On the Shelves: 8/16/06

Reading is fundamental. Reading comics is supposed to be FUN, so don’t waste your time reading bad ones!

Tomorrow is my 37th birthday and I’m particularly feeling it in my knees as the softball season is starting to take its toll! Plus, I’m definitely going to have to get my shoulder checked during the off-season as I’m pretty sure I tore something. Nevertheless, my mutant power has always been denial, so I’ll push through it.

One thing I can’t deny is that my passion for comics has been dialed down several notches recently as I again skipped my weekly visit to Midtown Comics and will be doubling up this week, if and when I make the time to get to the store. With that in mind, here’s my weekly look at select comic books being released Wednesday, 8/16/06. The full shipping is list available at ComicList.

[NOTE: Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it. If not, find another one; or try Khepri.com or MidtownComics.com]

I wonder how much better BOOM!’s titles would be selling if more people were able to get an advance look at them? Savage Brothers wasn’t on my radar at all, but thanks to my getting an advance copy, I can recommend that it be added to yours because it’s good reading. Post-apocalyptic America, zombies, and a couple of hustling bounty hunters add up to an unexpectedly entertaining romp with shades of Strange Girl and Godland. Very nice art from Rafael Albuquerque, too.

DARK HORSE COMICS
Conan #31, $2.99

Consistently good read that should be on everyone’s pull list. I guarantee it’s better than at least one title you’re buying out of habit.

DC COMICS
Green Lantern Corps #3, $2.99
Robin #153, $2.99

The plus side of weaning myself from the weekly habit is that I’m less aware of what’s shipping when and what’s late. I’m pretty sure Green Lantern Corps #3 is late, though. Of course, now that I’m only reading comics I’m interested in with no regard for timeliness, I don’t mind as much! *** Robin, on the other hand, has become a wait-for-the-trade candidate as a result of my shifting of priorities. I’ll finish out this Captain Boomerang arc first, though.

DEVILS DUE PUBLISHING
Forgotten Realms Dark Elf Trilogy Vol 3 Sojourn TPB, $14.95
GI Joe Americas Elite #14, $2.95

Two of the best licenses going right now, and that’s in the context of my thinking pretty much everything Marvel and DC publish these days is a licensed comic.

IMAGE COMICS
Casanova #3, $1.99

Casanova #2 was fun, but not nearly as compelling as Fell or Strange Girl, two of the last Image titles I don’t wait for the trade on. It’s a little too self-aware, a little too busy winking at the audience, patting itself on the back for its cleverness. Similar to Godland, but more so; off-puttingly more so, I think.

MARVEL COMICS
Civil War X-Men #2 (Of 4), $2.99
Decimation Son Of M TPB, $13.99
Thunderbolts #105 Cw, $2.99

Civil War: X-Men #1 was a solid read, and 4 issues is a comfortable number to commit to, especially based on David Hine’s unexpectedly good turn on Son of M. *** Thunderbolts remains one of my top 5 Marvel comics. Old school sensibilities, new school execution.

Written by Guy LeCharles Gonzalez

Guy LeCharles Gonzalez is the Chief Content Officer for LibraryPass, and former publisher & marketing director for Writer’s Digest. Previously, he was also project lead for the Panorama Project; director, content strategy & audience development for Library Journal & School Library Journal; and founding director of programming & business development for the original Digital Book World.