Spike Spiegel
Member
Nothing except the grudges, of course. ;p
Hello, and welcome to another year of COMICS! Here are some of the spotlight titles from each publisher for January:
+All-New X-Factor #1 and 2 by Peter David and Carmine di Giandomenico (Jan 8, Jan 22). The X-Team like no other is back, in a brand new series! This time, however, X-Factor has a new corporate sponsor in Serval Industries, dedicated to making the world a better place with the latest in technology. But can team leader Polaris and her crew trust their employer's noble intentions?
+Avengers World #1 and 2 by Jonathan Hickman, Nick Spencer and Stefano Caselli (Jan 8, Jan 22). The Avengers are back from their war among the stars, only to find that the world they left behind is in greater peril than ever before! A new fight is about to begin for the Earth's future, and to win against the forces of evil Earth's Mightiest Heroes will have to prove it's an Avengers world after all.
+Black Widow #1 and 2 by Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto (Jan 8, Jan 22). Before she was an Avenger, before she was an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Natasha Romanov earned the alias "Black Widow" as a top assassin for the KGB. Now she seeks to atone for the sins of her past; to right the wrongs committed in name of country. There's red in her ledger, and Natasha wants it gone.
+Revolutionary War Alpha #1 by Andy Lanning, Alan Coswill, and Rich Elson (Jan 8). The British invasion begins again! Years ago, Marvel's heroes from across the pond banded together to topple the evil Mys-Tech organization and save the world. But now Mys-Tech has reformed, and it's up to Captain Britain, Death's Head, Dark Angel and the rest to stop them one more time.
+Miracleman #1 and 2 by "The Original Writer" and Mick Anglo (Jan 15, Jan 29). The ground-breaking series returns to print, for the first time in years! Newsman Michael Moran can't shake the feeling that he's mean for something more; that there's something about himself he's somehow forgotten. But what? It's right on the tip of his tongue...
+All-New Invaders #1 by James Robinson and Steve Pugh (Jan 22). The war for tomorrow will be fought by the heroes of yesterday! When the Kree Empire seeks to conquer the universe with a new cosmic superweapon, four of Earth's heroes will stand against their tyranny, as they did in decades past: Captain America, Namor, the Winter Soldier, and the original Human Torch.
+Detective Comics #27 by Various Writers and Artists (Jan 8). Creators past and present unite for this special issue honoring the first appearance of the Dark Knight! Expect all-new stories from the industry's finest, a modern day retelling of the Batman's origin as seen in the original Detective #27, plus the first installment of the next Bat-crossover event "Gothtopia"!
+Justice League of America #11 by Matt Kindt, Eddie Barrows and Eber Ferreira (Jan 15). As Lex Luthor and his fledgeling Legion deal with Ultraman and the Syndicate in "Forever Evil," Martian Manhunter and Stargirl have escaped their prison cells and are on the run. But when their flight to freedom takes them to Gotham City, will Clayface and his goons prove this dynamic duo's undoing?
+World's Finest #19 by Paul Levitz, R.B. Silva and Joe Weems (Jan 15). For years they've avoided contact with this world's heroes, reflections of the loved ones they lost. But now, Power Girl and Huntress have no choice but to reveal themselves to the Superman and Batman of this Earth, and nothing will ever be the same again! The two-month World's Finest and Batman/Superman crossover starts here!
+The Unwritten: Apocalypse #1 by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (Jan 22). The second volume of Unwritten begins here with a jumping on point that's perfect for new readers! Stranded behind the scenes in all of history's greatest stories, Tom Taylor is determined to make it back to reality no matter the cost. But, when he discovers that cost, will he still be as willing to pay?
+Earth-2 Annual #2 by Tom Taylor, Robson Rocha and Scott Hanna (Jan 29). Since he first appeared dispatching foes in violent fashion, readers have wondered: who is this new Batman, and what (if any) is his connection to the deceased Dark Knight of Earth-2? Wonder no more, as this story promises to end the mystery! But when his secret is out, will any of Earth-2's heroes trust him again?
+Red Lanterns #27 by Charles Soule and Alessandro Vitti (Jan 29). Guy Gardner has traded his green ring in for a red one, and now he's bringing his new corps' blood-vomiting brand of justice to the people of Earth! How will the planet react to its newest protector's harsh ways? And how will frozen heroine Ice react when Guy tries to give her a blood-soaked kiss?
+Fatale #19 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips and Elizabeth Breitweiser (Jan 8). Fatale continues its journey through the decades of American history as this story set in Seattle circa 1990s reaches its shattering conclusion! The identity of Nic's secretive ally is finally revealed, but is he telling the truth? And will this revelation prove a boon to Nic, or fatal curse?
