The List - 8/26/09

Man, for some reason posting this tonight has been a real hassle, here's the books I'm grabbing this week, attempt number four...

It's also a special edition of the list as right now I'm right there with Paul, in the fact that I need to drop some stuff. With the November Previews coming out this week, you can be sure the Lists within the upcoming months to be MUCH shorter :

BATMAN AND ROBIN #3 - "Batman Reborn" concludes the explosive reteaming of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, WE3, New X-Men)! Witness Batman and Robin's final showdown against Professor Pyg and the Circus of Strange! The future looks bright for the new Dynamic Duo as they prove themselves in battle, but lurking in the shadows is a mysterious red-hooded vigilante. Also, the origin of Scarlet! - I dig Grant Morrison, and I dig Frank Quitely just as much. This book defintitely see Morrison on his A-game. It's out there, but not too much. Also the stuff Quitely is pulling off in the panels is fantastic. I think at next years Harvey's we'll see Batman and Robin nominated all across the boards, much like All-Star Superman was this year.

BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS #3 - Black Lantern Titans are descending together onto Titans Island! Will the Titans be prepared to fight off their deceased allies? And how can Beast Boy not lose his heart to Black Lantern Terra? - Here's where it gets tough. I've always like the Titans and Teen Titans, but the books have just left me feeling empty lately. I'm hoping for more from this Blackest Night tie-in though.

DETECTIVE COMICS #856 - "Elegy" part 3 of 4! Batwoman unites with an unlikely ally to momentarily defeat the fairytale villain known as Alice. But when Kate is forced to attend a high society event, she soon learns that her worlds are colliding as Alice's plans for Gotham's elite put Kate's father directly in harm's way. Plus, in the next part of The Question co-feature, writer Greg Rucka and artist Cully Hamner bring Renee's search for a missing girl to new depths when The Question is trapped inside a sinking car. Will her life and her leads end up at the bottom of the river? - Consistently one of the strongest books since the Batman: Reborn launch. Rucka and Williams blow it away every month, and while I like the Question co-feature, it's been leaving me wanting for the most part. I wish the Manhunter one was in this book. Then I'd be truly happy.

THE FLASH: REBIRTH #4 - Barry Allen left a legacy that thrived after his death. Now his return threatens it all. What secrets does Barry hold inside him about the fate of the Flash Family? What destiny awaits Wally and his twins? What murderous force targets Bart Allen? And what does it truly mean to be a speedster? - Here's the thing. I love the Flash, but I'm not overly hyped about this book like I was Green Lantern: Rebirth. Now I was at the begining, but now it's just kind of like "oh the Flash is coming out". It's going to be interesting to see where this goes and how it will impact my Flash ordering in the future, since there's a rumoured two Flash titles coming out of the conclusion to Rebirth.

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #3- With their uneasy alliance in place, the sirens encounter trouble in the form of the mysteriously returned Bruce Wayne. He's dazzling, he's dangerous and he's got his sights set on Harley Quinn! Has romance sparked between these two long-time enemies – or is Wayne playing a more sinister game? - I like this book, I like the characters, I like the writer but I think I found one of the easiest titles to drop out of the Batman: Reborn books. I don't mean any slight to the book because I dig it, but in the scope of things I don't think it's a must read. Sorry Mr. Dini.

GREEN LANTERN #45 - BLACKEST NIGHT continues! The Black Lanterns descend on all the Corps throughout the universe! Sinestro's assault on the Star Sapphires' homeworld of Zamaron is interrupted by another Sinestro Corps – one made up of those who died during the Sinestro Corps War! And while the War of Light flickers, deep in the darkness of space, John Stewart comes face-to-face with his deceased wife – and longtime Green Lantern – Katma Tui. - Finally, a book I KNOW I'm not dropping or worried about. With Blackest Night firing on all cylinders, all the Green Lantern and Blackest Night books easily find their way to the top of the read pile.

