ROUND 15: Comics for June 8, 2011

Hey DC Versus Marvelers, Koltreg the Human Human. This is sadly a turning point in DC Versus Marvel as I was fired after turning in my resignation because work is crazy sometimes and my bosses were pretty horrible. I will end up being more likely to pick up comics though on a splurge because I roll that way friends and readers.

Blast From The Past (Weekly) Review:
Spirit #14
Matt Sturges, co-writer of Jack of Fables, acts as writer on this recent issue of the Spirit which I don't normally read. There was a Betty Page-esqe girl on the cover though so I gave it a shot. Alabaster Cream worked for the creator of Strongman (aka Superman) who apparently has a vault of expensive art and some criminals are after it. Given cryptic clues and a fun side character this issue of the Spirit made me want to check out some of the other issues even if they are written by other writers. It is pure mystery cliche fun and a great story to boot. If I had read this last week or when it came out it would give whatever my Favorite Comic was a run for its money. Also the bad guy is named Mal Proprio. Comics Everyone!
Best Blast From The Past (also if you have a copy of this I want it)
Score: +2

Abin Sur the Green Lantern #1
In this big title Flashpoint Mini, Abin Sur, the guy who gives Hal Jordan his ring has not died yet and as far as I can tell, nature is abhorring that vacuum. There are some fun changes such as Earth not being the story center of the universe even though the White Lantern is there, Sinestro is still a Green Lantern and so on but overall it relies too much on having prior knowledge (and care) of the Green Lantern universe. I just don't have that though.
Score: +0



Batman: Knight of Vengeance
I like Batman. I like the idea of Thomas Wayne being this vengeance obsessed killing Batman but this issue ultimately left me high and dry. It has some good ideas and the art is really good but I want more Batman in my Batman, Batman.
Score: +0







Secret Seven #1
I don't even know, apparently Rac Shade is like an insane New God Green Lantern who went crazy and killed his partners. When he gets sent to New God space jail he is saved by the Enchantress who lost the other half of her persona who Rac awakens. That is my summary and I still don't know or care what happened.
Score: +0






My biggest problem with all these DC reboots is that if you don't already care about the characters, why are you going to read the series know. And then if you are already reading the main series, do you really want to pay extra for another tie in that doesn't affect your comic universe. (HAHAHAHA OH WAIT FLASHPOINT DOES EFFECT THE WHOLE DC UNIVERSE!)
Seriously though, if you want an alternate universe make it inviting to new people which is not what these books are. If you make an alternate universe, leave it alternate and don't make it important.

Off The Racks!:
Ultimate Spider-man #159
Spider-man continues to face off against the remaining Sinister Six (errr Five). The issue and this continuing arc is about what it means to be a hero. Here is Peter Parker whose life just turned perfect - he got Jameson to support him, he has friends, he is getting training and he has the girl. Then he gets shot. Instead of taking care of himself he goes to care for his neighbors, the people who might rally against him. This makes him a hero and this makes a pretty solid issue.
Score: +1



The New Avengers #13
This issue wraps up the recent arc about the original Avengers who were active back in World War 2 while also dealing with Mockingbird getting shot previously and the New Avengers looking for a cure. Sadly this still didn't pull me in all that much. I liked the team back when it was doing fun stuff like hiring nannies and cracking wise. Squirrel Girl would not like this at all. Either way though, the next part is Fear Itself which looks good so I'll wait till the next arc to give it a shot.
Score: +0


Deadpool #38
Last time on Deadpool, the Merc with A Mouth decided he wanted to die. And when you have a healing factor this is not easy. Deadpool hunted down the Hulk and in this issue threatens to set off a nuke every hour he is still kicking. The problem is Deadpool isn't dying and the Hulk is getting closer and closer to a town and Deadpool isn't keen on letting little kids get killed.
Score: +1




Fear Itself: Deadpool #1
Deadpool is dealing in villainproofing houses but when the hammer powered Juggernaut destroys his safe house he loses all of his business and his coworkers who decide to work in a smaller town. When Deadpool learns about the Serpent's hammers he decides the best course of action is to stir up some business by making a villain he can defeat with a fake hammer and the Walrus. Problem is the hammer is actually magical.
Score: +1



