New Trades out 17/09/14

AVATAR PRESS

Gravel is one of the lesser known titles from the glory days of Warren Ellis birthing books like a rabbit. Returning now under the superb penmanship of Mike Wolfer who did a great job on Avatar's Stitched, firstly on art duties for Garth Ennis and then taking over as write on volume 2. This book collects #1-4 as well as a reintroduction to the main man Bill Gravel. Hopefully this will mean an omnibus in the offing as the original series can prove difficult to complete in trades. As for the story itself? Well it had me at "SAS Combat Mage."

Gravel Combat Magician Volume 4 TP 

BOOM! STUDIOS

Sons Of Anarchy Volume 1 TP 

DARK HORSE COMICS

Authentic Accounts Of Billy The Kid's Old Timey Oddities Omnibus TP
Complete Silencers TP
Ghost Volume 2 The White City Butcher TP
Leaving Megalopolis HC
Red Moon HC Savage Sword Of Conan Volume 17 TP

DC COMICS

Something a little bit different from DC this week. Batman Unwrapped: The Court of Owls collects issues #1-11 in artists pencil form and extras of what is, in my opinion the best title from the New 52. I've already got the trade but I'll be tempted to get this just for the beauty of it.

Astro City Through Open Doors TP
Astro City Victory HC
Batman Unwrapped The Court Of Owls HC
Forever Evil Arkham War TP
Godzilla Awakening TP
New Teen Titans Volume 1 TP
Superman Wonder Woman Volume 1 Power Couple HC
Toe Tags Featuring George Romero TP
Unwritten Tommy Taylor And The Ship That Sank Twice TP

IDW PUBLISHING

Transformers Phase One Omnibus TP

IMAGE COMICS

Image don't often roll out deluxe editions but today sees the release of the Blue Estate hard cover. Featuring #1-12 an alleged bonus features I can't find any info on. Let us know in the comments if you picked this up.

Blue Estate The Graphic Novel HC
Peter Panzerfaust Volume 4 The Hunt TP
Undertow Volume 1 Boatman's Call TP

MARVEL COMICS

(Original 96 cover.)

A few Marvel Now titles finally make it to paperback this week, as always costing way too much. I mentioned a few weeks ago the infinity omnibus featuring all the Avengers tie ins so make sure you check that out before going for individual trades. The Adventures of Cyclops and Pheonix is an impressive collection that I'm surprised didn't get a release around AvX. It includes: Adventures of Cyclops and Pheonix #1-4. Askani'son #1-4. Phoenix #1-3. X-Men Book of Askani and material from Marvel Valentine Special.

Avengers Volume 4 Infinity TP
Indestructible Hulk Volume 3 S.M.A.S.H. Time TP
Sub-Mariner And The Original Human Torch TP
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man By Brian Michael Bendis Volume 5 TP
Uncanny Avengers Volume 3 Ragnarok Now TP
Uncanny X-Men Volume 4 Vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. HC (Premiere Edition)
X-Men The Adventures Of Cyclops And Phoenix TP

New Trades 03/09/2014

This is my first round up of new trades out since last November so I really appreciate it if anyone bothered coming over to check it out. I promise to be more reliable from now on.

So as always I've got my pick of the books coming out today as well as a full list from all the major publishers, if anyone wants manga or magazines listed then just let me know in the comments below.

AVATAR PRESS

Up first is the great big God Is Dead Book Of Acts Deluxe Collector Box Set from Avatar which will retail at $100 but I am assured contains content far exceeding the value. There's at least half a cow in leather alone! I've not read the title since Hickman left but it's fucking insane and theyve got Alan Moore & Si Spurrier writing it *Take My Money* Oh yeah, they are limited to only 500 releases but when have you not known a Moore comic to be reprinted/packaged/branded annually, so don't go stabbing anyone over one. Included in the collection:

• God Is Dead: The Book Of Acts 1-8 and all variant, incentive, gilded & leather covers.
•  Exclusive to set, painted Ken Meyer cover.
• Two 11x17 Jacen Burrows art prints.
• Exclusive to set, Alan Moore gilded, green leather issue (no I don't now what that is either.)