TEEN TITANS #74 - The assault against the Teen Titans continues this issue as the team struggles to even the odds. Will they be defeated by a foe with superior leadership? And in the co-feature, Ravager is attacked in her arctic hideaway. Who wants her dead? That's what she wants to know… - This is kind of tough. I've been on board with Teen Titans since the Geoff Johns relaunch a few years ago, but sadly the book has benn floundering a lot lately. I'd hate to drop this now that Superboy and Kid Flash are back, because I want to see them turn up again. But I guess I can always pick it up again later.

COVER GIRLS OF THE DC UNIVERSE: ZATANNA - Seductive sorceress Zatanna Zatara casts a spell on the DC Universe as she becomes the second Adam Hughes Cover Girl to appear as a stunning statue. With a pose taken directly from the cover of CATWOMAN #58. - This is one thing I hate about using Previews to order my books. I ordered this statue MONTHS ago, and then of course I lose my job the week before it comes out and my money situation is tight. I guess it's time to tap into that $50 emergency credit I put down at the store a few months ago...

INVINCIBLE PRESENTS: ATOM EVE - To commemorate the tragic events involving Atom Eve in recent issues of INVINCIBLE, Image is reprinting her acclaimed solo series for the first time ever. See Eve’s beginnings as she gets her powers and trains herself to the hero we all knew and loved. Don’t miss out a second time! - This is the OTHER thing I hate about ordering through Previews. I only read Invincible through trade, so I try to avoid any spoilers as this is a book I love reading in one sitting when ever the collections come out. So when it comes to ordering the new ones I HATE when they give something big away. Thanks Image.

RUNAWAYS #13 - It’s the end of the Runaways’ California dreamin’ as they attempt to make their escape from Klara’s chlorophyll lockup…only to be denied by heavily armed outside forces who are about to foreclose on the property in a big way! Chase finally tells the truth about a violent event in his past. And when the kids have no choice but to turn to Hunter Stein to find a way out of this mess, he reveals a Malibu Beach House secret they never would have guessed. But it’s not easy sailing because Chase is about to make a unilateral decision that looks a lot like...murder?! - Runaways has gotten MUCH better under the guiding hand of Kathryn Immonen, but the book is still missing the fun and danger it had under Brian K. Vaughan. It's tough, but this book may be on the chopping block eventually.

The List - 6/24/09

Another week, another List of books to grab from the comic shop. As with the past couple weeks this one sees the release of a couple new titles and some old favorites:

DETECTIVE COMICS #854 - "Elegy" part 1 of 4! A new era in the history of DETECTIVE COMICS begins as Batwoman is unleashed on Gotham City! Marked by the blood-red bat, Kate Kane is a soldier fighting her own private war – one that began years ago and haunts her every waking moment. With a script by Greg Rucka and breath-taking art by JH Williams III, you've never seen anything like this! Featuring the debut of a new co-feature starring The Question written by Rucka! Odds against you? Alone and nowhere to turn? Willing to fight, but you don't know how? When you're searching everywhere for an answer, sometimes all you need to do is ask the right Question. Renee Montoya again dons the faceless mask to help those in need, all the while searching for her own answers in this new adventure with art by Cully Hamner (BLUE BEETLE). - Batwoman finally makes her monthly debut years after her initial debut in the pages of DC's 52 and her appearance in last years Final Crisis: Revelations mini series. The books being handled by one of DC's best, Greg Rucka, who not only knows his way around strong female characters (see Whitout, Wonder Woman and Gotham Central) but also the character since he's almost exclusively written her since her inception. The books also being drawn by one of the industry's best and most underrated artists JH Williams, so it's going to be beautiful to boot. It'll be interesting to see how long this title, which has always been one of the flagship Batman books of the company, will flourish without the character that made it popular for the better part of 70 years.

This issue also features the first co-feature starring the Question, which is also being written by Rucka. The two characters, Batwoman and The Question, do have a shared history so it will be interesting to see if there are any carry-over threads from one feature to another.