The Incredible Hulks #630
The final art of the action-Pak-ed run that started with Planet Hulk comes to an end with what is shaping up to be a big reality warping bang. Betty Ross (Red She-Hulk) and her beau Tyrannus, the immortal emperor of Subterranea, which is under Las Vegas are about to share a drink of the Fountain of Youth when AIM comes in. The Fountain turns into a Wishing Well, AIM gets beaten and the Hulk and Co are called in. Looks like something big is shaping up.
Score: +1



Journey Into Mystery #624
Oh man the art and the writing in this book is amazing. Loki continues to scheme because Loki is a schemer. Loki ends up traveling to Hel and Hell in this issue and man, the art and the writing. Just give the series a try.
Best Comic Of The Week
Score: +2






Who Are The Mystery Men #1
I picked this series up on a whim and it is interesting enough creating a Marvel Universe pulp hero series set during the depression with magic, demons, sacrifice, punching, cops and jumping on rooftops. The series is really promising and I really want to find out where this series is going to go. Check it out!
Score: +1





Frankenstein Face Off
This week Marvel and DC both have a Frankenstein Miniseries for you to check out that ties into their summer event so I present to you The Frankenstein Face Off

Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1
So Frankenstein gets discovered frozen in ice like Ultimate Cap. Then he gets pulled into an army with a creature from the Black Lagoon-esqe woman, a super vampire and a werewolf, all test subjects for project M, the project that apparently lead to Superman. After Frankenstein kills Hitler ending World War 2. Yes, Frankenstein kills Hitler. The team gets put to sleep after that only to wake up after an accident 65 years later. They run off to search for a cure and Frankenstein killed Hitler. HITLER. This is just ridiculously awesome.
Favorite Comic Of The Week
Score: +2

Fear Itself: Fearsome Four #1
Man Thing, the dude who is like Swamp Thing minus the brain plus Fear Powers is going insane in New York since everyone is fearing. If you remember, Man-Thing's catchphrase is "Who fears burns at the touch of the Man-Thing." She-Hulk, Howard the Duck, Frankenstein and Nighthawk team up to fight Man-Thing only to end up getting transformed into monsters because the Man-Thing is also the Nexus of realities.
Score: +1




Frankenstein Face Off
Frankenstein in Flashpoint is a much better and more interesting character but he is also the focus. And he KILLS HITLER! Fear Itself meanwhile has him on a team and he's fighting a crowd and then grows 4 extra heads so yeah. DC wins and this Flashpoint tie in is actually fun and works by itself. And it came with a Frankenstein pun which is cool.

Final Score:
Marvel +8
DC +4

DC made a small but powerful showing even though most of the comics scored nothing at all. Congrats DC for a solid showing this week with an older Spirit comic and a good tie in.

See you next Wednesday

Expected Pull List:
Superman Batman
Grod Of War
Legion Of Doom (for the button)
Dungeons and Dragons
Alpha Flight
Avengers
Avengers Academy
Hulk

Stuff I Forgot:
Superman (edit: TFAW did not come out this week)

ROUND 13: Comics For June 1, 2011

An update so late in the week? What am I? A vampire? No. That is silly. What does being a vampire have to do with posting late in the week.
Truth be told DC Vs Marvelers, I have been busy this week. Relatives, homework, freelance work, no sleep and a myriad of other forces teamed up with the thing to bring me down man.
The notes this week might be weird since I took them a while ago and I don't wanna reread everything. Too tired.

Blast From The Past (Weekly) Review
Onslaught Unleashed #4
I don't know about Onslaught Unleashed. I picked it up originally because if they are bringing back Prof X's evil mind baby with Magneto and the baby is canon then sign me up. Onslaught tried to possess Rikki Barnes/Nomad, the alternate Bucky and then her teammates the Young Allies and the Secret Avengers tried to stop them. The art was good but the storytelling was unclear. Apparently the brother of Toro, a Young Ally, was there and doing something and it was confusing. At the end I think they sealed Onslaught away again but it maybe didn't happen. I just don't even know.
Score: -1