God Is Dead Book Of Acts Alpha (Jacen Burrows Glycon Leather Cover),
God Is Dead Book Of Acts Deluxe Collector Box Set,

BOOM! STUDIOS

Woods Volume 1 TP, 

DARK HORSE COMICS

Alley Oop The Complete Sundays Volume 2 1936-1938 HC,
Aw Yeah Comics And Action TP, 
Fear Agent Volume 6 Out Of Step TP (Second Edition), 
Finder Third World TP, 
Furious Volume 1 Fallen Star TP,
Jaybird HC,
Legend Of Korra The Art Of The Animated Series Volume 2 Spirits HC,
New Lone Wolf And Cub Volume 2 TP,
Pariah Volume 2 TP,

DC COMICS

Not much on offer from DC this week, nothing I've read to be honest. Forever Evil hardcover collects issues 1-7. It's by Geoff John's, yes, honestly! I also would have never guessed. NEWSARAMA calls it "cinematic." I would advise you to spend your money on something else.

Batwoman Volume 4 This Blood Is Thick TP,
Forever Evil HC,
JLA Earth 2 TP (New Edition),
Martian Manhunter Rings Of Saturn TP,  
Mr Punch 20th Anniversary Edition HC, 

IDW PUBLISHING

Duane Swierczynski's Dredd has been a real highlight for me from IDW the past couple of years and it's shaping up to make quite a nice paperback collection.Volume 5 deals with Dredd's return to Mega City One and the manhunt for serial killer that has been taking out judges.

Dungeons And Dragons Forgotten Realms Classics Omnibus Volume 2 TP, 
G.I. JOE Origins Omnibus Volume 2 TP,
Judge Dredd Mega-City Two TP,
Judge Dredd Volume 5 TP,
My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic Volume 5 TP,
Rocketeer Jet Powered Adventures SC,
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles New Animated Adventures Volume 3 TP,
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Original Motion Picture Special Edition HC,
Transformers IDW Collection Phase Two Volume 1 HC,

IMAGE COMICS

I don't know anything about Egos or its creative team but I've never been let down by a £7.50 image volume 1 yet.

Egos Volume 1 Quintessence TP,
Mercenary Sea Volume 1 TP,
Walking Dead Volume 10 HC, 

MARVEL COMICS

I was pretty severe on DC's big event collection so it's only fair I mention that picking up this complete $50 Infinity collection is probably the only way to make sense of the fucking thing. If you're in the UK you could save a fortune and pick up the two Panini reprints instead. If you bought the Avengers tie ins separately I feel bad for you son. There's some breathtaking art, in fact this book is almost a showcase of Marvel's finest talent. The 592 pages collect:

• Infinity 1 - 6
• Avengers 14 - 23
• New Avengers 7 - 12

Dark Tower The Gunslinger Omnibus Slipcase HC,
Deadpool Minibus HC,
Infinity TP,
Kick-Ass 3 HC (Premiere Edition), 
Marvel Masterworks Famous Firsts 75th Anniversary Slipcase Set,
Oz Omnibus HC,

Well I hope you enjoyed reading this weeks new trades, stay tuned for more previews, reviews, reading guides and collection pics. Oh and please share to justify my existence. 

Events. HC vs TPB

 

September will see Marvel release their Age of Ultron Hardcover, an oversized collection featuring the main event and all relevant tie ins. They did a similar thing with the beautiful AvX hardcover and it's companion.

It's a great way to save money and read an event together instead of waiting for various trades being released separately and the presentation is top class. They also come with a digital code, adding years to the books life and saves the hassle of lugging one of these monsters on to the train with you every morning. However I'm also a fan of a whole line rebranding on paperbacks, events like House of M and Civil War look amazing on a shelf when collected together. So I thought I'd put the question out to you fellow collectors.

