Thoughts:
- Yay for the NAMORA one shot. I know it's only there because Marvel is on their MARVEL WOMEN kick, but if URANIAN could get a 3 issue mini, why not Namora? Besides, it features artwork by female artists.
- ATLAS #2 looks cool. The last ongoing series of this franchise lasted 11 issues; hopefully a new title, a new member, and some additional time with mini's and back up strips will aid this second attempt at lasting longer. Looks like the ugly secrets from Grayson's URANIAN series will come to the fore as the new 3-D Man joins the team. I actually liked that Triathlon took on that mantle in AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE even if it was kind of a waste to publish a SKRULL KILL KREW mini after SECRET INVASION ended, as everyone by then was more than tired of Skrulls (SPIDER-WOMAN had the same problem). Gabe Hardman alongside Jeff Parker some more, looks like solid times.
- CAPTAIN AMERICA #607 gets on with the big Baron Zemo story and it does seem like Falcon will be a permanent part of the book, perhaps allowing Black Widow to take a break for her own books. It is interesting, because Falcon probably has way more experience in the modern era than James Barnes, which makes their double-team interesting. The NOMAD back up will continue even though YOUNG ALLIES should be out around then. Cover looks cool.
- A comic based on the Russkie team WINTER GUARD? What next, another relaunch attempt of ALPHA FLIGHT? It's been about 4-5 years since the last attempt, I think we're due for another exercise in futility.
- Iron Man has 5-6 comics out this month; can you tell "IRON MAN 2" will be in theaters? Perhaps not to be outdone, Cap will actually have 3 comics out this month, too. At any rate, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN chugs along and Fraction & Larroca continue with what they're doing. Hopefully Fraction learns not to decompress as much. The annual will be the first IIM issue of this launch not drawn by Larroca. I don't mind the Mandarin, as he is like the Dr. Doom or Magneto of Iron Man; the arch nemesis who always returns after a few years in every run, whether you want him to or not. May as well see what Fraction has to say on him.
- SHIELD is the sort of thing that drips with so much pretentiousness that it either will be exceptional or a horribly overrated misfire. I'm not sure whether I feel like biting.
- Hickman is onto better things with FF. Arcade and the Impossible Man? Cool. Even if it does seem obvious that Johnny always gets the "goofy" issues of FF. No one takes him seriously.
- Considering the sales, I am stunned VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT will see a 9th issue, but then again it's managed to outsell SWORD and DOCTOR VOODOO. I would not be stunned if editorial wants to see how Deadpool's appearance will boost sales for the book. The answer is that it might cause a spike for those issues of somewhere at 10% at best, and likely nowhere near that, and then the issues without him will continue to tumble. Guest stars have not worked to save a lagging title since...about 2005, when X-23 lost her luster. At any rate, Spider-Man is here and he hasn't saved sales for a book since 1994. When a series relies on guest stints every issue, it is on last legs. The lack of Opena artwork is also a shame. Frankly, I think Moon Knight would be better off giving a solo a rest to return to some team book, like SECRET AVENGERS.
- THE THANOS IMPERITIVE seems to be quite awesome sounding. The space heroes have to recruit Thanos against the "Cancerverse" on the other side of the Fault because he's the avatar of Death and they are from an undying universe. Sounds like Thanos may come off more layered than Zemo might be over in CA. At any rate, sounds awesome, and I am glad that "DnA" have realized it is time for their big space stars, like Nova and Star-Lord, to man the ship of this event after two years of side-lines. It's like the head coach of the Mavericks figures out his team does better when LaBron and O'Niel play. Who knew, right?
