This week in the Comic Roundup we read the milestone 900th issue of Action Comics, see if Thor is worth a new first issue and take some time to check in with the comic book version of Doctor Who.

Action Comics #900
By Paul Cornell, Pete Woods, Jesus Merino and more

In this age of jury rigged numbering, a truly legitimate, noteworthy anniversary issue can be hard to come by. Well, Action Comics #900 is about as noteworthy as you can get. The first issue hit the stands in 1938 and the book has been going strong ever since. No relaunches, no combined numbering, just 900 consecutive issues of Superman greatness. Unfortunately though, this won’t be remembered as one of those great comics.

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At last. It’s here, and geeks around Philadelphia are getting ready to celebrate. There are ton of shops around Philadelphia worthy of your free-swag-grabbing hands, but Brave New Worlds, our favorite local comic book shop, is offering up a seriously sweet shopping special:

• Spend $25 – Get a free Godzilla #1 variant, featuring Godzilla destroying Brave New Worlds.

• Spend $50 – Get a free Brave New Worlds pint glass.

• Spend $100 – Get the Godzilla #1, the BNW Glass and $20 Store Credit towards your next purchase.

Along with these deals, guests can look forward to meeting the creators of Moongirl (Tony Trov, Johnny Zito) and interact with local artists who will be working on free sketches through out the day. Bring a camera! Spider-Man will be posing with visitors and dancing in the shop, thanks to the Broadzilla DJs.

Be there. Know of another shop with great specials? Let us know.

Free Comic Book Day @ Brave New Worlds
Saturday, May 7th, 11am – 8pm
45 N. Second St (19106)
www.bravenewworldscomics.com

Guest Post by Brian Lynch

I had the pleasure of briefly interviewing comic book writer Michael McMillian and artist Anna Wieszczyk, the creators of Archaia Publishing’s LUCID. The fourth and final issue hit shops back in March. But while you’re here, find out how Mike worked (actual) magic into the pages, and why Anna’s love of extreme fashion could’ve made main character Matthew Dee’s wardrobe just a bit more… interesting.

What series and / or writers most directly influenced your work on LUCID?

MICHAEL MCMILLIAN: I’ve been reading comics since I was a kid back back in Kansas, but much of LUCID was influenced by the comics I read in college, mainly Alan Moore’s line of ABC books and Warren Ellis’ Authority and Planetary. Those books really re-ignited my love for comics as an adult. Mostly, LUCID comes from a long love of occult mythology and modern American folklore. I wanted LUCID to be a fun, fantasy-adventure set in a very contemporary world.

LUCID has a unique art style – it reminds me a lot of the anime coming out of Madhouse, and at the same time, the computer-generated qualities give it a unique feel. Was this a conscious decision for the project, Anna?

ANNA WIESZCZYK: I was probably picked up for the project because of the “manga vibe” in my style. I’m afraid I’m still nowhere near Madhouse, but I think I’d like to push my style in direction where the comics I make looks like screens from the anime.

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This week in the Comic Roundup we check out Robert Kirkman’s new series Super Dinosaur, see how invincible Iron Man is against Fear Itself and visit with a long lost friend in Dark Horse Presents.

Super Dinosaur #1
By Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard

By now I really don’t think I need to tell anybody how good a writer Robert Kirkman is. His two Image titles, The Walking Dead and Invincible, regularly get great amounts of attention because they are a) very good and b) everything a creator owned title should be. But with his new series, Super Dinosaur, he is trying something that has generally been a dead end in comics: an all-ages book. How does he do? Pretty well actually.

Super Dinosaur is a book that is all about being fun. I know I use that term a lot, but to me that is what comics are all about. Sure, Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns have their place, but at the end of the day a comic book should be a fun read that leaves you entertained. Super Dinosaur accomplishes that whether you are 8 or 80. The adventures of Derek Dynamo and his best pal Super Dinosaur will appeal to just about anyone. Kirkman writes a straightforward story that is not dumbed down for kids or overly simple to adults. The art by Howard has an uncomplicated style that fits perfectly with what Kirkman is trying to do. Plus SD (as Derek calls him) might be the coolest looking new character I have ever seen.

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In 1941, Captain America made his debut in Captain America Comics #1. It was a true first issue in that it featured the first appearance of a brand new character in an all-new series. When Cap was resurrected during the Silver Age in Avengers #4, he quickly joined Iron Man as the second feature in Tales to Astonish and with issue #100, he took over the book and it was renamed Captain America.

