ArtisticallyChill

Yesterday’s visit to the comic book store was pretty good. We hung out and discussed our hatred of the Fox Network. I decided not to pick up X-MEN FOREVER, not because I don’t like Chris Claremont, but because I’m making more of an effort to not add any more comics to my pull. If it’s any good, I’ll pick it up in a collected hardcover graphic novel. I should’ve stopped picking up X-men and Uncanny after The Messiah CompleX story arc. The stories have been rather off-putting since then can could have easily been picked up in graphic novel format if I were at all interested. Wolverine and Wolverine: Origins hasn’t been that great of a read either, especially with the OLD MAN LOGAN story arc. With delays, and ass-backwards printing logistics, I’m pretty sure I’m done with picking Wolverine up as a regular title. OLD MAN LOGAN clearly should’ve have been a stand-alone mini-series since it technically takes place in some alternate future which was probably the result of BRAND NEW DAY. I haven’t even bothered following any other Marvel title since the end of Secret Invasion, with the exception of Captain America and Deadpool. Though I’m pretty sure I’ll end up dropping both titles because somehow Marvel’s DARK REIGN will frak it up. I glanced through PREVIEWS and it looks like the next big arc for Mutantkind is UTOPIA-X and I guess that’s as good a time as any to stop pulling the X-titles regularly and just wait for the graphic novel. Though I must admit that X-Factor hasn’t really disappointed me yet and I was surprised that it survived Secret Invasion despite the tie-ins. Hopefully, Jamie Maddrox and crew won’t find themselves in the middle of UTOPIA-X. *knocks on wood*

• ANGEL: BLOOD & TRENCHES # 4
• ANNA MERCURY 2 # 1
• BATMAN # 687
• BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL # 30
• THE FLASH: REBIRTH # 3
• GREEN LANTERN CORPS # 37
• RED ROBIN # 1
• TITANS # 14
• UNCANNY X-MEN # 511
• WOLVERINE # 74
• X-FACTOR # 44

PICK OF THE WEEK: RED ROBIN # 1

Written by Christopher Yost ; Art by Ramon Bachs ; Cover by Francis Manapul: Variant Cover by JG Jones
Writer Chris Yost (New X-Men, X-Force) and artist by Ramon Bachs (Civil War: Front Line) kick off a brand-new ongoing series right here with “The Grail” part 1 of 4! Following the aftermath of BATTLE FOR THE COWL, a new Batman watches over Gotham City. But not everyone is ready to give up on the old one. Someone believes that Bruce Wayne may still be alive…and that someone is Red Robin. But who is wearing the Red Robin costume, and why is he traveling the globe looking for a dead man? Whoever he is, he’s not alone in his search!

Last week I gave BATMAN AND ROBIN a shot, and liked it. This week it’s RED ROBIN, and I don’t mean the restaurant. After reading FINAL CRISIS, I wondered who would still believe that Bruce Wayne was still alive and how would they solve the mystery of what really happened to him at the end of FINAL CRISIS? Having Tim Drake to take the reigns on this task is a great choice. I’m glad DC didn’t throw him back into the Teen Titans or made him Dick Grayson’s Robin. Will I be collecting the other new series within the Bat-family of comic books that have yet to start? Maybe, maybe not. It all depends on whether or not those series are any good and if I’m willing to drop Marvel all together and stick with DC through the rest of the year for BLACKEST NIGHT and Bruce Wayne’s return.

~ LoneWolf