The Red Wing TPB [2011] by Jonathan Hickman

THE RED WING TRADE PAPERBACK

Time travel is used for war as two opposing sides clash. Cadets Valin Redd and Dominic Dorne attend the Red Wing training facility Valhalla which is an orbital ring around Earth. Meanwhile Dominic’s father Robert Dorne is lost in time after ejecting from his Temporal Attack Craft – the first generation TAC fighter. His temporal beacon goes off however instead of going home he is captured by his enemies. The enemy is revealed to his own son Dominic Dorne.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- The future Dominic wants to create the best possible future possible

- Valhalla is under attack by a fleet of enemy wings

- Valin jumps into the future and crashes - Robert Dorne defeats his son and heads back for a better future

- The General is revealed to be the from the future and the son of Dominic Dorne

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

FF Vol. 2 Premiere HC [2011] by Jonathan Hickman

FF By Jonathan Hickman Vol.2 Premiere Hardcover

Three hundred of thousands of years ago, the Supreme Intelligence of the Kree Empire seeded worlds with the metagenesis plan to create bioweapons. However the Supreme Intelligence discovers that an Inhuman will destroy him so he plans destruction on these seeded worlds. A scientist working on the project destroys the crystal containing the locations of these seeded planets so five unknown tribes escaped genocide. The Supreme Intelligence still fears his end so he give Ronan the Accuser the Supremor Seed hidden within his hammer. Following the War of the Kings, Black Bolt returns to his people and throne on the moon along with his five brides.

The Council of alternate-reality versions of Reed Richards were attacked by the Celestials however escaped with the help of Valeria Richards. Now they have orchestrated a war between the four cities as part of a plan for the Reeds tore turn home. To defeat his rogue interdimensional counterparts, Reed Richards enlists the aid of his archenemies.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- Black Bolt arrives to the Forever City of the High Evolutionary to take the city

- The Future Foundation along with Reed’s archenemies arrives to the Forever City

- Medusa takes Reed to Attilan to meet with Black Bolt

- Doctor Doom is betrayed and ambushed by the assembled villains

- Two of the Reeds are captured by the Inhumans while one of them captures Doom

- Ronan the Accuser assumes control of the Kree Empire and mobilizes it against the Inhumans

- Ronan seizes the two captured Reeds to restore the Kree Empire

- The Cult of the Negative Zone plans to build a bridge by seizing the Baxter Building portal

- Reed teams up with the Avengers and other Marvel heroes to deal with Inhumans on Attilan

- Ronan uses the Supremor Seed against the two Reeds to recreate the Supreme Intelligence

- The Kree Empire invade New York City as the FF and the Avengers look in horror

This hardcover collects

FF #6-11

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

The Incredibles Vol. 4: Secrets & Lies [2010]

THE INCREDIBLES VOLUME 4: SECRET AND LIES TRADE PAPERBACK

Paris is destroyed by Bomb Voyage and Mrs. Incredible teams up with Mirage to track down Xerek, who was the ex-boyfriend of Mrs. Incredible. Arriving off the coast of France, the two women face Bomb Voyage and Mrs. Incredible gives pursuit. Mrs. Incredible arrives at the home of his ex-boyfriend Xerek who wishes to share a meal with her off the coast of France. Xerek traps Mrs. Incredible after she fails to show any loyalty towards him. However Mirage buys the loyalty of Xerek’s henchmen and frees Mrs. Incredible.

Meanwhile Violet is sent to work for Doc Sunbright at his lab. After missing his boyfriend Xander, she steals a teleport from the lab as both Mr. Incredible and Dash investigate the theft. Doc Sunbright secretly can track his missing device and allows Mr. Incredible and Dash to track down the culprits. Violet and Xander play superhero and tackle Tronasaurus 2.0 before Dash arrives to save them while tracking down the missing teleporter. Violet sends Xander home and Dash promises to keep the theft a secret from his dad. 

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

Marvel Comics Solicitations for January 2012

The finale of Fear Itself had four epilogues exploding into four titles: Fear Itself: The Fearless, Battle Scars, Incredible Hulk, and the Defenders. While other titles like the Avengers Academy lost its seem following the tie-in stories with Fear Itself. Following X-Men: Schism, the only titles worth picking up are Wolverine and the X-Men, Uncanny X-Force,and Wolverine, which all have Wolverine in their pages. This seems to conclude events don’t seem to generate the interests necessary for titles to stay on its own. If you want the audience to buy multiple titles then crossovers are necessary like this month’s Amazing Spider-Man and Daredevil.

