this week's stack

[Reginald Hudlin]

Really good week.

WALKING DEAD #98 the owner of the shop said it well....this book will make you gasp every time, no matter how many issues have gone by.

AMERICA'S GOT POWERS #2 - Smart story and Bryan Hitch is one of the all time great artists.

ANIMAL MAN ANNUAL #1 - clever story that feeds into the ongoing storyline but works as a one off.  

BATMAN ANNUAL #1 - Best Mr. Freeze story ever.

MANHATTAN PROJECTS #3 - Getting more intriuging with each issue.

NEXT MEN AFTERMATH #43 - Byrne comes up with great concepts with ease. There's a wonderful new black superhero in here. But overall, I have no idea what's going on and I'm not sure I ever will.

POWERS #10 - incredible new storyline.  Wow.

SECRET SERVICE #2 - Millar does Bond...with a twist, of course.  Loving Dave Gibbon art, of course.  

SUPER CROOKS #3 - To be concluded next issue?  But this book must go on...it's just warming up!

[stanleyballard]

Fantastic Four #607 is the pick of the week because Hickman just brought the story and finally gave The Black Panther some rooting value and returned him to the core of the character who has been so many steps beyond what others thought.  Just a savvy King.  Cannot wait to see where this one goes....

Uncanny X Force #26 was the first issue to finally feature Professor Xavier - who should play prominently in bringing some conscience to this series as it plays against his idea of how the X Men should conduct themselves.  Remender does a good job of pacing and dialogue here....good work.

[Reginald Hudlin]

AvX #6 - First issue that I really liked.  The Avengers continue to be jerks, but at least now people are acknowledging it in the story.

THE COMEDIAN #1 - First one of these BEFORE WATCHMEN stories that interested me.

NEW AVENGERS #27 - This a well written, beautifully drawn comic.

SAGA #4 - Wow, this book keeps getting better.  

BPRD HELL ON EARTH/THE DEVIL'S ENGINE - I don't know what these stories are about any more, but they are good and creepy, which is the point I guess.

VOODOO CHILD - Denys' Cowan's art is insane in this issue.  Amazing work. And this the most detailed rendition of voodoo in a comic ever. Thanks Selwyn Hines for doing the research.

DARK AVENGERS #176 - Man Thing saying "what up" is a treat.

IRON MAN #519 - Still a great book every month.

DAREDEVIL #14 - Love how this is "just" a comic book now without every betraying all the drama of previous runs.  And so many challenges that build on the core concept of the character.  Waid is damn good.

[Reginald Hudlin]

Before I start giving opinions, I have a question for folks:  what is your satisfaction percentage of the comics you buy?  I buy a LOT of comics but this week I felt that I liked only half my stack. Half of them really lived up to the potential of the comic that I saw to make me buy it...but either the art or story let me down. 

How do other people feel about their purchases?

[Reginald Hudlin]

FF #19 - One of the best Wakanda based stories ever.  

AVX #7 - The behavior of the Avengers continue to make no sense.  They are making the world a paradise but the Avengers continue to fight them?  Where is public opinion?  

That said, I really dug this issue.

ANIMAL MAN #11 - Damn I love this series.  This is DC's best series.  

FURY #4 - Love this series.  Amazing art.  

RESET #3 - Pette Bagge is pretty damn amazing.  

ORCHID #8 - Tom Morello is making a great comic series.  Great art too.

INVINCIBLE #93 - Kirkman really knows how to write a long term series.  

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #520 - Still loving this series.  

MANHATTAN PROJECTS #4 - One of the creepiest, most creative books out there.  Hickman is a beast.

ULTIMATE SPIDER MAN #12 - For once, the cover doesn't do justice to how great this issue is.  Brilliant, character based ending.

BATMAN INCORPORATED #2 - My favorite Batman book.  Synder is great but Grant's scope and ambition is breathtaking.  

SPIDER MEN #2 - LOVE this issue.  

[KIP LEWIS]

AVX #7 - The behavior of the Avengers continue to make no sense.  They are making the world a paradise but the Avengers continue to fight them?  Where is public opinion?  

That said, I really dug this issue.

I think because the Avengers are right; the Phoenix cannot be controlled; it will blow up in their faces.  And I suspect that's the way the story will run.

[stanleyballard]

Before I start giving opinions, I have a question for folks:  what is your satisfaction percentage of the comics you buy?  I buy a LOT of comics but this week I felt that I liked only half my stack. Half of them really lived up to the potential of the comic that I saw to make me buy it...but either the art or story let me down. 

How do other people feel about their purchases?

Honestly, most of the titles in the current buy stack are good (especially the DC relaunches) satisfied with 80% of titles... really have dropped the others.

