Light Week? Try UBER #0, THE AVENGERS: WEST COAST AVENGERS OMNIBUS & SUPERMAN: SECRET IDENTITY

You’re buying the wrong comics. Those comics. They’re the wrong kind. Red phosphorous is found in the striker strips, not the comics themselves. You need to get the big 200-count box of individual comic books. More striker strips. You understand? Those only have the one. And don’t buy everything in one place. Do it piecemeal. Different comics, different stores. Attracts less attention. Hmm? You following me here? 

Stay out of my territory.

Paul Montgomery says try…

Uber0

Uber #0

By Kieron Gillen and Caanan White

We dig on war stories, particularly those set in WWII. A great fan of the original JSA: Liberty Files stories that re-imagined those iconic all-stars as down and dirty operatives in the European theater, the concept for Avatar’s new Uber series immediately piqued my interest. That said, the primary reason for my excitement is the prospect of Kieron Gillen’s unbridled agency in a creator owned setting. Though he’s more than found his footing with recent projects at Marvel, this is an opportunity to witness his unfettered creative powers on display in a deliciously grimdark setting. If anyone can be trusted to do something thoughtful with metahuman nazis, it might be Gillen.

 

Josh Flanagan says try…

Avengers_Avengers West Coast_Omnibus_Vol1

 

The Avengers: West Coast Avengers Omnibus

 

By Writer: Roger Stern, Danny Fingeroth, Steve Englehart, Bob Harras, Bob Hall, Al Milgrom, Luke McDonnell, Richard Howell, Mark Bright, Steve Ditko

Let’s get the complaints out of the way first. If you’re going to change back from Avengers West Coast to West Coast Avengers (actually The Avengers: West Coast Avengers), just what is the point of all of it? Also, the John Byrne issues are not included here. OK, but besides that, this is some great stuff. I’d go so far as to say that these, for me, and for the people my age, many of whom are ruling comics right now, are formative comic books. This is the splinter team. This is Iron Man, Hawkeye and others saying, “You know what? Let’s do that other thing, but over here.” I loved these stories, and if I could afford this massive book, I’d definitely buy it, and then look at it for the next 4-5 years thinking, “I should really read that sometime, because it cost a lot of money.” I love that Iron Man armor, by the way.

 

Paul Montgomery also says try….

Superman_Secret Identity_TP_New

Superman: Secret Identity TP

By Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen

Conor is off on a vision quest in Texas this week, so I’m tasked with proffering a second Light Week suggestion in his staid. Were he here, I think he’d absolutely recommend this long-awaited new printing of Superman: Secret Identity. Here, in a photo-real world in which Superman is already a fictitious presence in popular culture, a young man named Clark Kent discovers his impossible, innate powers. Save for some 80-page reissues, it’s been out of print the entire time I’ve been reading comics as an adult. I’ll be pouncing on this one.

 


Comments

  1. I second the Superman: Secret Identity trade. It’s up there with my favorite Superman stories. Stunning art and a fully human script, if you get what I’m saying. Not to be missed. So glad it’s finally collected.

  2. Is he exclusive? He’s doing his own creator owned stuff. I’m sure seeing as it was already in planning prior to signing/if he signed exclusive I’m sure it wouldn’t be an issue.

    • Some exclusive contracts allow for outside work as long as it’s creator owned (although it sounds like that loophole is closing with the moves that Image has been making.)

      The more I think about it, the more I’d like to see this book happen. Not quite sure how you’d frame the story, but if it’s Busiek and Immonen than I have no real reason not to look forward to it.

  3. I always love it when omnibi end up on this list.
    “Hey, only getting a few books this week? Well, then how about a $100, 750 page brick? That will fill your budget/reading time perfectly!”

  4. Avatar photo filippod (@filippodee) says:

    I like Gillen but I don’t know about Über… I read the preview and I found it repulsing.

    It looks like a gore exploitation book, it is published by a publisher that made gore and violence its raison d’etre… yet, per Gillen’s written introduction (as I understand it) it is meant to be a serious book.

    The problem for me is that repulsion from the horrors of Nazism (or a Nazist-like excess of power setting) and repulsion from gore as a form of entertainment should work on an entirely different level, yet here they seem to mix in an ambiguous way, which is something I don’t think I can stomach.

    Sure, I’m judging from a preview and maybe the full read will bring out what Gillen means to convey, but I found the impact so revolting (and note that I had little problems with Lapham’s Ferals) that I honestly don’t feel like trying.

    • I’m kind of in the same boat. Gillen is one of my favorite writers and has very rarely failed to impress me, but the concept and the content that I’ve seen from previews doesn’t look like it’s my bag. If I hear good word of mouth, I’ll pick up the trade, but I’ll be sitting out on the issues front.

  5. I think I’ll be giving secret identity a go, cheers Paul!

  6. All three books looks good, I also like the Iron Man armor of the 80’s early 90’s…and Hawkeye in a “superhero” costume.