The Incredible Hulks #629
Last time on The Incredible Hulks, Tyrannus the immortal emperor turned into a giant god while holding Pandora's box (which was really an urn). Betty Ross, the Red She-Hulk, and the Hulk were teamed up to stop him. After she gets beat down and untransforms, she learns if she transforms again she will be stuck. The ending of the arc was a bit disappointing but it worked for the characters and the art was good as always. I am just sad that none of the recent arcs have been up to Planet Hulk or World War Hulk levels of fun. Still, Greg Pak has one final arc to run and I look forward to this, this upcoming week!
Score: 0

Power Man and Iron Fist #5
Power Man and Iron Fist wrapped up this week as much as it will for a miniseries. The duo fought NeoNazis with kicking and resolved the issues but I left a bit confused over some of the plotline and it could probably use a reread. Check it out, the characters are well done and the art is good. People also get kicked a lot and in a month or so it will be out as a trade.
Score: +1






Off The Racks!:
Quick Side Note: DC, I am aware you want to push Super 8 on comic readers and I appreciate that you have it in our books without increasing the prices but I have yet to read it because YOU ALWAYS PUT IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COMICS. I'd rather read it in the back of book, you know, like I do with back up features. And this is in every DC book I bought. DC, suck an egg for now and stop putting the comic in the center.

Fear Itself: The Deep #1
The series is written by Cullen Bunn the guy behind not only the very great The Sixth Gun but also the Superman/Batman arc with magical Batman from the future. The series has Attuma with an evil got hammer kicking Namor and Loa (an X-man) out of Atlantis and taking over. Namor called on Dr. Stranger from the Defenders to bring the team back. Due To Dr Strange not being the Sorceror Supreme anymore though he summons Lyra (alternate future She-Hulk) instead, though the fact that Hulk has a god hammer might also factor in. There is punching and they round out the team with the Silver Surfer. I am excited to see where this goes and you should give the series a try.
Score: +1

Herc #4
Herc flies on a griffin, finds the use behind belt pouches, gets stabbed and beaten and keeps on ticking.
Favorite Comic Book Of The Week
Score: +2
Pope, But He's Made Of Chocolate #87
Despite a very weird release schedule the newest issue of PBHMC does not fail to deliver. In the last issue back in February, The Choco Pope ended up being melted and poured into a devil mold. Luckily in this issue, Choppowsi, CP's half helicopter roommate/president of the Vatican comes in to help. He uses the chopper blades to remold the CP into the normal form, but now with a machine gun with holy water. Next issue CP fights Baron Von Satin.
Score:+1

Heroes For Hire #8
When we last left our Heroes For Hire, Spider-man was fighting velociraptors in a cage fight controlled by Batroc the Leaper and the mysterious employer of him and the the Puppetmaster (who had controlled Misty Knight earlier). Misty comes into help with Satana and fun stuff happens. Raptors are punched, Batroc leaps and nudity happens.
Score: +1





Hulk #34
So I mentioned earlier that I liked Planet Hulk and this Planet Red Hulk walks a thin line. Rulk is called to look at an anomally, is pulled into a portal and is put onto a barbaric planet. Spoilers Follow.Then Rulk kills the king and takes over in one issue. HAHAHAHAHAHA. I cried a bit. I look forward to where this series arc will go to.
Score: +1





Thunderbolts #158
We've already seen the Juggernaut getting the hammer and breaking the Raft so this focuses on our heroic villains finding out. The team is fighting techno zombies when they discover the Raft has been destroyed and instead of running off they decide to police the island prison. The art and the writing in this book are wonderful and there is a reason I still love to recommend this book.
Score: +1




Hellboy The Fury #1
I like Hellboy though I've not read a lot of the comics but the series does a good job catching the reader up to what may be the most important Hellboy story yet. Pick it up to read it though if you like the series at all. I would like to see Mignola draw this though but what can I say.
Score: +1






Static Shock Special
The Troy McDuffie-esqe memorial issue that wasn't really a memorial was a very good comic. I never read the Static Shock series but I grew up with the TV show as a kid. Virgil/Static's father is released from prison after being wrongly incarcerated thanks to Virgil's work but the past catches up too fast. I do wish I had read more of the comic but the issue is really good this week.
Score: +1




