This week in the Roundup we look at a pair of second issues in Avengelyne and Captain America and the latest chapter of the Dream Eater Saga in the Sinbad one-shot.

Avengelyne #2
By Mark Poulton and Owen Gieni

As almost everyone knows, one of the hardest things in comics to pull off is a good second issue. Putting out a decent first issue is pretty easy, since a lot of fans will buy it just because of the shiny #1 on the cover. But a good second issue is a challenge. You have to convince the readers they want to stick around and try to bring in people who might not have picked up issue #1. Luckily, Avengelyne succeeds on both counts. (more…)

This week in the Comic Roundup I review the latest issue of Marvel’s megaevent Fear Itself, the first issue of the new Spider Island tie-in miniseries Cloak & Dagger and the final issue of Booster Gold.

Fear Itself #5
By Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen

Since issue #1, Fear Itself has proven to be the highlight of my comic book reading summer. Each month the miniseries has gotten a bit better and a bit better, all leading to these last few issues and the big payoff. Issue #5 follows the trend, as it is filled with huge spectacle, heroes at the end of their rope and the best Hulk/Thor battle I’ve seen in years.

Fraction has been ratcheting up the tension for months (more…)

Some of you may be wondering why I’m not covering the big reveal of who the new Ultimate Spider-Man is. To be honest, I just don’t care. While I think it’s a good idea and I will definitely read the first issue of the new Ultimate Spider-Man book, Ultimate Fallout is just so bad it’s not worth anyone’s time. Let’s move on, shall we?

The Infinite #1
By Robert Kirkman and Rob Liefeld

Rob Liefeld is definitely a very dividing topic among fanboys. You either like his stuff or you don’t; there isn’t a lot of middle ground. I happen to be part of the former group. I have always enjoyed his books, from Youngblood to X-Force to Cable and, if you take his material for what it is (more…)

For this week’s Comic Roundup, we book a trip to Spider Island in Amazing Spider-Man, look in on the fallout from the death of Ultimate Spider-Man and join Fathom as she launches her newest series.

Amazing Spider-Man #666
By Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli

When Marvel launched the new direction for Spider-Man with Slott as the only writer, I was really impressed how good the book quickly became. The fun factor had been restored to the Web Slinger and I felt like I was 12 years old again. But somewhere along the way, right around when he joined the FF, the book went off the rails for me and I dropped it. However, with issue #666 serving as the (more…)

Of all of Jim Henson’s myriad creations, I always felt that Fraggle Rock was the one that didn’t seem to be on most people’s radar. Ask any geek or child of the 80’s about The Dark Crystal or Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas and you usually get a knowing nod of the head and a smile.

But mention Fraggle Rock and most times you just get a confused, blank expression. And that is a shame, because Fraggle Rock always was about a lot more than just Muppet fun. It always provided positive messages to its young audience about prejudice, tolerance and dealing with conflict.

Thankfully, Archaia is bringing the Fraggles back to the forefront of popular consciousness with their incredible Fraggle Rock comics. Fraggle Rock: Tails and Tales is the second collection of the anthology style series and include everything you remember about the Fraggles and their world. The “Fraggle Five” are there, as well as Uncle Traveling Matt, The Doozers and Marjory the Trash Heap. Done by a who’s who of talent, the stories all evoke that distinct Fraggle feeling and will no doubt put a smile on your face. (more…)

The summer season is at its halfway point and the same can be said of this year’s big crossover events from Marvel and DC Comics. Both Marvel’s Fear Itself and DC’s Flashpoint have reached their midway points and fans have been greedily reading both the main series’ and the many tie-in books. But has either miniseries been any good? Are the tie-ins worth the time and money? Let’s look over the first half stats and see.

Fear Itself

For Marvel’s big crossover, they went with a Thor/Captain America centric event that featured the lost Asgardian God of Fear known only as the Serpent and the return of Steve Rogers to the role of Captain America. On the creative side, Matt Fraction is writing the miniseries, which is a break from the Brian Michael Bendis/Mark Millar cycle of the last few years, with the artwork being handled by Stuart Immomen.

Honestly, Fear Itself has been a huge surprise for me. I went in not expecting much and instead got what could be one of my favorite Marvel miniseries of the last decade. Fraction is writing a tight, story driven series that is grand in scope yet also gives the small moments room to breathe. Immomen’s art has also been a revelation; I had no clue he was this talented. His Thor looks regal and massive while his Captain America seems like the everyman we know he is. I knew the man was good with a pencil but this is way beyond what I thought he was capable of. (more…)

This week in the Roundup we check out the return of the original Bad Girl, Avengelyne, see how Iron Man is doing against Fear Itself (here’s a clue: not well) and look at the latest issue of Fly.

