Saturday, 17 June 2006

Dave's Dozen: Mainstream Comics

Each month I go through Previews to highlight twelve items worthy of attention in three categories: Mainstream Comics, Indy Comics, and Collections/GNs.

First up for the June Previews (comics supposedly available in August) are the following dozen mainstream comics picks:


Batman #656
Detective Comics #822

(DC, $2.99 ea., pp. 61-62)

Had I done a Dave's Dozen for May, I would have highlighted the debuts of the new Baman teams: Grant Morrison & Andy Kubert on Batman, and Paul Dini & J. H. Williams III on Detective. But since I didn't, I'll hightlight them here in their second issues. Both writers are known for their unique takes on Batman, and both artists have a well-deserved following. Should be good stuff!



Action Comics #842
(DC, $2.99, p. 66)

That's an eye-catching cover, and its got a definite silver age vibe. It'll be great to have a Superman comic that's actually fun again.



The Creeper #1
(DC, $2.99, p. 72)

Horror comics master Steve Niles takes a crack at perennial comic book loser The Creeper in a mini-series, with Justiniano along for the art. Can they suceed where so many before them have failed?



Jonah Hex #10
(DC, $2.99, p. 77)

The vastly underrated Phil Noto comes on board for the art in this issue. On nice thing about doing done-in-one tales is that it's easy to bring in a fill-in artists without interrupting the flow fo a story.



Manhunter #25
(DC, $2.99, p. 80)

Turns out that this won't be the final issue, as Manhunter has received a Spider-Girl-like reprieve. If we're lucky, the title will last 100 issues too. But you need to do your part, so buy this comic!



The Boys #1-2
(DC, $2.99 ea., p. 105)

Garth Ennis does his hating-super-heroes thing, all dark & twisted. Darick Robertson provides the art.



Agents of Atlas #1
(Marvel, $2.99, p. M23)

Jeff Parker brings back the golden age of Marvel. There's a robot, and a gorilla. How could I not get this comic?



Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #18
(Marvel, $2.99, p. M52)

Hey look, Peter David is writing all-new classic Spider-Man tales. Spider_man vs. Man-Thing in a battle of the hyphenates. If you're upset or whatever about recent developments in the web-slinger's life, you should be checking out retro tales.



CSI: Dying in the Gutters #1
(IDW, $3.99, p. 297)

This high concept CSI mini finds comic gossip Rich Johnston murdered at a Las Vegas comic convention, and plenty of real-life comic creators as suspects. I imagine that the CSI fans who pick this up will be mighty confused. I wonder if one of the guest stars will actually end up being the murderer?



Edgar Rice Burroughs' A Princess of Mars #1
(IDW, $3.99, p. 300)

Ted McKeever drawing an adaptation of Burroughs' John Carter? How odd and wonderful!



Look for the other two parts, Indy Comics & Collections/GNs, sometime soon.