Grant Morrison/Tony Daniel/Frank Quitely/Ian Hannin/Scott Kolins/Alex Sinclair/Tony Aviña/Andy Kubert/Brad Anderson/David Finch/Richard Friend/Peter Steigerwald/Jared K. Fletcher (covers: Finch/Mike Mignola)
now that's an anniversary: a mystery across the past, present and future handled by the various Batmen. Terry McGinnis is getting a lot of face time lately.
Secret Six #22 (DC)
Gail Simone/Jim Calafiore/Jason Wright/Travis Lanham (cover: Daniel Luvisi)
Catman undergoes the Batman experience, but his revenge is much more immediate than Bruce's.
Avengers Academy #1 (Marvel)
Christos N. Gage/Mike McKone/Jeromy Cox/Clayton Cowles
what we learned: young Avengers for the new decade! but are they going to survive the experience? even further, were they put together because they more likely to cross over to the dark side? and along with that ... welcome back, Speedball!
holy shit moment: considering this is a educational institution of sorts, does Tigra really have to be dressed in a bikini all the time? really?? SHE'S A LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. not that i'm complaining .... i'm just concerned about the kids!!
what's next: riot! riot! riot!!!
a girl and two C-Creep-ios
Uncanny X-Men #525 (Marvel)
Matt Fraction/Terry Dodson/Rachel Dodson/Justin Ponsor/Joe Caramagna (cover: Adi Granov, variant by David Finch/Matt Banning/Peter Steigerwald)
what we learned: X-Force is sent to the future that may be the Days of Future Past storyline, and it looks like all the high end Sentinels have been shipped off to the past to kill Utopia. this means they can probably easily correct the problem. also, Thing's new boss is Bucky Barnes. huh.
holy shit moment: what is Hope's relationship to Cyclops? also, Namor looking well-adjusted. where was he in the past X-crossovers??
what's next: will Legion be of any help? yes, that Legion who's responsible of Age of Apocalypse.
Daytripper #7 (DC/Vertigo)
Fabio Moon/Gabriel Bá/Dave Stewart/Sean Konot
what we learned: Brás de Oliva Domingos, successful writer, takes friendship to its extreme limits by looking for his long-lost friend Jorge, and paying the price.
holy shit moment: is the same Brás de Oliva Domingos who died in a car crash last issue because he wanted to see said friend? former DC editor Bob Schreck wasn't kidding about this trip.
what's next: Daytripper should adorn your comicbook shelf, especially the trade edition.
Nemesis #1 (Marvel)
Mark Millar/Steve McNiven/Dave McCaig/Chris Eliopoulos (variant cover: John Cassaday/Laura Martin)
what we learned: Nemesis is the rich scion of perverted bastards and has been targeting DC Police Chief Blake Morrow for the demise of his family. basically, he's the evil Batman, down to the Batcave, the serious bank, and preparedness.
holy shit moment: killing 20,000 peeps in the Pentagon via gas - a real life terrorist's wet dream.
what's next: i don't think he's kidding when he says he planned for his own arrest.
Punisher MAX #8 (Marvel)
Jason Aaron/Steve Dillon/Matt Hollingsworth/Cory Petit (cover: Dave Johnson)
what we learned: Jason Aaron ups the Bullseye psycho level and Frank gets desperate in trying to find Kingpin's new assassin.
holy shit moment: take your pick: Vanessa shooting the Kingpin during sex, Bullseye re-enacting the Castle massacre with hostages, and Frank finally putting down a cop (is this a retcon?).
what's next: waiting for Punisher vs Bullseye, Round 2.
Rawhide Kid: The Sensational Seven #1 (Marvel)
Ron Zimmerman/Howard Chaykin/Edgar Delgado/Jeff Eckleberry (cover: John Cassaday)
Rawhide Kid continues to upend the Wild West. as much as i like Chaykin's art in measured doses like this, i wonder if Amanda Conner or Steve Dillon could take a crack (heh.) at this.
S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 (Marvel)
Jonathan Hickman/Dustin Weaver/Christina Strain/Todd Klein
what we learned: Leonardo Da Vinci has a bone to pick with humanity's self-appointed defenders.
holy shit moment: Howard Stark and Nate Richards doing the Men in Black thing, fighting off the Night Machine
what's next: curious and curiouser - what's Leonid's role in all of these, as the 'Source of the Machine'? the Riddler's riddles are much easier.
what, you haven't seen a talking pigeon before? do you know Big Bird?
