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As much action, suspense, adventure and thrills as a summer blockbuster!

Why I Love Comics rundown for books coming out January 28th, 2008

Welcome to this week's Why I Love Comics, which was packed with as much action, suspense, adventure and thrills as a summer blockbuster movie and most of the titles brought a smile to this fans face. The week had everything from Wolf-man struggling with his life, the Teen Titans roster almost being complete and Final Crisis ending. So let's jump right into things starting with Image.

Proof #16 has our agents returning to the lodge for a funeral. We find out exactly what the joke was that Proof was going to tell, Ginger and Proof have a heart to heart, Belinda gets used to the lodge and Proof finds a new love interest. The issue was as packed as always and I really enjoy the more human aspect of the series, when all the characters get to talk and it explores more of the humanity of everyone. The best moments of this issue though as usual come from the Dover Demon as he foreshadows things to come in the next few arcs. I really loved after the last few issues Proof and Bella's relationship evolving into asking each other out on a date. It's obvious our man doesn't do well with the ladies and has been single for a while now, so it was really interesting to see how the friendship has evolved into crushes on each other. Can't wait to see where that heads. Oh and Elvis having a new partner is always a positive especially with the fact that she's just as green as he was when he just started a few arcs back.

Verdict: Still one of the best books at Image and gets stronger with every issue. Also a fun note was a lot of the Image board posters were drawn into the issue and even had a few lines of dialogue. Next issue is a great jumping on point.

The Astounding Wolf-man #12 has Gary coming home after finishing his training and a new super villain team forming in a really interesting way. That new super villain team looks like they won't last long sadly as they go looking for Wolf-man in the Alpha's wilderness (really don't see that ending well for them). Gary sneaks back into his old home base to find Cecil waiting for him. It appears as if Cecil actually wants to help our hero and says he can stay there until the government comes to take it over. It's an interesting moment with the character and adds new layers to someone I thought I had figured out. Meanwhile, Gary's daughter continues to be a gullible idiot as she falls more into Zechariah's hands. It's truly chilling as you can't predict where that storyline is heading. I hope she doesn't get turned though and that Gary somehow repairs the relationship. Oh and that last page? Gary is really out of his league right now.

Verdict: I have grown to love this book as much as Invincible but I think the over all pace of the current arc makes it not a great jumping on point. I'd say try the first trade and see if you like things, then go from there.

Dark Horse and Gerard Way's the Umbrella Academy #3 finally gave us some insight on Number 5's history in the future as his brother tries his best to save Seance and Seance has a very unusual conversation with God. Every issue outdoes the last issue in both absurdity, fun and over all craziness. I loved Seance's (what appeared at the time to be) final stand against Cha Cha and Hazel who have to be my favorite hit men since Sam Jackson and Travolta in Pulp Fiction. Seance contacting his brother through his dream was one of the coolest moments in the book. Number 5 revealing just why he's the most dangerous man on the planet sent chills down my spine in one of the most twisted revelations you could have ever really thought of. The Rumor, mind you, doesn't like humoring him and things get worse when we meet the man who's been after him the whole time...well he's not exactly a man, more of a fish in a suit.

Verdict: The Umbrella academy is one of the best comics being published today and every issue brings even more out there ideas then the next and it's all beautiful. This is not only a buy but I truly think it's suggested reading for anyone wanting to discover more then the capes in comics.

We move on to Marvel starting with Runaways #6 the end of Terry Moore's first arc with the series. Xavin makes a touching decision that shakes the team down to its very core and we have an interesting battle in the sky that Chase kind of starts. Speaking of Chase, his trying to help in the battle was one of the better parts in the issue...especially the oil spill...you just kind of have to shake your head. Nico getting ticked off and using a spell to launch eggs at one of the Majesdians was pretty amusing as well. I think that's what Terry Moore has really excelled at in this series, he writes the kids as they should be at their ages. Sure there are moments where they have to be serious but at the end of the day, they are still just teenagers and he gets that spot on. The thing that Xavin does for Karolina is sweet but people who've been reading the Marvel Universe for years already knew what was happening. The last issue of Young Avengers did the same thing with Teddy and the Super Skrull with Wolverine being in the place of Nico. It's not a complaint on my part, but it has been done before.