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #1 - This all-new series features the bad girls of Gotham City! Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn are tired of playing by other people's rules regardless of which side of the law they're on. These tough ladies have a new agenda that's all their own, and they'll use any means necessary to pursue it. But can they get along and work as a team? And who will get hurt along the way? DETECTIVE COMICS and STREETS OF GOTHAM writer Paul Dini kicks off this brand-new ongoing series with amazing artwork by Guillem March (JOKER'S ASYLUM: POISON IVY, GOTHAM GAZETTE). - The next of DC's new Batman-family titles (alongside Batman and Robin, Streets Of Gotham, and Red Robin), features a couple familiar faces handled by the writer who made them famous, Paul Dini. Also on the title is artist Guillem March, most known for his coverwork. As much as I'm looking forward to this book, I can't say it's something I see lasting for too long, although it is possible since Catwoman sustained a solo title for more than 50 issues. It'll be interesting to see how this one goes as well.

GREEN LANTERN #42 - The conclusion to "Agent Orange"! Hal battles the leader of the Orange Lanterns in a bizarre confrontation between will and avarice! But what is the true secret behind the power of the Orange Light? And what value does it hold for the other Corps? -While both Green Lantern titles have been exploring the various new Corps involved in the coming War of Light and next months looming Blackest Night event, the two titles have done so in different ways. While Green Lantern Corps has juggled various plotlines in each issue, Green Lantern has focused more on one solid storyline at a time. While both books handle their respective stories well, seeing how the threads from each come together in the near future is going to be really exciting.

THE LITERALS #3 - "The Great Fables Crossover" part 9 of 9! In this issue it's all over. No, we don't just mean that the big crossover event is over, we mean it's all over for the universe and everyone in it. Kevin Thorn, the Literal embodiment of storytelling, wants to rewrite the universe, beginning again with a new blank page. In this issue he gets his wish. What more is there to say? - Fables has continued to be a solid read since it's debut, and while it's spin-off title Jack of Fables has had it's own moments of greatness, the book has been just ok. Thankfully all the Fables books, including the three issue The Literals title that helped make the Great Fables Crossover an almost weekly event, have been fantastic.

TEEN TITANS #72 - Thirty pages of story content! In the first feature, Wonder Girl's leadership is put to the test as the team faces the all-new Fearsome Five! In the debut of the 10-page co-feature, Ravager goes solo for the first time, continuing her descent into darkness begun in TERROR TITANS. - Unfortunately Teen Titans has become a real hit or miss book ever since the departure of Geoff Johns. The book hit a good stride during the One Year Later jump following the Infinite Crisis event a few years ago. Between constant lineup changes with both the titular title team and the creative team involved, Teen Titans seems to still be looking for it's sweet spot. Hopefully it finds it soon or both this and the ancillary Titans book may find their way off of The List.

Not to sound like I'm going in with low expectations, because I am looking forward to this issue since it also boasts the begining of the Ravager cofeature in the back. The character of Ravager was one of Geoff John's best contributions to the Titan's world, and the character has always been a highpoint to the book in my opinion.

RUNAWAYS #11 - “Homeschooling” New creative team! Cataclysmic new direction! In this arc, one Runaway will die, and one Runaway will live! Rising star Kathryn Immonen (PATSY WALKER: HELLCAT) and Sarah Pichelli (NYX) take the reins of the Runaways. Making out? Check. Cliffhangers? Check. Silly hats? Check. This is the Runaways arc you CAN’T miss. - Oh Runaways, what to do with you. I was lucky enough to get in on the ground floor with this book when it was launched by the ever guiding and loving hand of Brian K. Vaughan as part of Marvel's Tsunami line of comics. Being the only title to survive the line, the book floundered during a Civil War meet up with Marvel's other teen characters the Young Avengers. Then Joss Whedon delivered an underwhelming (I can't believe I just had to type that) time-travel tale, then another, suprisingly ok this time though, meet up with the Young Avengers during the Secret Invasion event, and finally a "meh" run from Strangers In Paradise's Terry Moore. It was at that point I did something I never thought I'd have to do: Runaways fell from The List.

Then something surprising happened. An issue of Runaways I ordered before the decision to drop the book arrived in my pull box, and I found it to be quite entertaining. So Kathryn Immonen, you have my attention... for now.