The three titles with the Ultimate Universe stay strong: Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, and Ultimates. Due to the limited amount of titles you need to get to know an entire universe, the Ultimate Universe seems like a great value pick. Marvel is pushing its architect writers to form a tight universe to make the Marvel Universe believable including top writers Matt Fraction, Brian Michael Bendis, Jonathan Hickman, and Jason Aaron.

Matt Fraction

The architect behind Fear Itself brought us the death of Thor and a new God of Thunder in the form of Tanarus within the pages of the Mighty Thor. Fraction also let loose Nul of the Breaker of Worlds from Fear Itself who the Defenders must subdue. While Fraction returns the Mandarin to the pages of the Invincible Iron Man.

Brian Michael Bendis

The architect of the Avengers since Avengers: Disassembled returns H.A.M.M.E.R.,Norman Osborn, and the Dark Avengers to the pages of both Avengers and New Avengers. Bendis also concludes the battle between Wonder Man’s Revengers and the Avengers in the Avengers Annual. Bendis also brings two of his creator-owned projects from Jinxworld: Scarlet and Brilliant as well as two Marvel characters: Ultimate Spider-Man and Moon Knight.

Meanwhile other writers are playing in Bendis’ Avengers sandbox. Avengers: The Children’s Crusade comes to a close leading to an all-new Young Avengers line-up by Alan Heinberg. Cable goes against the Avengers in Avengers: X-Sanction leading to 2012 yet-to-be-announced Marvel event.

Jonathan Hickman

Hickman takes on two titles starting the first family: Fantastic Four and FF while also taking on the Ultimates within the Ultimate Universe.

Jason Aaron

Aaron brings Wolverine and the X-Men back to New York to open the Jean School of Higher Learning while in the Incredible Hulk Banner is separated from his monster. The Wolverine title is restored to its original numbering cumulating to 300 with artist Adam Kubert at the helm. Aaron takes on Frank Castle within the mature title of PunisherMax.

JANUARY 2012 PULL LIST

1/4

Amazing Spider-Man #677

Avengers Annual #1

Avengers:X-Sanction #2

Defenders #2

Hulk #47

Moon Knight #9

Uncanny X-Force #19.1

1/11

Captain America #7

Daredevil #8

Incredible Hulk #4

New Avengers #20

PunisherMax #21

Ultimate Comics X-Men #6

Wolverine #300

Wolverine& The X-Men #6

Scarlet #7

Brilliant #4

1/18

Amazing Spider-Man #678

Avengers #21

Avengers:The Children’s Crusade #9

Invincible Iron Man #512

Ultimate Spider-Man #6

Uncanny X-Force #20

1/25

Fantastic Four #602

FF #14

The Might Thor #10

Ultimates #6

Fear Itself Premiere HC [2011] by Matt Fraction

FEAR ITSELF HARDCOVER

The next Marvel event begins with a special prologue by Ed Brubaker and Scot Eaton followed by seven issues by Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen. Seven-issue series originated from the capitalizing on the upcoming summer blockbusters movies of Captain America and Thor. Odin banished the God of Fear a millennia ago called the Serpent who has an alliance with the daughter of the Red Skull Sin. Fraction describes the story of America losing faith and Captain America is no longer a symbol of their greatest potential but rather a weird relic so both heroes will be dealing with their worst nightmares.

The Marvel Universe is gathered together to take on the “God of Fear” and eight characters are chosen to fight for their causes. It’s hard to talk about the next Marvel event without thinking about DC’s Sinestro Corps War and Blackest Night which also dealt with fear along with other emotions. Both stories deal with the culture of today as the world has gotten smaller. Fear Itself plays with the relevancy of today as times are uncertain and many people are waiting in the wings to gain from the fear.

1942: The Red Skull sacrifices Atlanteans to summon the Hammer of Skadi in Germany. The Hammer of Skadi lands in Antarctica which cannot be removed so the Red Skull orders a fortress to be built around it.

