingo unto itself.”
-Smithsonian Studies of American Art

“One doesn’t read Beanworld at all, one lives it. Beanworld draws you into its world and plays out in your mind. This is a rare feat in any medium, and a treasure in comics.”
-Feature Magazine

That’s all for this week true believers. I truly hope this blog has inspired you to pick up at least one comic book you may have passed on otherwise. If not, email me and tell me what I’m doing wrong. I love criticism, both creative and purely insulting. Also, the end of the year is almost upon us and I want to know your favorite comic of 2008. It can be a single issue, new series, or one-shot. Email me and let me know. Until next week, keep the questions coming. Also, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss classic yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask a Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.