Why the history lesson? To try to prove a point. This July Captain America will relaunch with a “brand new” #1 for the SIXTH time.

Really? Are you kidding me?

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This week in the Comic Roundup, we go for a run on the road to Flashpoint with The Flash, pack our bags for an Infinite Vacation and check out the (kinda) new Journey into Mystery.

The Flash #10
By Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul

I have never been a big Barry Allen fan. The first time I ever read a comic he was in was Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 where he died so I don’t really have a connection to the character. For me, whether in the New Teen Titans or his own book, Wally West has always been the Flash. I don’t think anyone was as unhappy as I was when I heard DC was brining back Barry. That may be why I haven’t really warmed to the new Flash series despite Johns being at the helm.

With this and the last issue, the The Road to Flashpoint has begun. Barry gets to meet himself from another earth, has a talk with Kid Flash and checks out a crime scene. All in all pretty standard stuff considering this is the lead in to DC’s big summer event. Nothing particularly exciting happens and the reader is left wanting for more. When compared to Johns work on Green Lantern leading into Blackest Night, it’s surprising how… boring the issue is. I wouldn’t even consider this a good regular Flash comic when held up against Johns work on the Wally West Flash series. The art my Manapul is great and he works wonders with the script he is given, but it’s still a very lackluster issue.

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Scope out the flyer above. That says it all. Just about.

On April 15th, the University of Pennsylvania is holding a comics symposium, Comics Without Borders, offering guests an opportunity to meet Charles Burns and Marc Legendre. They’ll be giving a talk, answering some questions, and signing books. Don’t own any of their titles? Relax. Penn will have a handful available to purchase.

More information and directions are available at the department of Germanic languages & literatures’ official website. The event kicks off at 7pm in the David Rittenhouse Lab at 209 South 33rd St… okay yeah, get directions here. Cause you are never going to find that.

Comics Without Borders @ UPenn
April 15th, 2011, 7pm
ccat.sas.upenn.edu/german/graphic

For this week’s Comic Roundup, we officially begin the summer comic season with a review of Fear Itself #1, a look at the latest Image darling Nonplayer and check in on the Reign of Doomsday with Superman/Batman Annual #5.

Fear Itself #1
By Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen

Ah spring. Nothing says warm weather like a massive company wide comic crossover. This year Marvel is first on the stands with Fear Itself, a Thor-centric event that promises the usual “nothing will be the same” and big changes. Forgive me if I don’t hold my breath. But that doesn’t mean the story itself has to be bad. And the first issue of Fear Itself is surprisingly good.

Given a Thor movie comes out this May, an event featuring him and Asgard really isn’t all that shocking. What is shocking is how enjoyable the issue is. Fraction has done a great job introducing the concepts and characters and laying out the framework for the crossover. He wastes no time putting events in motion and throwing us in the middle of the action.

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This time in the Comic Roundup we give Marvel and DC the blow off and look at a trio of small press/creator owned books. We check out the new hero calling himself The Savage Dragon, fall under the spell of Tarot and read a bedtime story with Grimm Fairy Tales.

Grimm Fairy Tales #57
By James Patrick, Jordan Gunderson and John Toledo

Grimm Fairy Tales has long been the flagship title of Philly’s own Zenescope Studios, and with good reason. Sometimes called “Fables with boobs”, the two books do have certain similarities, but totally different storytelling goals. Grimm Fairy Tales is a horror title mixed with a little bit of fantasy, plain and simple. The current issue is a perfect example of that balance.

Issue #57 continues the story of Sela and Blake as the try to beat Orcus and his army to the city of Tallus. It is pretty standard fantasy fare, nothing exceptional. The art by Toledo is good, but has a certain lack of detail that gives the art a rushed look. The real highlight of the comic is the retelling of the fairy tale Diamonds and Toads, Zenescope style. Patrick took a page from Vertigo’s House of Mystery and tells each story as a separate tale. He ties it into the main story nicely by making Orcus’s Lieutenant Gruel the star of the story. The art here by Gunderson is wonderful. It evokes a very old world European feeling, which is perfect for a story like this.

Grimm Fairy Tales continues to be a fun, enjoyable comic book month in and month out. It might not be the deepest of reads, but is great for what it is; 22 pages of horror/fantasy fun.