Present: In Fear Itself: Book of Skull, Baron Zemo helps retrieve the Red Skull’s journal for her daughter Sin. Sin travels to Antarctic to retrieve the artifact from Adolf Hitler’s Thule Society described within her father’s journal. She retrieves the Hammer of Skadi and transforms herself to become the avatar of the deity. Afterwards she travels beneath the Pacific Ocean and releases the true All-Father who was imprisoned by Odin. He wants everything on Earth to fear them so he summons the Worthy as seven hammers fall to Earth.

THE WORTHY

- Sin = Skadi Herald of the Serpent

- Juggernaut = Kuurth Breaker of Stone

- Hulk = Nul Breaker of Worlds

- Titania = Skirn Breaker of Men

- Absorbing Man = Greithoth Breaker of Wills

- Attuma = Nerkkod Breaker of Oceans

- Grey Gargoyle = Mokk Breaker of Faith

- Thing = Angrir Breaker of Souls

Fear has taken hold as unemployment, anxiety, and uncertainty rocks the country. Thor has agreed to let Tony Stark build the Asgardians a new city on Earth as seen within the pages of Matt Fraction’s Invincible Iron Man. The project will create jobs and put people to work within Broxton.

Meanwhile Odin realizes the prophecy is unfolding as the Serpent of Fear is back. He orders the Asgardians back to the World Tree. Thor confronts his father however Odin commands the Mjolnir to drop. The Avengers watch as the Asgardians take the Rainbow Bridge back to Asgard and the Gods leave Earth.

The ads and stories for Fear Itself give too much away. The death of the Captain America Bucky was revealed as soon as the solicitations for Fear Itself #4 was released showcasing the cowl of Captain America. We already know Tony Stark builds weapons using Odin’s workshop to create the Mighty to deal with the Serpent’s Worthy within the pages of the Invincible Iron Man written by Fear Itself architect Matt Fraction. Tanarus replaces Thor as the God of Thunder following the events of Fear Itself. This is how much we know following the events of Fear Itself #5. This series would have been meaningful if Marvel kept much of the material under wraps to create suspense for the audience to enjoy the books.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- Odin uses his powers to sculpt a new Asgard and imprisons his son Thor

- Odin has rebuilt Asgard into a War Engine against Earth and the Serpent

- Loki frees Thor from prison as Odin sends him back to Earth with his hammer Mjolnir

- The US Capitol is destroyed by the forces of the Serpent of Fear and Skadi

- Skadi rips the robotic arm of Bucky and impales him with her hammer

- Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor unite for the first time since Avengers Disassembled

- The Serpent feeds on fear and transforms into a younger version of himself

- The Serpent reveals to Thor he is the older brother of Odin and the rightful king of Asgard

- Thor confronts the Serpent who teleports him to face his Worthy Nul and Angrir

- Tony petitions Odin to let him build weapons against the Serpent within Svartalfheim

- The Thing is transformed back to his original self thanks to Franklin Richards

- Thor slams the Hulk into space and arrives to face Dracula and his army

- The Serpent shatters Captain America’s shield as he realizes they are going to lose

- Captain America and the Avengers arrive in Asgard-Space with a wounded Thor

- Captain America tells Hawkeye they need to evacuate Earth

- Odin arms his son Thor with armor and the Ragnarok sword

- Tony Stark prepares the weapons for the Avengers in Svartalfheim against the Serpent

- Captain America makes his stand against the Serpent and the Worthy

- Thor is armed with the Odinsword Ragnakok fighting against the Serpent

- Iron Man hands out mystic weapons he created to several Avengers

- Captain America holds the line against the Serpent until the Mighty Avengers arrive

- Captain America is able to lift up the Thor’s Hammer M and scream: Avengers Assemble

- The Savage Sword of She-Hulk takes on while Wolverine takes on

- Odin and the Asgardians prepare to raze Midgard and destroy the Serpent

- Thor slays the Serpent while the weapons of the Worthy leaves their hands

- Thor dies and a funeral pyre is set by the remaining Avengers

- Odin takes his brother’s body back to Asgard while leaving the Asgardians on Earth

- Bucky Barnes is buried at Arlington National Cemetery

- The elves of Svartalfheim reforge Captain America’s shield however the damage is visible