[JLI Jesse]

Before I start giving opinions, I have a question for folks:  what is your satisfaction percentage of the comics you buy?  I buy a LOT of comics but this week I felt that I liked only half my stack. Half of them really lived up to the potential of the comic that I saw to make me buy it...but either the art or story let me down. 

How do other people feel about their purchases?

My satisfaction percentage is rising as I continue to drop books.  I hate the Bendisization of the Marvel Universe and it has caused me to drop all but about four books.  Similarly, I have finally been able to wade through the new 52 and bring it down to only the books I enjoy.  Surprising to me is that the books I am enjoying the most are Image/Independent.  Morning Glories, Walking Dead, Invincible, Rachel Rising, Artifacts, The Boys, The Cape. Locke & Key, etc.

I think my feeling of being unsatisfied comes from the fact that I WANT to buy books like the Avengers or Spider-Man, but just can't get behind it.  If that makes any sense, it probably means that my satisfaction level for books actually purchase is a lot higher than my brain or heart would have me think.

[stanleyballard]

X-Factor #240 is just a cool character driven story which expands upon Layla Miller ...where she was & where she has potential to go in the future....developed nuances & dialogue drives the action....Peter David is just the best there is at what he does....

Justice League #ll Geoff Johns' showcasing of Wonder Woman in this issue was a good twist to the story....Jim Lee & Scott Williams just kick it up another notch....feels epic even when it's just building to something (good tone)....

Fantastic Four #608 puts The Black Panther back in the front & center ...Hickman repairs most of the damage the whole DoomWar series caused & sends King T'Challa off into a whole new direction....exciting ideas abound from this story....it seems appropriate that the series where BP debuted is where he is reborn (in more ways than one).  This might just be the pick of the week ....satisfaction indeed.

Invincible #90 to #93 has been a wild ride....still learning the characters....like the concept.

[Reginald Hudlin]

Finally read FF #608, and agree that it's a great issue and a interesting jump off to future stories.   Who the heck can follow Hickman on this book?

MINUTEMEN #2 - got a lot better in the second issue to me.

GREEN LANTERN #11 - Continues to be the a good read, best of the GL family. 

EARTH 2 #3 - Man, one origin story after another is kinda clunky. 

DAREDEVIL #15 - Good exploration of what his powers are.

BATMAN #11 - solid ending to the story.  A great way to relaunch the Batman movie franchise.

SECRET AVENGERS #29 - first of all, wow what a cover.  Inside, this book is grimy enough to damn near be the Thunderbolts.  Not a complaint.

TAKIO #2 - FUN!

[Reginald Hudlin]

FRANKENSTEIN #11 - still dig this book. 

SAGA #5 - Best book every week it's on the stands.

IRON MAN #521 - Still loving this series. 

MANHATTAN PROJECTS #5 - Hickman again.  Love this series.  ILL.

RESET #4 - A sweet ending to a fun series. 

HIT GIRL #1/SECRET SERVICE #3 - I love the beast that is Mark Millar. 

X FORCE #27 - Still the best mutant book.

HARBRINGER #2 - Valiant is doing a damn good book.  Excellent cover, as was issue one.

WALKING DEAD #100 - Dark, dark story, as expected for a milestone issue. 

SPIDER MEN #3 - I'll be sad when this series is over.

[stanleyballard]

Aqua Man #11 is one of the best books out right now....tone, pacing, characterization, twists & plots....Geoff Johns brings the story & it just gets better.

X Factor #241 takes the team one step closer to Darwin's pending return & some major changes in members (foreboding).  Peter David just took the book up more notches in pace & theme.  Never can tell which twist or dialogue is going to have you laughing out loud in each issue.

Iron Man #521 is some good stuff....love Salvador's work (underrated) & good pacing too.

[Reginald Hudlin]

I agree about Iron Man and Salvador's work.

Also, HAWKEYE #1 was a really refreshing book.  Beautiful art.

[Marvelous]

Wolverine 311 - Loeb is good for this book, I'm not really into people coming back from the dead.  But it's Marvel and Sabertooth and this is well written.

Spider-Men 4 of 5 - Bendis, nuff said.  Best book of the week, might be my fave series of the year...

Ultimate Nick Fury: "Hey, do they have a Nick Fury where you come from?"

Earth 616 Spidey: "Oh yes."

Ultimate Nick Fury: "Yeah? Whats he like?"

Earth 616 Spidey: "Uh, white."

Ultimate Nick Fury: "Sorry to hear that."

Like I said before...Bendis, nuff said.     

[JLI Jesse]

Ultimate Nick Fury: "Hey, do they have a Nick Fury where you come from?"

Earth 616 Spidey: "Oh yes."

Ultimate Nick Fury: "Yeah? Whats he like?"

Earth 616 Spidey: "Uh, white."

Ultimate Nick Fury: "Sorry to hear that."

Like I said before...Bendis, nuff said.