A Descent into Dullness

Shorted at my shop again. This time on the new Empowered one-shot. Now I have to wait a week, maybe two for them to get me a copy. This is growing..annoying. I really don't want to have to scan the upcoming month or two's releases just to make sure I can remain loyal to my chosen store and still get the book I want...

I'm also a bit disappointed by Knights of the Dinner Table again. Other than a nice bit involving Nitro trying to get his daughter into gaming the various strips mostly feel like they're meandering and not advancing the major plot lines...

And a final bit of disappointment in that Annihilators turns out to be a 4-issue mini, meaning only one story arc for both half-books. Though I have to say the Skottie Young cover with Groot and Rocket Raccoon is just crazy sweet...

( No seriously, look at that )

I'd have more to say about the events in Scalped and the Unwritten but I'm too distracted by those stupid mini-comic ads for the "Super 8" movie. I actually have some interest in the movie, but those damn things are such a giant story break to all the books they've been shoved into...

Savage Dragon continues to follow Malcolm Dragon, with this issue also featuring new villain Thunderhead, son of Skullface...

For some reason Thunderbolts is split between two pencilers this month. Can't say I care much for the pages by Declan Shalvey. Or maybe its his inks. Otherwise you've still got the A team at the haunted castle while the B team is being recruited...

Heroes for Hire continues with a Spider-Man guest spot. Making me wonder if he's switches back and forth between his classic red & blues and his new FF whites. And Spidey foes, the Sinister Six show up in Avengers Academy. Can't say I think much of the redesigns for Doc Ock and Electro. And villain Sandman is just so bland...

Darkwing Duck and company bring an end to the threat of Duckthulu. But at what cost? Also nice "Days of Future Past" parody/homage cover...

The Li'l Depressed Boy finishes up its first arc and makes sure that LDB continues to have a reason for his name...

And finally we've got KoDT Black Hands 2011 Special. With Pete's old west/fantasy mash-up running into the brick wall of the tactical role-player...

A fairly heavy haul to start off a new month with over a half-dozen titles from my pull coming in. Starting with a Man-Thing centered issue of Thunderbolts with a guest appearance by sorceress Jennifer Kale who is looking to spring her old friend from the super-slammer...

Then we've got the first issue of Annihilators where the proto-team meets with a potential new member in the Space Knight Ikon. Whose timing is good since an old threat re-emerges. Also included is a "Rocket Raccoon & Groot" back-up, wonderfully drawn by Timothy Green II...

More Abnett and Lanning on Heroes for Hire with this issue concentrating on the captive Misty Knight and the VR-dreamscape the Puppetmaster is keeping her in...

And then some Avengers Academy with a brief look at some of the kids' super-hero classes, followed by a trip to Stamford...

Still Marvel, but their Icon imprint with the next Incognito: Bad Influences. Where Zak continues to try and infiltrate his old life but keeps having problems because of the whole no-longer-a-sociopath thing. Like not being able to enjoy a simple pit fight involving drugged out and cybered-up toddlers...

The Secret Six actually start a story arc thats not connected to another series. With a visit back to a certain mystic card from the first arc of the current volume...

And then a Darkwing Duck annual. First a Quackerjack tale of dolls, MMORPGs and redemption. And then a brief tale of time travel and turtles...

Finally a new issue of the Tick, with the titular hero opening a pet-sitting service for super-heroes. Which includes a pet dinosaur named Scary Chicken. And a super-caprybara named Cap'n Bara. I love Benito Cereno's gift for names...