EPILOGUE HIGHLIGHTS

- 1: Sin has escaped custody leading to Fear Itself: The Fearless #1

- 2: The Hulk separates himself from Banner leading to the Incredible Hulk #1

- 3: ‘The Greatest Secret in the World’leads to Battle Scars #1

- 4: Nul the Breaker of Worlds spirit is free leading to the Defenders #1

DC Comics Solicitations for January 2012

The New Year begins with continuing the storylines of 52 set in September. Nearly half of the New 52 releases seem worthy to continue collecting. The New 52 titles have been slowly reduced as these stories get further into their story arcs. The strongest solicits are the ones built on years of stories: Green Lantern. 

Justice League Group Solicits

Writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee continue the slow burn of the Justice League as they face off against Darkseid. Johns also brings the King of Atlantis to the forefront with Aquaman as he is left for dead in the middle of a desert. Johns previous title The Flash is in good hands with Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato. Former 100 Bullets writer Brian Azzarello brings his new interpretation of Woman Woman. 

Superman Group Solicits

Andy Kubert draws his two issue stint on Action Comics giving Rags Morales a breather. Scott Lobdell continues the new origins of Superboy as well as Teen Titans. George Perez is ending his short reign on Superman while Dan Jurgens and Keith Giffen take over the next arc. Peter Milligan unites Vertigo characters to take on the supernatural in Justice League Dark. 

Batman Group Solicits

Scott Snyder built Gates of Gotham story to bring the character of Gotham to life and continues to do so in Batman with his artist Greg Capullo. Tony Daniel continues his work on Detective Comics following the shocking final page on his first issue. Paul Jenkins assists David Finch on Batman: The Dark Knight while Judd Winick continues the African Batman in Batwing. Batwoman finishes its first arc with Hydrology while Scott Lobdell tackles the Red Hood and the Outlaws with artist Kenneth Rocafort. 

Green Lantern Group Solicits

The Green Lantern titles are the strongest of the DC solicitations as they are built on the previous stories written by Geoff Johns when he first started Green Lantern: Rebirth in 2004. Green Lantern takes place following War of the Green Lanterns with Sinestro returning as a Green Lantern. Green Lantern Corps continues the mythology of the oldest patrol force in the universe. Both Green Lantern: New Guardians and the Red Lanterns take advantage of the stories built between the Sinestro Corps War and Blackest Night. 

DC Universe Group Solicits

Nick Spencer (Infinite Vacation, Morning Glories) continues his stint within the DC Universe with T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.Paul Levitz retells the origin of the Legion of Super-Heroes in Legion: Secret Origin. 

Wildstorm Group Solicits

Both Stormwatch and Voodoo will be under the Wildstorm Group Solicits since they have been under that banner for over 20 years. Stormwatch introduces the cast with Martian Manhunter and final tells the story of the horn on the final page within the January Solicitations. Ron Marz brings his talented writing from Top Cow’s Witchblade to Wildstorm’s Voodoo.

Vertigo Group Solicits

Regardless of the New 52 relaunch, titles that were reserved under the Vertigo banner for the past 20 years will continue under Vertigo Group Solicits. Writer Bill Willingham’s Fables will always be a classic Vertigo title. Echoes writer Joshua Hale Fialkov continues I, Vampire as they take on the Dark Knight. Scott Snyder brings us the new adventures of Swamp Thing promising Alan Moore level stories while Jeff Lemire takes us on the Grant Morrison journey within Animal Man. 

JANUARY 2012 PULL LIST

1/4

Action Comics #5

Animal Man #5

Batwing #5

Detective Comics #5

Red Lanterns #5

Stormwatch #5

Swamp Thing #5

1/11

Batwoman #5

Green Lantern #5

Superboy #5

1/18

Batman #5

Green Lantern Corps #5

Justice League #5

Red Hood and The Outlaws #5

T.H.U.N.D.E.R.Agents #3

Wonder Woman #5

Fables #113

1/25

Aquaman #5

Batman:The Dark Knight #5

The Flash #5

Green Lantern: New Guardians #5

I, Vampire #5

Justice League Dark #5

Legion:Secret Origin #4

Superman #5

Teen Titans #5

Voodoo #5

The Incredibles Vol.3: Revenge From Below [2010]

THE INCREDIBLES VOLUME 3: REVENGE FROM BELOW TRADE PAPERBACK

After disobeying orders from his father Mr. Incredible during their battle with Mezmerella, Dash is grounded and his powers are stripped. He discovers his school teacher is an alien planning for an invasion. Dash tells his parents however they believe he is lying so he can get his powers back. Resilient Dash runs away to E who allows him to use her base of operations and offers him a watch that detects aliens.