+Egos #1 by Stuart Moore and Gus Storms (Jan 15). It's mid-life crisis with a superhero twist! Years ago, the Operatives defeated the cosmic terror known as Masse and saved the galaxy. Now Masse has returned, and one aging hero will seek to reunite the Operatives to battle their enemy once more... but in doing so, he'll risk the life he's built with his wife and former teammate.
+Bad Dog #6 by Joe Kelly and Diego Greco (Jan 22). The first arc (finally!) reaches its foul-mouthed, raucous conclusion! Lou and Wendell's event-filled stay in Las Vegas comes to an end, as the search for a bounty leads them to cross paths with the Dairy Queen and her dark master. Who lives? Who dies? Who's got fleas? It's Vegas, baby, so anything can happen!
+Deadly Class #1 by Rick Remender, Wesley Craig and Lee Loughridge (Jan 22). Marcus Lopez is like any other high school kid; grades suck, bullies suck, and the girl of his dreams is way out of his league. But Marcus attends classes at King Dominion's School for the Deadly Arts, where today's youth are shaped into the assassins of tomorrow. If they survive the curriculum, that is. Class is in session.
+East of West #9 by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta (Jan 22). Hickman's old-west-meets-dystopian-future saga set against the backdrop of the Apocalypse marches on! They've circled each other before, but now law and inevitability will collide, as the Ranger and Death cross paths in a showdown that promises to pull no punches.
+Pretty Deadly #4 by Kelly Sue Deconnick, Emma Rios and Jordie Bellaire (Jan 22). "Every Death must love and every Death must die." It is said that to become Death one must experience death himself, and so numb himself to the pain of loss he must inflict upon others in his new vocation. But letting go is never easy, and for this Death the act may prove unbearable.
+The Black Beetle: Necrologue #1 and 2 by Francesco Francavilla (Jan 15, Jan 29). Finally the wait is over, as the Black Beetle returns in an all-new mystery! There's a serial killer on the loose in Colt City, and only the Beetle can stop him before it's too late. But as the investigation deepens, new questions arise about the Beetle himself. What dark secrets lay behind the mask? Is he hero... or menace?
+Skyman #1 by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Manuel Garcia (Jan 15). Spinning out of the pages of Captain Midnight comes an all-new series! When a drunken bender ends with their poster boy killing an innocent man, the Skyman Program needs a new public face. Enter Air Force Sergeant Eric Reid, a wounded war veteran with something to prove to himself and America.
+Elfquest: The Final Quest #1 by Wendy and Richard Pini (Jan 22). The long-running series continues! Change is in the air, and Wolfrider chief Cutter knows it. The old ways are dying, despite efforts by himself and his daughter Ember to preserve them. And now, the human despot Angrif Djun returns to reclaim her homeland, and Cutter's people face extinction!
+Star Wars Legacy #11 by Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman (Jan 22). You've watched her take on Sith assassins and lead Mon Calamari slaves to freedom. But who is Ania Solo, really? Is she what she claims to be, just a nobody from some backwater planet? Or is she an escaped convict wanted for the murder of an Imperial Knight? And why does that cover look so familiar..? (rhetorical.)
+Furious #1 by Bryan J.L. Glass and Victor Santos (Jan 29). A young woman realizes that what everyone says about her is true: she is a horrible person. But when she gains superpowers, she gets the idea to redeem herself by becoming Furious, rage-fueled seeker of justice! Now, the celebrity culture that vilified her in her public life, is trying to expose her secret one...
+Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #1 by Zack Whedon and Georges Santy (Jan 29). Picking up where the cult-favorite movie left off! Nine months ago, Malcolm Reynolds and the crew of Serenity took the Alliance to task for its crimes against humanity. Now Mal, a pregnant Zoe, Serenity's new pilot River Tam, and the rest of the gang face greater dangers than ever before in a galaxy that knows the truth.
+Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #30 by Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, and Ross Campbell (Jan 8). Following the world-shattering events of "City Fall," the Turtles have retreated to Northampton to rest and count their losses. Can they figure out a way to be a family again, and find each other in quiet reflection? Or are the wounds of the recent past too much to overcome?
+Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #25 by James Roberts, John Barber, and Various Artists (Jan 8). The "Dark Cyberton" saga reaches the halfway point! While the Lost Light is besieged in space, Rodimus Prime and "Orion Pax" (aka the Autobot formerly known as Optimus Prime) grapple with the awful secrets of the Prime Legacy. All this, and Shockwave too!
+The X-Files: Conspiracy #1 by Paul Crilley and John Stanisci (Jan 15). The IDW crossover event of 2014 starts here! When The Lone Gunmen get advance warning of a plague that will wipe out mankind, they join Agents Mulder and Scully in investigating all possible leads... leads that include urban legends about alien robot shapechangers, turtle men living in the New York sewers, and vengeful crow spirits!
