New This Week: February 16, 2005

Based on the NCRL list for this week's comics shipping from Diamond, here are a few things to look for at the local comic shop tomorrow:

The pick of the week is either JLA Classified #4, which features the start of Giffen/DeMatteis/Maguire/Rubinstein's "I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League," or Promethea #32, the final issue of Alan Moore's opus. Depends on whether you're in the mood for silly or serious. Me? I'll get both!


In other comics:

Antarctic has Ben Dunn's Heaven Sent #7.

Three of Dark Horse's new Sin City Editions hit the shelves, all at the same time. Volumes 1, 3 & 4--what happened to vol. 2? (It's a reprint volume, so how come it's late?)

Green Lantern: Rebirth #4 arrives a month late. DC also has new issues of Birds of Prey (#79), Ex Machina (#8), Human Target (#19), Lucifer (#59), Manhunter (#7), Ocean (#4), and Tom Strong (#31 -- written by Michael Moorcock!)

Dork Storm has a new Dork Tower (#30).

Image has a new issue of Noble Causes (#7).

Speaking of late comics, Marvel finally releases Astonishing X-Men #8.There's also the debuts of the second Runaways series and Adam Warren's Livewires, plus new issues of Daredevil (#70) & She-Hulk (#12).

Oni has two debuts: Andi Watson's Little Star and a second series for Queen & Country: Declassified.

Seven Seas has its inaugural offering, Blade for Barter.

And there's tons of new manga volumes from AD Vision and TokyoPop, but sadly nothing much of interest to me.

Quick Comic Reviews

Cryptozoo Crew #1
by Allan Gross & Jerry Carr
Do you remember fondly the days when the first issue of a new comic would set up the premise while telling a complete story, and still have enough room for a complete eight-page back-up story? If so, then you'll appreciate this first issue, which introduces us to Tork Darwyn, Cryptozoologist, and Tara Darwyn, his long-suffering and slightly-more-capable wife, as they head off to the Congo in search of a living dinosaur. It's a fun, lighthearted tale by Gross, and Carr brings a thick-lined yet open syle that fits the story's sense of fun and adventure. Oh, and that back-up story I mentiond?: Monkeys!
Rating: 3 (of 5)


Majestic #2
by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, Neil Googe & Trevor Scott
Now this is what I want to read Majestic for. Now that Superman and co. are gone, Abnett & Lanning finally get to the core of what a comic named Majestic should be: big. Majestic has spent four months in space tracking the giant alien spaceship that has kidnapped all life on Earth, and he's not giving up until he's stopped it. The art by Googe & Scott is big as well, perfectly illustrating the size and scope of the events. The only drawback is that the story is moving a bit slow (but that's not surprising in these decompressed days). If they turn out more efforts like this, Majestic will be worth sticking around for.
Rating: 3 (of 5)


Vimanarama #1
by Grant Morrison & Philip Bond.
First off, Vimanarama gets props for being the only comic I've read, well, ever, that opens with a big production dance number. And it gets better from there. Young Ali is all nervous about meeting his arranged bride, but they get sucked into a mysterious underworld of Indian legend and a 60-centuries-old battle of good vs. evil. It's full of danger, awe, and humor, all pulled off wonderfully by Bond and colorist Brian Miller. If the next two issues are as good as this first, Morrison will have another in a string of great 21st century comics to his credit.
Rating: 4 (of 5)