Spike Spiegel
Member
Saturday, May 3rd is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! Free stuff!
www.freecomicbookday.com
Let's check out some of the books you'll be buying in May.
+Cyclops #1 by Greg Rucka and Russell Dauterman (May 7). Father/son bonding... in SPAAAAAACE!!! After learning that his father didn't actually die in a plane crash but instead became an intergalactic space pirate, young Cyclops makes the fateful decision to leave his time-displaced X-Men behind to see the galaxy with dear old dad. Adventure awaits!
+Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez (May 7). Who needs superior and amazing, when you're already ultimate? Miles Morales is back with a new outlook on life, but a villain from Peter Parker's past has resurfaced and set their sights on the new wallcrawling hero. You won't want to miss that last page!
+Original Sin #1 and 2 by Jason Aaron and Mike Deodato (May 7, 21). The Marvel Comics event of 2014 is here, and it kicks off with a murder mystery that threatens to unravel the universe! For ages he has watched the Earth, sworn never to interfere; but now Uatu the Watcher lies dead, his all-seeing eyes removed by his killer. Who would want this cosmic witness dead, and what did he see that led to his murder?
+Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1 by Mike Benson and Tan Eng Huat (May 14). Intrigue and martial arts mayhem collide! Shang Chi is headed to England, to pay his respects to a former lover killed in the line of duty. But when he starts digging into the case she was working on, he's marked for termination by the same mysterious foes who had her murdered! Trying to kill the "Master of Kung Fu"? ...Good luck.
+Amazing X-Men #7 by Kathryn Immonen and Paco Medina (May 21). Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends are reunited, because Pete's back and Angelica's an X-Man so why the heck not! These three friends are out to save New York City, and to have fun doing it. Can they recapture the magic of their old 80s cartoon together? If you're anything like me, you can't wait to find out!
+Thanos Annual #1 by Jim Starlin and Ron Lim (May 28). The creative team that brought you Infinity Gauntlet reunites for this special annual issue! See how Thanos' battles with the Avengers, Mephisto, his future self, and others would shape his destiny and set in motion a series of events that will shape the future of the Marvel Universe to come!
+Futures End #1-4 by Various Writers and Artists (May 7, 14, 21, 28). The future of the New52 is a dark and terrible place, and to prevent that apocalyptic end from happening one hero will travel to the past and attempt to change fate! Hero will turn against hero, beloved characters will be murdered, and dark secrets will be revealed as Batman Beyond recruits a team to save everything in a new weekly series!
+Green Arrow #31 by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino (May 7). The "Outsiders War" reaches its jaw-dropping conclusion! Oliver Queen's struggle against the villainous Komodo has already cost him dearly, but the battle is far from over as Count Vertigo returns to enter the fray. When the dust settles, will Oliver have anything left to celebrate? Will he have anything at all?
+Superman: Doomed #1 by Scott Lobdell, Greg Pak, Charles Soule and Ken Lashley (May 14). Doomsday is back, and the unstoppable beast is out for Superman's blood! But there's something different about the monster this time, and if he survives their battle the Man of Steel will find himself changed in unexpected ways, perhaps forever. Are
+Forever Evil #7 by Geoff Johns and David Finch (May 21). Evil doesn't last forever... it only seems like it! In this shocking conclusion to the New52's first major event, lives will be lost, trusts will be broken, and worlds will be shattered as the Crime Syndicate battles Batman, Lex Luthor and the Injustice Gang for the fate of the Earth. Yet even if they emerge victorious, what new horrors dwell on the horizon?
+Justice League #30 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis (May 21). A new era dawns for a radically altered Justice League in the aftermath of 'Forever Evil' (which you should probably read before this, just saying)! Heroes will quit the team amid controversy. Villains will rise up, and assume their place in the ranks. And, a new and mysterious foe will set their sights on the League's newest and greatest member: LEX LUTHOR?!?
+Nightwing #30 by Tim Seeley, Tom King and Mikel Janin (May 28). The Bat Family will never be the same again, as Dick Grayson's ultimate fate is revealed in this final issue! And, call me a prognosticator, call me a quack, but something tells me that fate will involve guns, no more masks, spy agencies, and a trip to Russia. And lots of gratuitous butt shots.
+Rat Queens #6 by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Roc Upchurch (May 7). The girls are back in the start of an all-new adventure, that's the perfect jumping on point for new readers! Something is growing inside the walls of Palisade, and the day when this unseen horror bursts forth is fast approaching. But for one Queen, this terror is a familiar one, and she's about to learn the hard way that some gods just don't let go.