Amazing Spider-Man #663
I am honestly divided on the character of Anti-Venom since he is evil but he cures people and I don't know. Unlike Slott's other work up to this point the most recent arc seems to involve some more obscure-ish canon (at least to me). A new crime fight is after Mister Negative whom Anti-Venom is also after. Mister Negative's alternate identity is that of a very charitable person Spider-man knows. Thus conflict. I am interested in where this goes but I am cautious.
Score: +1



Feat Itself Book #3
Fear Itself actually tells a story and has action compared to Flashpoint 2. A buncha stuff happens, the Thing gets a hammer, Bucky-Cap fights Sin-Skadi and Thor gets the hell out of Dodge-Asgard with a time limit to return before Ragnarok happens... again? (I only think Ragnarok happened previously in Marvel Thor, I might be wrong.)
Score: +1





Uncanny X-force #11
Last time we met out heroes we found Archangel is destined to be the next Apocalypse unless the X-force get a Life Seed that will cured/kill/ultra-die Apocalypse. The problem - they have to go into the Age of Apocalypse Universe to do this. The bigger problem - their guide is Dark Beast, Apocalypse's servant. Oh, and one more problem - the remaining resistance force just saw the X-force with Dark Beast.
Score: +1




Weird Worlds #6
Oh god I am glad this is done. Lobo story was confusing as butts. Garbage Man is apparently going to have his own series in the DC line. Tanga I just stopped reading three pages in. Good riddance.
Score: -1







Moon Knight #2
Moon Knight had a magical costume to switch between super powers and identities and while this sounds cool it could have been better. His Spider-man powers are pretty much a worse version of the Spider-man toys you'd get with a kids meal wherein they shoot a hard plastic web. Wolverine is simple enough but yeah. Moon Knight fights evil prostitutes and then has sex with one who was undercover. This was a major drop from the last issue that I loved so much.
Score: -1



Flashpoint #2
We see a bit about Aquaman and Wonder Woman fighting pirate Deathstroke and it clears things up? Also Flash thinks Reverse Flash is messing with him since his costume ring has a Reverse Flash Costume. Flash decides he needs to be repowered so he has alternate Batman hook him up to a machine to recreate his powers. If only the Flash would die instead.
Score: 0




Avengers Academy 14.1
The Avengers Academy kids have to ask a tough question - were they better off joining the team and learning to use their powers. The .1 issue has the kids meeting their almost alumni including a boy who calls himself the Alchemist . They find almost everyone is doing well - but is there something darker going on? The issue was well written, fun and the art was great.
Best Comic Of The Week
Score: +2



Scores:
Marvel - 9
DC - 0
Dark Horse - 1
Noncomm - 1

The House That Jack Built still is my personal winner. If there are any DC Comics you want me to check out next week, leave a comment and I'll see what I can do.

Join me next week for Frankenstein Vs Frankenstein: The Miniseries Fight To The Death.

Next Week's Pull List:
Flashpoint: Frankenstein
Superman
Spider-man
Deadpool
Fear Itself: Deadpool
Fear Itself: Fearsome Four
Incredible Hulks
Mystery Men
New Avengers
Ultimate Spiderman

Stuff I Forgot:
Wolverine and Herc: Mutants, Myths and Monsters

ROUND TEN: New(ish) Comics for May 18, 2011

I could make an excuse for why these reviews are two weeks late, but I won't. I'd rather jump straight into reviewing some comics. In the interest of getting these done as quickly as possible I'm going to do another lightning round.

Here's what I bought two weeks ago.

X-Factor #219
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #158
Zatanna #13
Supergirl #64
Uncanny X-Force #10
Fables #105
Power Girl #24
Booster Gold #44
Superman/Batman #84
Deadpool Max #8
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7
Li'l Depressed Boy #4
Generation Hope #7

In case you didn't know it already, don't ever... evereverevereverevereverEVER mess with Monet. Also, there hasn't been a bad issue of this comic since it started, so... yeah.
SCORE: +1









Another series that hasn't ever had a bad issue, this one builds up to the final (?) showdown between Peter Parker and Norman Osborne. All the hype built up around the Death of Spider-Man storyline definitely works in this issue's favor, as the last panel is a cliffhanger that leans in a very specific direction. And it's not a good one. For Peter, that is. It's a good one for readers.
SCORE: +1