+Judge Dredd: Mega-City Two #1 by Douglas Wolk and Ulises Farinas (Jan 22). Judgement goes west! As part of an exchange program, Judge Dredd is transferred to Mega-City Two, a territory covering much of what was once California. There, he discovers that law enforcement works a little differently than he's used to. Will Dredd change his ways and adapt? ...Yeah, probably not.
+Samurai Jack #4 by Jim Zub and Andy Suriano (Jan 22). The search for the Threads of Time continues! When Jack encounters the mystic queen of a distant land, he lands himself in hot water for criticizing her rule. Can Jack locate the next Thread from the inside of a prison cell? Better hope the royal guards don't catch you, Jack, or we'll all have to find out!
+My Little Pony: Friends Forever #1 by Alex de Campi and Carla Speed McNeil (Jan 29). Spinning off from the main book comes an all new series exploring the magic of friendship! In this month's issue, ponies Pinkie Pie and Applejack decide to enter a baking contest. Can this mismatched duo achieve culinary success, or will their hijinks in the kitchen lead to one messy disaster?
+Li'l Dynamites by Various Writers and Artists (Dynamite, Jan 8 thru 29). Ever wish you could share your love of undead psycho killers and half-naked warrior women with your children? Well this month, Dynamite grants that wish by releasing a series of all-ages oneshots each week, featuring pint-sized versions of Battlestar Galactica, Evil Ernie, Vampirella, Red Sonja (featured above), and the Bionic Man, created by a host of award-winning writers!
+Imagine Agents #4 by Brian Joines, Bachan and Khary Randolph (Boom!, Jan 15). Imagination is running wild, and no one is safe! While Rebecca and Terry try to rescue Elliot and Furdlegurr from their impending dooms, Dave must work with Blounder and put a stop to Dapple's evil machinations! But can Dave put aside his anti-figment prejudices long enough to save the day?
+Unity #3 by Matt Kindt and Doug Braithwaite (Valiant, Jan 15). The X-O Manowar armor is an unstoppable engine of destruction, and there's only one woman standing in its way now: Amanda McKee, technopath for the Harbinger Foundation and the last member of her team left alive. Can Amanda do the unthinkable, and become the X-O armor's latest bearer?
+Hacktivist #1 by Alyssa Milano, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly and Marcus To (Archaia/Boom!, Jan 22). From the mind of Alyssa Milano (yes, THAT Alyssa Milano) comes a story about cyber-espionage and friendship! As founders of YourLife, Ed and Nate are changing how the world stays connected. But they're looking to change the world in other ways, too, as leaders of a hacking group bent on revolution.
+Dredd: Underbelly by Arthur Wyatt and Henry Flint (Rebellion/2000AD, Jan 29). The follow-up to the critically- and fan- acclaimed movie is here! In comic form! Following the death of Ma-Ma, every gang in Mega-City One is rushing to fill the power vacuum left behind and the bodies are piling up. Which just means steady work for Judge Dredd and newly appointed Psi-Judge Anderson!
+Gravel: Combat Magician #0 by Mike Wolfer and Gabriel Rearte (Avatar, Jan 29). The Warren Ellis co-creation returns in a new monthly series! Following the destruction of England's magic aristocracy, combat magician William Gravel disappeared from public life. But no one can vanish forever, and when magic assassins come looking for him it's time for Gravel to reappear!
1ST PLACE WINNER:
Harley Quinn #1; written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti; pencils by Chad Hardin; colors by Alex Sinclair; published by DC Comics (27 pts*)
2ND PLACE FINISHER:
Locke & Key Alpha #2; written by Joe Hill; pencils by Gabriel Rodriguez; colors by Jay Fotos; published by IDW Publishing (19 pts)
3RD PLACE FINISHER:
Black Science #2; written by Rick Remender; pencils by Matteo Scalera; colors by Andrew Robinson and Dean White; published by Image Comics (17 pts)
Here's How It Works
In the last week of the month (or earlier, if you're confident about your choices), any GAF member can send me a private message with their personal picks for the three best single issues released that month, from any publisher. These picks should be arranged in order of rank -- first, second, and third place -- and each ranking will be worth a specific point value. A first place ranking for a comic is worth 5 points; a second place is worth 3 points; a third place, 2 points. Then before next month's COMICS! OT goes live, I'll tally the results and point values from each ballot, and post the top three overall winners in the next OP as last month's, GAF-approved, best of the best. Then, maybe at the end of the year, we'll have a showdown between the year's top finishers or something similar.