One larger, cheaper hardcover collecting the whole event?

or
A run of similarly styled  trade paperbacks?

 

or like ‏@damien14273 are you happy to mix them up as long as you're getting to read the event?

 

 

 

Answers below please :)

Mini Trade Reviews

Avengers Arena. Volume 1. Kill or Die
#1-6
Written by: Dennis Hopeless
Art by: Kev Walker.

This was the ugly duckling of the otherwise super stylish Marvel NOW! Relaunch. Very few people had anything nice to say about it based solely on it's premise. Fortunately for the non believers this book very quickly realised it's potential, action packed and full of drama, AA is the first Teen Hero book I've enjoyed since Runaways and Hopeless manages to take a pretty over the top character like Arcade and turn him into a right creepy and sinister bastard.


The Strange Talent of Luthor Strode. Volume 1. 
#1-6
Written by: Justin Jordan
Art by: Tradd Moore.

In a similar style to Kick Ass, this story of geeky kid turned reluctant hero has it all, sex, ultra-violence and adorable Bromance. It also has possibly my favourite origin of super powers I've ever read. Jordan does a great job creating these believable teens and their nemesis is one scary dude. The artwork is incredible and beautifully coloured,  the fight scenes in particular make this book worth every penny. The ending sold me volume 2 instantly,  and I definitely didn't cry :-)

The Walking Dead volume 18. What comes after.
#103-108
Written by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Charlie Adlard.

I'm really struggling to keep going with the Walking Dead, after devouring the first 17 volumes it seems like very little has changed through 100 issues. The story just seems to constantly cycle between strikingly similar status quos and now any new bad guy that is brought in always just pales in comparison to the Governor. There's going to have to be the mother of all twists to get me back on board.

Happy. Volume 1.
#1-4
Written by: Grant Morrison
Art by: Darrick Robertson. 


Grant Morrison uses up comics yearly quota of the word cunt. Darrick Robertson art is phenomenal, perhaps even his best yet from an already impressive career. 

Mini Trade Reviews

As I have read loads of trades over the past month and fallen way behind on getting reviews done. I have decided to do a page of micro reviews. Feel free to comment if you are looking for more details on any particular volume.

Bedlam:
Nick Spencer.
Ryley Romosso.
Image Comics.

Easily the most stylish comic I have picked up in years. Ryley's use of subtle colouring, brought alive with vivid splashes of red paint that express a range of emotions brilliantly. The story, spins the classic hero/villain dynamic well and truly on it's head
10/10

Great Pacific:
Joe Harris.
Martin Morazzo.
Image Comics.

I love a good corporate espionage story and GP delivers. Slowly layering up the story in volume 1 and leaving me drooling for more.After his fathers death Sam Worthington III inherits a fortune and family business built on fossil fuels. We follow him to the Great Pacific trash pile as he works to reclaim the waste and restore his family name. Pirates, assassins,  giant octopuses and Polynesian myths ensue. Solid performance on the art from Morazzo. Another Image hit
08/10.

First X-Men: Children of the Atom:
Neal Adams.
Christos Gage.
Marvel Comics.

Weird mashing of Movie and 616 continuities, terrible art and awful dialogue combine to make this clusterfuck of a book one of the worst I have ever read from Marvel. Not even saved by the fact it was £5.
0/10

Avengers: Avengers World:
Jonathan Hickman.
Jeremy Opena/Adam Kubert.
Marvel Comics.

A welcome reigniting of the franchise which sadly stagnated towards the end of Bendis' run. The book is dripping with Hickman's trademark design elements and is going to be another great chapter in his big picture story telling for Marvel. Awesome new villains, a few cool new characters. Although I would have preferred a return of the Sentry over Hyperion. There's also the introduction of new habitats and a really smart new roster that has me really excited for what is to come. The first issue is a bit of a treat for fans of the Movie line up. Coipel's art is flawless as ever, which is a little unfortunate for Adam Kubert who's following work just doesn't stand up.
07/10

The Search For Ant Man pt 2.