Brother Night is back and I'm a little surprised to find myself looking forward to what's going to happen. It doesn't hurt that Jamal Igle's art is kind of awesome. The news of DC's relaunch is a bitter pill to swallow with regards to books like this that have been consistently enjoyable.
SCORE: +1








This issue wraps up what should have been Nick Spencer's first arc and I'm pretty sure that's how it's going to be remembered (if at all): The Supergirl arc that Nick Spencer wrote a little of. The best part of this issue is that Kelly Sue DeConnick will be writing it next month. It wasn't awful, though.
SCORE: 0








I still need to catch up to this issue so no review. Sorry.
SCORE: ???











When two wind gods get together there's gonna be a whole lot of talk in the air and that's exactly what happens in this issue. Bigby and his father the North Wind have a long talk. It's a good thing this is Fables and that's exactly what this series does well.
SCORE: +1








Somebody who wrote a better review of this issue gave it a middling score because of the way it jumps around. I find that I agree with that review.
SCORE: 0










I like everything about this book. The writing and dialog are snappy and the art is stylish and has a sense of quickness to it. Kieron Gillen's and Salvador Espin have a good thing going here, and this is another solid issue.
SCORE: +1










I wrote a whole thing over at Luke's site, socialfist.com, about how much we all suck for letting this book get cancelled and reading this issue just makes it even more sucky that it's not going on past issue #12. This book is AMAZING. Read it now before everyone else figures out what they're missing and it becomes the trendy thing to do.
SCORE: +1







I'm still not caught up with this series so I didn't read this issue, either.
SCORE: ???











This isn't a spoiler anymore for two reasons: 1) it's two weeks old, so if you haven't read it by now that's your own fault, and 2) issue #11 just came out this week (making it three or four issues in a row this book has come out every two weeks) and the gang is going to the Age of Apocalypse. I have a theory regarding this book, that Rick Remender is taking everything that was terrible about 90s Marvel Comics and making it awesome. More on this later.
SCORE: +1





This was such an easy choice for Best Comic Book of the Week. Pretty much everything I read this week was really good, but this was way ahead of the pack. It's a bit heavy handed, but in the right way, if that makes any sense. Basically, it's going to make you angry because anger is the only decent and human response to the things that happen in this issue. The fill-in artist, Hendry Prasetya does a pretty fantastic Sami Basri impression, too. Just really well done all around.
SCORE: +2





Oh, man. How could a comic book called "The Li'l Depressed Boy" be this good? Does that make me a bad person? Or worse; a hipster? I don't even care. LDB is super fun even when it demolishes you like this issue did to me. This is My Favorite Comic Book of the Week.
SCORE: +2







Good gentlepeople, let us tally the scores, shall we? RESULTS!

Marvel: 5
DC: 3
Image: 2
Vertigo: 1

That was actually closer than I thought it would be. If I would just hurry up and get caught up on all my series DC might not have perished along with Image and Vertigo when their spaceship crashed landed on Earth, forcing them to seek out one worthy to carry on the mantle of Green Lantern.

Thanks for reading, everyone!

ROUND 11: Comics For May 25, 2011

Hey DCVM's, Luke/Koltreg/Daggerz is back from the Hundo Club of War Rocket Ajax (think first class but the pilots eat all the food).
My boss for this blog, Niles, is slightly behind because he is busy with other things but do not fret. He will get here eventually and make everything fine. If you need an immediate Niles fix (and who doesn't... (wait... what?)) he posted his weekly Socialfist article and it is a doozy on continuity and how all of you are sort of dickbutts.
In the meantime I've been busy reading. I got a 2 month subscription to Marvel Digital for $1 (find out how here) so I read Planet Hulk, World War Hulk, Incredible Hercules, Ares, Books of Doom and She Hulk, all which I would recommend but which I won't write up because I already write enough comic stuff and this is a big back issue backlog week.
Also some punks stole my chair where I normally write so they shall feel the wrath of doom.