Final Grade: B

The Savage Dragon #170
By Erik Larsen

After Spawn, Savage Dragon is the second longest running Image title, with issue #200 looming on the horizon. The main difference between the two titles, however, is that Erik Larsen has written and drawn every issue of the series. Every. Issue. Think about that. It’s an amazing accomplishment for a book that deserves more attention and higher sales than it currently gets.

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Todd Klein, one of the most celebrated letterers in the history of American comics (dude has won the Eisner fifteen times, the Harvey eight), is swinging by Locust Moon Comics on April 8th.

His name might ring a bell for fans of Sandman, as he was a letterer for the entire run of the series. Locust Moon will be celebrating the man’s legendary career with food, wine, discussions on lettering, and of course, a signing.

The party begins at 7:30pm. Swing by and join in the fun.

Todd Klein Party & Signing
April 8th, 2010

Locust Moon Comics
4040 Locust Street (19104)
(215) 921-8530

Summer is upon us and for any self respecting comic book reader that means one thing: crossovers! Almost every year Marvel and DC bring out the big guns and unleash their line wide events which promise “lasting change” and “nothing will ever be the same again.”

Yeah, right.

Now, sometimes they do manage to get it right and the readers get a great story, outstanding art and a truly changed universe. The bar I measure any comic book event to is Crisis On Infinite Earths, still the best event comic ever that delivered on its promise. Unfortunately, it is the exception, not the rule. Most of the time we get weak stories, mediocre art and nonsensical crossover titles meant to separate you from your money.

This summer DC Comics has Flashpoint and Marvel has Fear Itself both vying for your attention and dollars. It’s too early to tell if either of these will be worth reading, but I thought this would be the perfect time to look back and revisit five of the all time worst comic book events ever.

5. Anything from Rob Liefeld’s Extreme Studios

Extreme Prejudice. Supreme Madness. Extreme Destroyer. And last but certainly not least, Babewatch. The names alone are cringe worthy and the stories were just as bad as they sound. At least once a year Liefeld would announce a new crossover for all the books under his Extreme Studios imprint, at the time was published by Image, and without fail, they would somehow be released out of order. Either a book would ship late, or not at all and the reader was left to figure out what was going on as they went along. Not that there was much of a plot to begin with…

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This week in the Comic Roundup we review the first chapter of The Death of Spider-Man, check out the new direction for the FF and revisit our childhood with G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero.

FF #1
By Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting

When I reviewed the first collection of Hickman’s run on Fantastic Four, I finished by saying that the new direction had potential, but it just wasn’t there yet for me. Now that the first part of his master plan for the Fantastic Four has finished, I’m still waiting to be impressed. The whole “death” of the Human Torch and bagged issue were so 1992 and screamed of gimmicks and cheap theatrics. Do things improve with the launch of the newly retitled FF? Well…

With the passing of Johnny Storm, the Fantastic Four have morphed into the Future Foundation and added Spider-Man their ranks. I’ll give Hickman this; it’s a dramatic new direction, something that other writers have been unable or unwilling to do. Unfortunately, the book still has the same problems for me; the dialogue sounds wooden and the characters show almost no emotion. The book is just missing… something. And while Epting is a more than competent artist, his style just does not fit a book like FF. The title needs an Alan Davis or John Byrne to make the characters really shine.

If you have enjoyed Hickman’s Fantastic Four run so far, FF will give you more of the same. Unfortunately, for those of us who have been less than impressed by the book, that is really not such a good thing.

Final Grade: C

G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero #164
By Larry Hama and S.L. Gallant

In my neighborhood growing up, you were either a G.I.Joe fan or a Transformers fan. Me, I was a G.I.Joe fan and the highlight of my month was when the new issue of the Marvel G.I.Joe series hit the local pharmacy spinner rack. I still have my (almost) complete run and would never part with them. Now while the Devil’s Due and, later, IDW revivals were fun, they were missing one crucial component: Larry Hama. Well, last May, IDW announced Hama was finally returning to G.I.Joe and picking up right where he left off. How does the comic hold up? Beautifully.

Much like how Hama wrote the old Marvel series, there are no arcs or series within a series. This is one continuing soap opera with guns and ninjas. In #164, Cobra attacks the new Pit and we get a Snake-Eyes/Storm Shadow fight to boot. Reading this issue, it’s like I’m 12 years old again. Hama has lost none of his affinity for the cast and what makes a good G.I.Joe comic book. The pencils by Gallant are nothing special, but the art was never the selling point of G.I.Joe; Hama was.

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