The Search For Ant-Man #2

Top 5 Reason Why Its hard to collect Ant Man books.

1. there are very few actual Ant Man comics

 2 there are so many different avengers books its hard to know where to start

3 there are 3 (very) different Ant Men all with unique stories and backgrounds 

4 he changes identities more than the lib dems change sides! And finally 

5 he jumps in and out of the avengers all the time and skirts round to almost every book imaginable. 

So discovering where to find this elusive character was tricky in and of itself and actually getting hold of the books has been hard as hell for the the most part. So I'm going to create a list of every single appearance of each Ant Man as I collect it and update it as we go along, at this point im happy to get them all so i can read them so im happy buying them in trades or in singles but the end goal is every appearance in singles (as well as at least one of every ant man & wasp action figure).

Each week on the blog I will either detail something new I've picked up or highlight something in my Ant Man collection.

This week I managed to pick up Avengers Earths Mightiest Heroes #6 which has one of my all time favourite covers featuring the Yellowjacket and Wasp wedding it looks amazing and I'm actually tempted to get this one framed as its a beautiful copy, near mint. I picked this one up from EBay for £3 delivered, which is a bargain for me as I would have happily paid double for this particular issue! 

That's it for this week tune in again next week as the Search For Ant Man continues!

Catabloguing: New Avengers

As a massive collector of TPB's I am going to write a weekly article focusing on different, iconic runs collected in paperback cataloguing where the run is collected, creative teams, spin offs etc.

For the first week I want to cover Brian Michael Bendis' New Avengers v1 (2005-2010)
All books written by Bendis with artists listed underneath.

V.1 Breakout. 01-06
Finch

V.2 Sentry. 07-10
McNiven

V.3 Secrets & Lies. 11-15
Finch/Cho

V.4 The Collective. 16-20
McNiven/Deodato Jr

V.5 Civil War. 21-25
Chaykin/Yu/Coipel/Ferry/Cheung

V.6 Revolution. 26-31
Yu/Maleev

V.7 The Trust. 32-37 & An #2
Yu/Pagulayan

V.8 Secret Invasion Bk 1. 38-42
Gaydos/Mack/Cheung/Tan

V.9 Secret Invasion Bk 2. 43-47
Tan/Gaydos/Cheung

V.10 Power. 48-50 & Secret Invasion: Dark Reign.
Tan/Maleev

V.11 Search for the Sorcerer Supreme. 51-54
Tan/Bachalo

V.12 Powerloss. 55-60
Immonen

New Avengers: Siege. 61-64, An #3, Dark Reign the List & Finale.
Djurdjevic/Mayhew/Immonen/McKone/Hitch.

NA: The Reunion. 01-05 & Dark Reign: New Nation
McCann/Lopez

NA: The Illuminati 01-05
Bendis/Cheung

Other Essential Reading:
House of M,
Civil War,
Secret Invasion,
Siege,
Mighty Avengers,
Dark Avengers.


Before the Heroic Age renumbering a couple of years ago, New Avengers served as the back bone to Marvel's main 616 Universe. Setting up many of the last decades major events and dealing with the fall out as well.
   
Bendis run on New Avengers reignited the team book like never before, introducing fan favourite characters like Spider-man and Wolverine and shifting focus on to lesser known characters like Luke Cage and the Sentry. His heavy use of dialog has earned him much criticism but personally it is one of my favourite things about his run. Every character is allowed room to grow as part of the team and you never get the feeling of heroes being forced into the title to sell issues. Also the Spidey/Wolvie banter is one of my favourite things in comics ever.

Highlights of the run for me include, The super villain prison break that brings the team together, the entire Sentry plot, the fall out from Civil War, the New Avengers operating illegally during Dark Reign and Siege/Finale.

To appreciate the series in it's entirety I recommend starting Mighty Avengers after Civil War and Dark Avengers after Secret Invasion.