Blast From The Past (Weekly) Review:

Batman Gates of Gotham #1
Gotham has a bunch of bridges called the Gates of Gotham that the head families of the city built including the Waynes, Cobblepots and a few others. The comic rotates between the history of these bridges and the fact that someone is blowing them up. It is a good set up but I will be keeping this on the rack for now.
Score: +0

Zatanna #13
Zatanna is facing off with a guy who is like Dr Destiny (the Justice League guy who stole Dream's ruby thing in Sandman). He uses it to control people making him another magic villain but establishing a villain team for Zatanna requires one. There is also some Spectre torture fun (and I'd honestly not mind a Spectre series). I will keep reading this off the racks for now.
Score: +1

Alpha Flight #0.1
GREKPAK! FREDVANLENTE! A one two punch of my favorite writing team in comics taking control of Canada's best (if only) superhero team and fighting against The Purple Woman. The issue is a good introduction to the upcoming Fear Itself tie-in and there are some pretty wonderful fighting scenes and all of the art is beautiful. Give this a try, it got me excited for some Fear Itself. (Also the book predicted the political future of Canada and that is scary.)
Added To Pull
Score: +1



Avengers #13
Avenger's first Fear Itself tie-in begins with an interview that keeps on changing in meaning and that is pretty amazing. I am actually glad that I didn't get this book last week because they I'd have an even harder time figuring out what book I liked the best. The book does a good job dealing with interpersonal relationships and that when done well is one of the best things in comics.
Blast From The Past Favorite Comic!
Score +2



Iron Man #504
I like Iron Man as a character and I love the films and every issue I've read has been really good. In this issue Tony is dealing with hiring a new assistant (a Proxy Pepper Potts) and then he gets called to Paris. It turns out the Grey Gargoyle has an evil god hammer. And his power of petrification is on full blast. Tony gets knocked out and wakes up to find the grey Gargoyle has left Paris in the dust. Literally giant dust piles of dead people. That scares me on so many levels. Seriously glad I didn't pick this up last week because there were so many good comics and I had a hard enough choice as it is. I am adding this to the list though.
Blast From The Past Best Comic!
Score +2



Silver Surfer #4
The High Evolutionary stole the Power Cosmic from Norrin Rad, aka the Silver Surfer. The Silver Surfer got kidnapped and then the woman who Norrin falls in love with gets the Power Cosmic from the High Evolutionary. Norrin goes after her, gets the Power Cosmic back stopping them from transforming the moon. Then they have space sex.
Score +1
Royal Roy #1
Royal Roy, former Boy-Prince of Cashelot finds his borders under attack from the neighboring country of Latervia and the forces of Doom! Roy must face the deaths of his family and the sudden thrusting of responsibility onto the former boy adventurer. Roy considers a variety of options including suicide, which is surprisingly dark for this all ages series but man, the series ends with Roy being pulled screaming by Doombots, arms bleeding and with an eye missing. I don't know, for an all ages book this is all horribly dark.
Score -1

Off The Racks:
This week was not as strong as last week where I had to struggle to pick my favorites.

The Amazing Spider-Man #662
If you recall I found last week's Spider-man sort of lacking and I found the chemistry off a bit. Then we got Spider-man wrestling with a dinosaur and a really solid backup story with Magnetic Man getting a job from Peter Parker and everything was fine again. The Avengers Academy are under the thrall of Psycho Man and his iPad of doom and Spider-man reminds them they get to make the choice of who they are. This helps them snap back. The first back feature is a continued build up to Spider-Island which should be interesting and the second backup like I mentioned is about Magnetic Man getting a job from Peter Parker as an alternative to doing crime which is what Spidey is about. Helping people, not just fighting them.
Score: +1

Astonishing Spider-man and Wolverine #6
Oh man, the series finally ends. If you haven't been reading Spider-man and Wolverine have been waking up in different time zones and have been fighting each other. It turns out a gangster named Czar who is working for Mojo (as well as stealing goods for himself) has been sending the two heroes (who hate each other) for a new tv show. Last issue they found what was happening and laid the smack down. Then Wolverine became the Phoenix and the Internet never saw because this is out of continuity. Spider-man and Wolverine show up in the Old West with a newfound respect but no way to get back. Then the TVA (time police) send them back and everything seems to be lost from Spider-man's fiance's memories to the blood bond they pair made All in all this was a pretty great series and I really want to reread it.
Score: +1