Avengelyne #1
By Mark Poulton and Owen Gieni

When the infamous “Bad Girl” craze swept over comic books in the 90’s, Avengelyne was there, front and center giving everyone a little T&A. The book was never much of a comic, just bad storylines and dialogue mixed with incompetent art and photo covers featuring Cathy Christian. There was a seed of a good idea, but it was lost under all the boobs and big swords. (more…)

The week I give you the all Marvel edition of the Comic Roundup as I look at the new issues of Journey Into Mystery and New Avengers and give Captain America #1 the once over.

Captain America #1
By Ed Brubaker and Steve McNiven

I really wanted to hate this comic. I have written about my dislike for renumbering in comics many, many times. And Captain America has come to represent everything I hate about it. It is the poster child for comic book renumbering. And I really wanted to be able to write about how this comic is garbage and this is what’s wrong with comic books today and blah, blah, blah…. (more…)

If you have been following Geekadelphia’s Geek of the Week, then you already know all about Lis Boriss and her webcomic Broken Plot Device. For those who haven’t (and you call yourself a geek), Broken Plot Device is the story of Lizardbeth, her group of friends and the apartment building they all live in. The comic falls squarely into the Furry category as all the characters are anthropomorphic animals including as lion, a wolf and a dragon. It is a very funny, very cute comic that you really need to be reading.

But for those that prefer their comics on dead trees, Lis has just published her third Broken Plot Device collection, Epic Sharktopus. It collects the entire third year of the comic and consists of some of my favorite storylines, including the Attack of the Killer Robo-Rex toys, the return of Dr. Gaimen Washe, roller derby fun and Lizardbeth’s experience in artist alley at a comic con. (That last one hit a bit too close to home after my own time in artist alley at Wizard World a few years ago.)

Sure, you can read them online for free, but I have always found that webcomics, especially ones with continuing storylines like Broken Plot Device, read better in one sitting. You can really get into the characters and truly appreciate some of the best artwork you will ever see in a webcomic. Broken Plot Device vol. 3: Epic Sharktopus will make a great addition to any bookshelf and I highly recommend it.

Broken Plot Device: Epic Sharktopus [ Lulu ]

Since pretty much every DC comic has become irrelevant thanks to the September reboot, expect a lot more Marvel and independent books for the next couple weeks in the Comic Roundup. Not that that is a bad thing.

Fear Itself: Uncanny X-Force #1
By Rob Williams and Simone Bianchi

So far, the Fear Itself tie-in books have been a mixed bag. Some, like Iron Man 2.0 and Heroes for Hire, have been the kind of crap you wish you could return to the store. Others, like Journey Into Mystery and Thunderbolts, have been great reads that serve as integral parts of the larger story. But X-Force could easily be the best Fear Itself tie-in series yet. (more…)

Johnny Zito & Tony Trov

The Harvey Awards are held annually at the Baltimore Comic Con (August 20th-21st) and have been going strong since 1988. Honoring outstanding achievements in comics in more than 20 categories, this year’s nominations tout 4 Philly locals vying for the respected award.

Nominated for Best Online Comic Work are Geekadelphia’s dear pals Tony Trov, Johnny Zito and Christine Larson. Their edgy comic LaMorte Sisters garnered a lot of buzz at Zuda and now subsequently Comixology and has earned them a nomination alongside such big names as Scott Kurtz and his infamous series PVP (Kurtz also happens to be the Harvey Awards Master of Cermonies for the award presentation!).

Also local to Philadelphia and nominated is indie comic god Charles Burns for his work on X’ed Out. His nom is in the “Best Original Graphic Novel” category and this GN seems a bit of an artistic departure from the woodcut style that Burns popularized with his seminal work, Black Hole.

Voting is open to those professionally involved in the any facet of comics, so if you fall into that category then get thee over to the Harvey Awards web site and place your vote for Philly’s own!

The awards will be held on August 20th and while you may not be able to vote, the dinner and presentation is open to all fans of comics.

Harvey Awards
August 20th – 21st
www.harveyawards.org

This Thursday, July 15th, our friends over at Locust Moon Comics are hosting a special book release party for acclaimed artist Steve Walker. His latest graphic novel, The Sons of Liberty: Death & Taxes, hits stores via Random House tomorrow.

Death and Taxes is the second in a series of four Sons of Liberty books, and “follows the continuing adventures of Graham and Brody, two escaped slaves making their way to freedom in post-Colonial America.

Flavored by unexpected touches of the supernatural and illuminated by Mr. Walker’s uniquely kinetic and sweeping take on historical fiction, the story delivers on its promise of a two-fisted, adventurous thrill ride through early American history.”

Steve Walker will be meeting fans and signing books from 8pm to 11pm at the West Philadelphia comic book shop. Drinks and hors d’ouevres will be provided. Be there!

Death & Taxes Signing @ Locust Moon
Thursday, July 15th
8pm – 11pm

Locust Moon Comics
4040 Locust St. (19104)