Verdict: The kids are still as awesome as they have ever been. I'm just hoping that starting with issue #10 the writer, is someone that knows how to write them properly. This arc is definitely worth the read if you love the BKV/Alphona stuff.

Incredible Hercules #125 leaves us right where we were last issue, the world is different then it's supposed to be and Amadeus Cho is the right hand man to the woman who controls everything. Herc is captured and our main crew starts to realize that not everything about this seemingly perfect world is right. This is still one of Marvel's strongest books and the Love and War arc has been a blast. Artemis had a great plan with how she rewrote the world but people like Herc and apparently Delphyne seem to stay the same. The battle to be leader of the Amazons was actually pretty cool with a very shocking ending that was surprisingly less gruesome then you'd think. Sadly being a leader of her people, it looks like our buddy Cho lost his first real love interest which was a pretty sad moment.

Verdict: I really, really love this book and it gets stronger every issue! Pak and Fred are a great team and it shines with each issue. I can't wait for the next arc.

Book of the Week is a cosmic one and is none other then Nova #20 where Richard Rider continues to question the world mind who gains the attention of the Fantastic Four and everything in Rich's world really does turn upside down. The reason this gets Book of the Week again is because it's truly one of the best books on the stands, hands down. We get two very well thought out and rational arguments about the current Nova Corps and we don't know which side is in the right. It's handled perfectly. My main complaint with the series is Rich's whiny little gullible brother because you just get this feeling that he's going to slip up and get himself killed and his poor brother is going to feel guilty because of it. The Fantastic Four's appearance was handled great in the updated uniforms was a nice touch of continuity. Ego serving as the Corps' home base is a bit weird but we'll see where that goes.

Verdict: Seriously this series needs to be read by everyone, its great stuff. From its supporting cast to its main character, the book has a full fleshed out background and is one of the best cosmic titles you could ask for. Obviously that last page won't stick forever.

Christos Gage flies solo on Avengers the Initiative #21 and continues right where we left off last issue. The Initiative needs a new director and the only man who can really step up to the bat is the drill instructor known as Gauntlet. The character is really growing on me a lot. We get a little more on Agent Zero...well, Typhoid Mary and how she ended up in the initiative and Ragnorak aka Clor makes his big move. It looks like at least one member of the New Warriors team has joined back up with his old teammates and they are back with their old name. It's interesting to see the different plot threads juggled and was great to see Trauma go all over 9000s level on us again, even if it didn't last.

Verdict: The series just gets better and better and I can't wait to see what the New Warriors bring to the party. Clor is going down!

Our last Marvel book is New Avengers #49 where the aftermath of what happened with the baby is satisfied in a great way. Danielle is safe and sound with her parents and Luke makes his intentions very, very clear as he pulls out the Wrecker's crowbar which he took back in the teens of the series. And with three possible leaders on the team, it looks like someone finally stepped up to the bat officially at the end of the issue. The team witnesses the Dark Avengers press conference and we see several reactions from different team members. Clint decides that he's had enough though and it's time to show the world who the real Avengers are. Honestly, it's painfully obvious that Mighty and New are the real Avengers teams and Dark is a villains book. But to have Clint call them out on it was not only in character but made me grin like an idiot. This is the Clint Barton I know and love.

Verdict: Really loving not only the team but the over all direction of the book. Dark Reign has only been in two issues now but it's done great things for the book.