Dungeons & Dragons #7
The Dungeons & Dragons comic has been a pretty solid series sol far with a good mixed of well defined characters and realistic adventures that you could actually run in 4th edition. I had a friend who actually found his DM (dungeon master) was actually running the adventures straight from the comic. The group last time got surrounded by elves in a castle and then in this issue they got surrounded by undead Drow and wound up in the Feywild. The issue perhaps runs too close in continuation and might benefit from a catch-up page but it was really good otherwise.
Score: +1

Deadpool #37
Deadpool is on a mission to kill himself, possibly to try and bone Death (but after Thanos has been all up in there I can't suggest it (side not, why is Death always a grey/white skinned chick wearing all black with a great figure - when I write death it'll be a large hippo with a mustache who speaks with a patois accent, just to mix stuff up). Deadpool decides that they only way to die is to fight the Hulk and so he sets off after Bruce Banner in Gamma World (established by Amadeus Cho) who doesn't want to kill Deadpool. This is after Deadpool fills the Hulk's mouth with explosives. Deadpool finally hits the trigger though when he sets off another nuke and next issue we might see the death of Deadpool? That said I am expecting to see Thanos, the guy who made Deadpool immortal-er showing up soon and that will be good comics. The writing was a bit dry for me on this one but it can't all be amazing.
Score +1

FF #4
When you have the Wizard saying "Let's cut all babies in half," you have good comics. When the rest of the issue is great, you have the pick of the week. The council to kill Reed Richards convenes and discovers that the evil Reeds (evil where they only care for science and not life) plan to build a massively destructive machine and that - is wonderful. Spider-man, Sue and Alex Power of the Power Pack fly to old Atlantis and face off against Mole Man and his evil Reed.
Best and Favorite Comic Of The Week (And I am cheating giving this a shared score)
Score +3

Spider-Girl #7
Spider-girl finds herself fighting Raven (who have a team of American Ninjas with no vocal cords) with your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. The two find out that Raven plans to brainwash Spider-girl into becoming an agent for them. Then they fight a giant robot and it gets reprogrammed to thinking that it is a living game of Angry Birds. Comics Everyone!
Score +1

Venom #3
Last time on Venom, Betty can't stand Flash Thompson, the legless veteran/wielder of the Venom symbiote for the old Red White and Blue. Things turned sour when Kraven the Hunter poisoned and left Flash knocked out long enough to begin losing contorl. Flash finally completes his mission of capturing some illegal vibranium (the metal that destroys metals) only for the rules to change - his enemies have his lady love Betty. As he makes a deal with the devil, not Mephisto but the criminals he has been fighting, Venom runs into your friendly neighborhood Spider-man who is looking to stop the symbiote once and for all. Oh, and the government with a watch on Venom with a kill switch is getting a tad trigger happy.
Score +1

Xombi #2 and #3
Good job internet, you guilted me like some kind of super pope von groundersguilt. The Internet has been bemoaning the sales of this series and I will grant them clemency because I did enjoy Xombi #1, my store just stopped ordering it. Luckily I go to another store (better service, better subscription deal, etc) so I was able to get it.
Here is the thing. I get why people like Xombi and why they want it defended. It is a series that is different than the other series that are out there. This is a series where magic and religion are on equal footing and there are a lot of interesting ideas. On the other hand though, the comic is heady and I have an issue with that and I can understand why it can be scary to new readers. The comic takes place in a world where people aren't familiar with everything and everything is not as clear as it could be. Yes, there is the mystery of murkiness that is great. There are comics that I love that about like Hellboy/BPRD where things are unresolved or never explained. Here though it just never hits for me. It is a good series and yes it's death is something you can complain about in the market but it isn't one of the great books out there, at least not yet. I will mourn a little that it is already on the chopping block, that DC is publishing it instead of Vertigo and so on but it won't keep me up at night.
Score +1 and +1

Okay, I barely read DC books so this is pretty unfair number wise and I apologize for that. If you do read this, what DC books should I be reading?

Scores:
DC - 3
Marvel - 14
IDW - 1
Noncom - -1

Stuff I Forgot To Buy (OH NO!):
Incredible Hulks #629
Onslaught Unleashed #4