The aliens arrive at the Parr family residents and mind control both parents. Helpless Dash and Violet fight back with the help of the Underminer. The battle between his parents and the aliens lead Dash to believe he is still in the battle with Mezmerella.

Dash has been fighting Mezmerella from the very beginning and everything including the aliens was a dream planted by her. Mezmerella is finally defeated and the Incredibles head home.

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

X-Men: Schism Premiere HC [2011] by Jason Aaron

X-MEN: SCHISM PREMIERE HARDCOVER

During X-Men Prelude to Schism series writer Paul Jenkins (Origin) focuses on the mindset and direction for mutants from the perspectives of Professor X, Cyclops, Wolverine, and Magneto just as the foundation of the mutant nation is set to crumble.

The stage is set for X-Men: Schism as the differences between both Cyclops and Wolverine split the X-Men apart. Jason Aaron describes Cyclops as a General and Wolverine as the number one soldier. Cyclops wants mutants isolated on Utopia from the human population while Wolverine favors integration. X-Men: Schism portrays the modern day fallout between Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto.

Cyclops heads to an international arms control conference in Switzerland with his one-man security team and token Avenger Wolverine. Cyclops speaks about officially petitioning the decommissioning of Sentinels around the world to prevent mutant genocide. His speech is interrupted by Kid Omega who proclaims himself as the future leader of the X-Men. Kid Omega uses his powers to give the world leaders an uncontrollable telepathic compulsion to reveal their secrets. Someone issues an order to release the Sentinels against both Cyclops and Wolverine as Kid Omega warns watch what comes next.

Nations around the world show their arms through revealing their Sentinel programs. Defective Sentinels around the world are attacking their human population as the X-Men prepare to stop them. Kid Omega Quentin Quire arrives on Utopia and requests sanctuary.Meanwhile Carlton Kilgore is shot and killed by his son Kade and takes over as CEO of Kilgore a world’s arms manufacturer. Kade orchestrated the release of Kid Omega all for the purpose of being admitted as the new Black King of the Hellfire Club, which consists entirely of humans.

X-Men Schism ends the same time as Marvel’s summer series Fear Itself for a reason according to Editor in Chief Axel Alonso. The books will split into two different teams with different mission statements starring both Cyclops on Uncanny X-Men and Wolverine on Wolverine & The X-Men #1. Plans are seeded this year for next summer’s Marvel event involving the X-Men.

X-MEN: SCHISM HIGHLIGHTS
- The Hellfire Club attacks the X-Men within the Museum of Mutant History using brain slugs

- Idie of Generation Hope takes down several men of the Hellfire Club

- Kilgore sets off a bomb creating a new Sentinel headed towards Utopia

- Cyclops uses the Generation Hope kids to defend Utopia while Wolverine disagrees

- Wolverine arms 2000lbs of plastic explosives to up both Utopia and the approaching Sentinel

- Cyclops attempts to stop Wolverine from destroying Utopia as the Super-Sentinel approaches

- The other mutant inhabitants of Utopia arrive to take on the Super-Sentinel

- The Super-Sentinel is destroyed and Wolverine leaves for New York to start a new mutant school

X-MEN: REGENESIS HIGHLIGHTS
- Cyclops retains his soldiers on Utopia while Logan builds a school for students

- Iceman becomes an instructor while Beast runs the new school

- Magneto, Namor, Colossus, Dazzler, and Psylocke remain on Utopia

- Cyclops asks Psylocke to recreate X-Force and begs Storm to stay to keep an eye on things

- Toad asks Logan to become a janitor at his new school

- Emma Frost liquids her corporate holdings to fund Utopia

This hardcover collects

X-Men:Schism #1-5

Generation Hope #10-11

X-Men: Regenesis

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5