Moving on to DC we start with Wonder Woman #28 where things have heated up to a whole new degree. Gail lets everything loose that wasn't even expected. The reason why the director has been acting so weird is revealed and the person on the cover makes her intentions very, very known. One of my favorite relationships in comics continues to be Diana and Tom and their evolving relationship. It feels natural and not forced at all. It's healthy for both characters as Diana gains more humanity and Tom gains a bit more of a warrior's heart. Seeing Donna and Cassie helping out was a great addition as well, the fight was gruesome and truly beyond anything I've seen as a reader before. When they got the mask off to see the eyes of the creature, it was truly disturbing.

Verdict: This is how you get Wonder Woman to the top again and definitely getting her star to rise again.

Batman #685 continues the story started in Detective with Hush by Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen which has our girl Selina finding herself in some really bad trouble and the only way out includes using Tommy. He tries his best to get out of the bad situation but when he follows the men that Selina had in her employ, he realizes just how bad off he was. Hush has been captured by Dick and Tim and is locked up somewhere safe and sound. I hope Paul stays on the bat books after battle for the cowl. This is a great Batman story and I love how Selina doesn't even think for a second Bruce could be dead. Her scheme was brilliant, especially when it shows that she'd been playing all the sides of the coin.

Verdict: This is my favorite arc of Paul's yet. I keep saying that with each new arc, but he keeps writing more and more great material.

Teen Titans #67 has Sean McKeever winning me over more then he ever has before. Not because of Brother Blood or Kid Eternity, but because there's a new Titans line up and it's a good one, filled with Traci 13 and Misfit which adds so many new levels to the book. Sure the team's first outing isn't exactly a great one but this is a team with a lot of promise. Story? Oh sorry I got distracted by who was now on the team, Brother Blood escapes from Hell and goes after Eternity who helps Blood accidentally get back to earth. Here Blood faces down the team of our Teen Titans and does some serious damage before going away, even managing to steal Red Devils powers which look to be a permanent change (for the moment). It's all handled very well and obviously ties into Reign in Hell.

Verdict: I am really excited over this new line up and can't wait to see what's in store for our heroes. Obviously we still have to wait to get another member or two added to the roster but this is a great team. McKeever has another great hit on his hands.

We end the week with probably the most controversial book of 2009 so far. Final Crisis #7 in which a lot of stuff is thrown at the wall at once and not everything sticks. Superman faces down the real threat to the universe who is named Mandrakk. Yes ladies and gentleman, to understand what exactly was going on, you needed to read the Superman Beyond 2-parter. I didn't say this all made sense okay? So as I was saying Superman takes the vampire head on and gets help from Super Barack Obama, Captain Marvel and the Question. Not to mention the Ultimate Watcher, whose name is probably impossible to pronounce by a normal person. Okay I find it even hard to summarize the book so I'm going to be honest, I enjoyed it and at there were plenty of great moments filled into all the madness. But it really was a bunch of ideas being thrown at the wall and seeing what stuck. There are scenes that don't read well because of how they were put together and it feels real disjointed. Morrison puts all his outlandish things for the audience to watch and his imagination shines through. But this isn't anything like the original Crisis; this isn't Identity nor is it Infinite Crisis. Final Crisis is final in a way where it feels like every idea for a huge event book was used so that there really couldn't be another one from DC for a long time.

Verdict: At the end of the day, the story will read better collected; especially with all the tie ins but issue #7 faded in and out fast and really left a bad taste in the fan's mouth. In this personal fan's opinion, it was a great book but it will only read great collected.

Well that's it for this weeks edition, folks, tune in next week as this will either be really late or Chuck and I will be doing a live version from New York where we will discuss War of Kings, Darkhawk, Deadpool, Secret Warriors, Madman and Final Crisis Legion of 3 Worlds. See you in New York!

Eric Ratcliffe is a young writer/pop culture journalist/interviewer currently working on pitching a project named the Hunter chronicles. When not reading his weekly stack Eric can be found watching dvd's, playing on his 360 (gamertag: Zack Hunter) or just surfing online trying to find a scoop or two. Brand new to the Comic Related family, Eric is a fun new voice. Eric shops at TJ's Collectibles. Visit them on the web at www.tjcollect.com!