Criminal Macabre: Final Night – The 30 Days of Night Crossover #1 (of 4)
By: Steve Niles, Christopher Mitten, Michelle Madsen, Justin Erickson
Publisher: Dark Horse and IDW Publishing
Price: $3.99
The Lowdown: Cal McDonald and the vampires of 30 Days of Nights introduced the comic industry to one of its best and most consistent horror writers, Steve Niles. The 2 collide head-on in this first of four issues. Cal is just looking for another bender when he gets fed a story about vampires in Alaska. Soon after, a new vampire menace moves into LA, and Cal finds himself hunting, Eben, the one-time hero of Barrow, Alaska. This story was really only a matter of time.
To Hell You Ride #1
By: Lance Henriksen, Joseph Maddrey, Tom Mandrake, Cris Peter
Publisher: Dark Horse
Price: $3.99
The Lowdown: It sounds like a Native American curse type of thing. Four warriors seek revenge on a mining town in shape of a plague melting the flesh of the residents bones. A steep price to pay for greed. Native American curses and burial grounds are kind of tired plot device. The only reason I mention this book is because it is written by Lance Henriksen (yes THE Lance Henriksen), badass character actor who appeared in Aliens, Terminator, Near Dark, and many others.
Batman #15
By: Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99
The Lowdown: Batman didn’t seem like the character that need an overhaul. DC seemed like they had a pretty solid take on the character that would endure for years and years. Now that Snyder has come aboard (and thank god he did), I can now see what needed to change. While the Bat remained consistently awesome for years, the character of Gotham as well as the rogues gallery seemed to keep evolving. I am hoping that Snyder’s appropriately gothic portrayal of these things remains as constant as Batman. Plus: Joker meets with Riddler in a back-up story.
Batman And Robin #15
By: Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
The Lowdown: A Death of the Family tie-in. Joker finally meets the newest member of the Bat-family, Damian, for the first time, and I am positive the Joker does not fully grasp how dangerous Damian can truly be.
Frankenstein Agent Of Shade #15
By: Matt Kindt, Alberto Ponticelli
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
The Lowdown: Franky’s small sliver of the Rotworld story from Animal Man and Swamp Thing comes to a conclusion with Frank facing off against the last of the Colossi for Dr. Frankenstein’s WMD, The Soul-Grinder. In sadder news, this is the second to last issue of this particular run as Frankenstein gets the boot in January to make way for a new title. Hopefully, he sticks around in Justice League Dark.
Crow Skinning The Wolves #1 (of 3)
By: James O’Barr, Jim Terry
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Price: $3.99
The Lowdown: The creator of the original The Crow story, James O’Barr returns to the popular franchise. This one takes place in a German death camp in the 1940′s. It sounds like it might be a homage to The Seventh Seal, where a chess game plays a key part in the plot.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #17
By: Tom Waltz, Ben Bates, Kevin Eastman
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Price: $3.99
The Lowdown: The focus of this issue is one the infamous General Krang, the brain-creature who sits in the gut of a robot and leads his army. He is one of the most well-known nemesis of the Ninja Turtles thank to the old cartoon show. He has been seen before in the series, but the writers have kept him pretty enigmatic, which seems counterproductive since his visage is pretty well known to most shellhead fans.
Hack Slash #21
By: Tim Seeley, Elena Casagrande
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.50
The Lowdown: Part 2 to the newest arc, “Final.” It brings back a lot of the victims that Cassie has saved as the most dangerous slashers areut there trying to kill all those who should have been. Wronging rights, if you will.
Avengers Arena #1
By: Dennis Hopeless, Kev Walker, Dave Johnson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99
The Lowdown: This is one of two of Dennis Hopeless’ Marvel Now books. It is an off-shoot from the Avengers Academy, a pretty decent title that tried to be a Xavier Academy for the Avengers. The cast of that issue along with members of The Runaways and the cosmic hero, Darkhawk, are all here finding themselves stuck in Murder World, Arcade’s own personal fatal game arenas. This should be a cool and fun book, but I would be lying if I said that the Battle Royale homage cover didn’t play a part in me posting it here.
Cable And X-Force #1
By: Dennis Hopeless, Salvador Larroca
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
The Lowdown: This is one of my most anticipated new releases from Marvel Now. Remender’s amazing Uncanny X-Force is being split into 2 books. Of the 2 books, I am looking forward more to this one. Cable is back in the lead along with longtime ally, Domino. Colossus has swapped his membership in Cyclops’ terrorist game plan for Cable’s clandestine wetworks team, and I am hoping they explore his new gray area morality. The only people missing are Cable’s other long time allies, Deadpool and Blaquesmith (especially since Blaquesmith has the same powers as current member, Forge).
Wolverine #317
By: Chris Bunner, Paul Pelletier, Mike Del
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
The Lowdown: Wolverine’s final issue before his Marvel Now renumbering (reboot?).
Image Comics is also apparently releasing copies of the first issues of a few of their best books including The Walking Dead, Thief of Thieves, and Saga. Each of them will only be $1. Pretty good deal if you want to see what everyone is talking about.
All prices are from tfaw.com . May vary in store.