+MPH #1 by Mark Millar and Duncan Fegredo (May 21). The Millarworld continues to expand with a new miniseries that's sure to become a major motion picture! When a group of homeless teens uncover a cache of the latest drug to hit the streets, they quickly discover it grants each of them the power of super-speed. Will these hard-luck kids use this newfound gift to save the world? Hell naw, it's time to get paid!
+Saga #19 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (May 21). The acclaimed, Eisner Award -winning series returns! New planets, new foes, and strange new adventures await the cast as brought to you by the same great creative team. Also, things get even weirder as Lady Gaga joins the cast! ...Okay, I made that last part up. Maybe. I don't know; I mean, it kind of looks like her on the cover, doesn't it?
+Chew/Revival One-Shot by John Layman, Tim Seeley, Rob Guillory and Mike Norton (May 28). The creative minds behind two of the hottest comics at Image today join forces to bring you a crossover unlike any other! Cibopathic FDA agent Tony Chu is headed to snowy Wisconcin, where the dead don't stay dead -- and they probably don't taste so great to boot. What bizarre case brings him there? You'll have to read it and find out!
+C.O.W.L. #1 by Kyle Higgins, Alec Siegel and Rod Reis (May 28). If you're a costume crimefighter in Chicago, odds are you're a part of C.O.W.L. -- the Chicago Organized Workers League, the world's first superhero labor union! Once a beacon to the city, C.O.W.L. now finds itself victims of a disillusioned public. Will going after the last major villain restore them in the eyes of the people, or result in their downfall?
+Trees #1 by Warren Ellis and Jason Howard (May 28). A new science fiction epic, from master storyteller Warren Ellis! Ten years ago they came to Earth, and humankind learned that we were not alone; that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe. The only problem with that revelation? THEY do not see US as "intelligent life;" they see us as something else. Something... insignificant.
+Veil #3 by Greg Rucka and Toni Fejzula (May 7). Separated from her only ally by forces beyond their control, the enigmatic girl called Veil finds herself vulnerable and at the mercy of a powerful stranger. Is this person friend or foe, and what does he know about Veil and where she comes from? And, more importantly, what does he want from her? The answers will shock you!
+Hellboy In Hell #6 by Mike Mignola (May 14). Anung Un Rama's homecoming journey through the underworld continues! Traveling through the depths of hell itself, Hellboy encounters an old acquaintance of the vampiric persuasion. Will this reunion be a pleasant one, or not? Given how these encounters have gone in previous issues, I"m guessing "not."
+B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth #19 by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and James Harren (May 21). Manhattan is the epicenter for Armageddon, as Lovecraftian demons descend ushering in the end times! The surviving members of the B.P.R.D. make their way through back to headquarters, staying one step ahead of the monsters with the aid of a brilliant young psychic, while Liz Sherman prepares to go supernova. Can the B.P.R.D. prevent the end of everything?
+Brain Boy: The Men from G.E.S.T.A.L.T. #1 by Fred Van Lente and Freddie Williams III (May 21). Agent Matt Price is on the trail of a doomsday cult, whose leader has sinister plans for none other than the President of the United States! But before he can thwart their scheme, Price will have to match wits with the mysterious G.E.S.T.A.L.T. organization, which has a very different target in mind: Agent Matt Price!
+Dark Horse Presents #36 by Various Writers and Artists (May 21). Dark Horse pulls out all the stops for this, the final issue of DHP! Mike Mignola, Stan Sakai, Jaime Hernandez, and more provide exciting new stories to say goodbye to one of the best anthology series on shelves today. But don't get too sad just yet dear reader, because DHP will return in just a few short months with a lowered price (and page count)!
+Furious #5 by Bryan Glass and Victor Santos (May 28). A life hangs in the balance as new superheroine Furious faces off against her deranged nemesis -- whose true identity harkens back to Furious' own dark past. With the media broadcasting their epic showdown, can Furious battle her inner demons, her evil doppelganger, and save an innocent life while maintaining her secret? Or will the pressure of her new life finally break her?
+Littlest Pet Shop #1 by Georgia Ball, Nico Pena, and Antonio Campo (May 14). Based on the hit cartoon series! Russell and Penny Ling have crafted a mystery for their friends to unravel, and the search for clues will take them to every corner of Downtown City. Which team will be the first to overcome their differences, solve the puzzle, and claim the fabulous prize?
+Star Trek New Visions: The Mirror, Cracked by John Byrne (May 21). A new bi-monthly series! The "Mirror, Mirror" episode stands as one of the most cherished, acclaimed episodes of the original Star Trek series. Now, see what happened after the episode ended, as the crew of the USS Enterprise discovers a stranger in ther midst with ties to one of the Captain Kirk's oldest enemies!
