10. Pirates of Coney Island #4: Violence against women is wrong. gang violence is wrong. Comic violence between a female gang and a male gang is just so damn right. Light on the story, high on the moments, it's the Pirates vs. the Cherries with our main character Patch looking for some revenge on Trish, who cut his eye out. Sorry ladies, but this is one of those times you have to smack a woman.
9. Runaways #24: The final issue by creators Brian Vaughan and Adrian Aphona and one of the reasons I'm such a hardcore reader now. Sad to see them go. This issue had Chase trying to resurrect his Gertrude and the Runaways battling the Gibborim. I couldn't rank this hire because of a certain character whose appearance may force me to stop reading this title in the near future. Seriously... I don't follow all but two Marvel titles. No tie-ins please. Still, very good issue and Alphona needs to get a new gig soon because I'm already missing his art.
8. Welcome to Tranquility #3: I think I found a book by Gail Simone I love as much as her Birds of Prey. This issue has Sheriff Lindo still on the search for the killer of Mr. Articulate within the retirement community of Tranquility. her search leads her to question a waitress from the diner where he was killed named Leona. Seems she has a secret that drives her to a desperate act the end. I sometimes question Neil Googe as the artist for a series that has such dark overtones, but it looks good so what the hell. Good work guys and gals.
7. 52 Week 41: A lot of response on the comic message board I frequent had people say this was a filler issue or boring but i really enjoyed it. Helps that I've been a Renee Montoya fan since Batman: TAS. Specifically P.O.V. episode where she stood out. Was a shame she wasn't used as much on that cartoon but she went on to be quite a supporting player in DCU and the stuff here with her dealing with Charlie/Questions death is good. Plus some nice moments with our space heroes, an important scene with Ralph leading to major issue, and a cameo by the coolest Green Lantern ever-Mogo. Plus Guiseppe Camuncoli pulled art chores and I dig his work. Oh, and Joe Benitz doing the art on Origin of Starfire was a good call.
6. Birds of Prey #103: Always consistent, sometimes head and shoulders above the rest Birds of Prey concludes on of the best arcs of the series run. Once again Gail Simone and co. set a new exciting mission statement with the end of this issue explaining the past between Oracle and Spy Smasher. Add in a few surprises like Manhunter running a black op right under Oracles nose. Great action, humor, character moments, and Nicola Scott putting in good work and you've got a great escapist comic book. Makes me feel good to be a fan.
5. Astonishing X-Men #20: We get to the only other ongoing I'm picking up from marvel these days. One where the wait is pretty lousy(May for issue 21? Huh?). Still, packs quite a punch. It takes elements of my two favorite X-Men runs but doesn't try to ape them but move forward. This arc has the X-Men and Agent Brand landing on Breakworld to figure out how to deal with the so-called prophecy that Colossus will destroy their world. There's a great sequence with Wolverine and Hisako as well as Cassaday kicking some serious ass on the space sequences. This is the only X-Men comic I buy and I'm loving it.
4. Detective Comics #828: In between breaks for shining up his Emmys, counting his money, and talking about how awesome it is to be him Paul Dini finds time to write a definitive Batman story. This time out a murder mystery that has both Batman and private PI the Riddler following two different sets of clues. All the pieces fit, the story is tight, and everything works out perfectly. Plus Don Kramer yet again providing great work to bring Dini's scripts to life. I like Grant Morrison, a lot, but his Batman series just does not do it for me as much as this book does.
3. Shazam: Monster Society of Evil #1: Jeff Smith's Bone is one of the best books I've ever read. Shazam stories are fun. Together they are all kinds of awesome. Utilizing the golden age/silver age version of the characters and updating them for modern audiences show how much the concepts behind Capt. Marvel have changed. This is essentially the original origin brought into the 21st century with the homeless kid Bill Batson becoming the host for the superhero Capt. Marvel. It's delightful and kid friendly. Check it out.
2. Justice Society of America #3: Why do I like the JSA? Golden Age flair, modern age story telling, cool characters in costumes, deadly villains, big action sequences, great characterizations, bad ass male superheroes, even more bad ass female superheroes, and Hawkman hitting Nazis in the face with a mace. I'm telling you, it's like God is personally creating these comics for no nonsense fans of superhero comics. though God tripped up on one "surprise" which follows a predictable route. it's alright, it's still the best damn superhero comic out there.
Oh, and Vandal Savage is the baddie in this arc. Vandal Savage=money in the bank.
1. 52 Week 42: Ralph "Elongated Man" Dibny has had a tough few years. With the death of his wife and a downward spiral he seemed to be getting worst and worst. That is, until this issue. is it the final chapter in the life of a silver age hero? maybe. But if it is, he went out totally gangsta. Exposing the Dr. Fate mask as a hoax cooked up by Felix Faust, Ralph turns on his detective wits and explains how he had it all figured out. Then, for an encore, he beat the devil of the DC universe. Tricked him. Played him at a fool. RIP Ralph Dibny-you are truly the man. And thank you Darrick Robertson for coming in and nailing the artwork out the park.
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