A Sample Ballot
This is an example of how a sample ballot submitted by you might look. You don't have to use this formatting but I do ask that, however you send it to me, you are CLEAR on which comics you are voting for and in what order they are ranked.
Average GAF Member said:
The Voting Rules
1. Only single issues released that month are to be considered for voting; no trade collections, and no "just caught up" considerations for issues released one/two/however many months ago. Sorry if this excludes you from the voting process, trade-only readers and mail-order folk. I didn't see any other way.
2. Each GAF member is allowed one ballot, and once that ballot has been cast you are done for the month. If an issue comes out and you think it's the best comic you've ever read or will ever read, but you already cast your vote the week before, that's too bad. In other words, there are no take-backs so VOTE THOUGHTFULLY.
3. Three comics per ballot, and no more. You could send me a list of the ten best comics that month, with full paragraph summaries on why you ranked them in what order; but in the end, I'm only going to tally points for the top three and ignore the rest. You CAN pick just one book as the best that month... but that one vote is still worth only 5 points.
4. No ties on the ballots, please. You have to pick three comics as the best that month, and you have to rank them "1st, 2nd, 3rd" so that I can assign points to each. If you're torn between two issues of two different series as the best that month, and you can't decide which one you loved more than the other, TRY.
5. To make things a bit easier on me when it comes to making the OP, I'm establishing a deadline for casting ballots of 6pm Eastern Standard Time on the last day of the month. You can cast your ballot at any time during the month that you wish; however once that deadline has passed, any ballots sent to me will be ignored.
6. Again, to make things easier I would prefer that your votes be cast via private message sent to me, rather than through an open post in the OT. In addition to keeping the voting process a secret, using the PM method means I won't have to search through thread pages for someone's vote posted as an afterthought to an unrelated discussion.
Failure to comply with any of the above rules MAY result in your ballot getting thrown out.
Other rules and stipulations may follow, but for now we'll roll with these for the first round and see how it goes. Have fun voting!
Spoilers. In the age of digital comics, they are increasingly becoming an issue in these threads, as the drive to be first to discuss the week's releases overrides common sense and good posting etiquette. So over the coming weeks and months, the members of Comic GAF will be collaborating on and will eventually be implementing a system of general rules for avoiding spoilers on new comics in the Comics OT thread. But for now, please abide by the temporary guidelines outlined below. And remember, you are being watched and judged by your peers.
1. Discussion of newly released comics that involves specific plot details shall be accompanied at all times by the appropriate use of the
tag function.
2. Direct posting of full-page images from newly released comics using the tags is strictly prohibited, and outgoing links to such should be accompanied by the appropriate spoiler warnings.
3. Direct posting of images or spoilers from comics that have yet to be released is strictly prohibited, and outgoing links to such should be accompanied by the appropriate spoiler warnings.
4. Covers, solicitation copy, and/or promotional materials shall not be considered spoilers and are allowed, unless their content involves specific plot details; in those cases, outgoing links with spoiler warnings should be used.
5. The unmarked posting of spoilers related to comics will be allowed after a period of one week (Wednesday to Wednesday) from that comic's release.[/b] ([u]NOTE:[/u] Longer? -Spike)
[b]6. Members of Comic GAF are expected at all times to exercise common sense and polite discretion as a matter of courtesy to fellow posters. I know, tough one.
7. If you are unsure of whether or not posting something would constitute a spoiler, err on the side of caution and use the [SPOILER] tags.[/b]
In short, don't be Stephanie Brown. Don't be... The Spoiler. For one thing, [b]you're[/b] not that loveable. >:|
Happy reading!
2. Direct posting of full-page images from newly released comics using the tags is strictly prohibited, and outgoing links to such should be accompanied by the appropriate spoiler warnings.
3. Direct posting of images or spoilers from comics that have yet to be released is strictly prohibited, and outgoing links to such should be accompanied by the appropriate spoiler warnings.
4. Covers, solicitation copy, and/or promotional materials shall not be considered spoilers and are allowed, unless their content involves specific plot details; in those cases, outgoing links with spoiler warnings should be used.
5. The unmarked posting of spoilers related to comics will be allowed after a period of one week (Wednesday to Wednesday) from that comic's release.[/b] ([u]NOTE:[/u] Longer? -Spike)
[b]6. Members of Comic GAF are expected at all times to exercise common sense and polite discretion as a matter of courtesy to fellow posters. I know, tough one.
7. If you are unsure of whether or not posting something would constitute a spoiler, err on the side of caution and use the [SPOILER] tags.[/b]
In short, don't be Stephanie Brown. Don't be... The Spoiler. For one thing, [b]you're[/b] not that loveable. >:|
Happy reading!