+TMNT 30th Anniversary Special by Various Writers and Artists (May 21). IDW celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with this anthology special! Creators from every era -- Mirage, Image, Archie, and IDW -- have been brought together for one issue, with new stories featuring everyone's favorite heroes on the half-shell. Cowabunga!
+Weird Love #1 by Various Writers and Artists (May 21). From the people that brought you 'Haunted Horror' comes a new series reprinting some of the bizarrest, most twisted "romance" comics of the 1950s and beyond! In this issue: "Love of a Lunatic," "I Fell for a Commie," "You Also Snore, Darling," "The Taming of the Brute," and more weird tales of love gone horribly, horribly wrong.
+The Beautiful War #1 by Ashley Wood and T.P. Louise (May 28). Audel Howard is an industrialist with a dream: he wants to own America. And when he strikes a deal with forces he can't possibly comprehend, that dream and all that comes with it is finally brought within reach, though at what cost remains to be seen. Ashley Wood's first new comic series in years!
+Godzilla: Rulers of Earth #12 by Chris Mowry and Matt Frank (May 28). The kaiju battle to end all kaiju battles is upon us, as the Devonian invaders meet the human resistance to decide the fate of the Earth! Yet in the games of men and monsters, only one holds enough power to be the deciding factor and seal the planet's fate; not a man, not a god, but a Godzilla! It's all been building to this very issue!
+Chaos #1 by Tim Seeley and Mirka Andolfo (Dynamite, May 7). Chaos Comics returns at Dynamite in time for their 20th anniversary! A shared premonition of the coming apocalypse will bring together some familiar faces: undead serial killer Evil Ernie, vampire assassin Chastity, blood goddess Purgatori, and the teen hero team known as the Chosen. But when they come together, will it be to prevent the world's destruction... or to ensure it?
+The Shadow: Midnight in Moscow #1 by Howard Chaykin (Dynamite, May 21). It's New Year's Day, and the Forties are at an end... and so is The Shadow? After years spent terrorizing criminals Lamont Cranston has, against the wishes of Margo Laine and his network of agents, decided to hang up his cloak and .45s and retire from life. Is the world ready to be without its dark protector? Or, does it need him now more than ever?
+X-O Manowar #25 by Various Writers and Artists (Valiant, May 21). The new Valiant celebrates the 25th issue milestone of its flagship series with a double-sized issue, and an introduction to their 2014 event: ARMOR HUNTERS! A team of intergalactic bounty hunters have come to Earth to eliminate the X-O armor weapon -- and they're not above destroying the whole planet to succeed!
+Brass Sun #1 by Ian Edginton and INJ Culbard (2000AD/Rebellion, May 28). From the author of New Deadwardians comes a new clockwork sci-fi series! The Orerry is a clockwork star system, where the planets move on great metal arms spun by gears around a clockwork sun. But that sun is dying out, the planets are dying, and a young girl named Wren will risk all to find the key that will restart the sun and save everyone.
+Clive Barker's Nightbreed #1 by Clive Barker, Marc Andreyko and Piotr Kowalski (Boom!, May 28). For centuries, they've lived hidden away from mankind; a secret society of grotesqueries and horrific beasts known collectively as The Nightbreed. This is the story of that society, and their struggle to exist in a world ruled by men who hate and fear them. Clive Barker's classic story lives on in comic form!
+Doctor Spektor: Master of the Occult #1 by Mark Waid and Neil Edwards (Dynamite, May 28). Another Gold Key classic returns! Dr. Adam Spektor is a man seemingly who has everything; fame, fortune, looks, brains, an exciting job, and more. For years he's traveled the globe hunting the creatures of the night, keeping innocent people safe from horrors they can only dream of. So why then, does his life feel so empty? What's missing? He's about to find out...
1ST PLACE WINNER:
Deadly Class #4 written by Rick Remender; pencils by Wes Craig; colors by Lee Loughridge; published by Image Comics (16 points)
2ND PLACE FINISHER:
*TIE* Batman Eternal #1 written by Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV; pencils by Jason Fabok; colors by Brad Anderson; published by DC Comics (10 points)
*TIE* Southern Bastards #1 written by Jason Aaron; pencils/colors by Jason Latour; published by Image Comics (10 points)
*TIE* Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #28 written by James Roberts; pencils by Alex Milne; colors by Josh Burcham; published by IDW Publishing (10 points)
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 10pm 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. >:|
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/Vs1PdxT.jpg
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. >:|
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/Vs1PdxT.jpg
Happy reading!
