May comic books / cómics de mayo

May is always one of my favorite months, and I think it is because I get free comics. I’m talking, of course, about Free Comic Book Day, and now, for third year in a row, my favorite was 2000AD, with 48 thrilling pages plus free digital comics, this certainly has been the most generous offering of the season. Another great FCBD title was Mercury Heat, I’ll certainly be reading the next issue in a month or so. And I loved Alex Ross cover for Secret Wars! Jupiter’s Circle continues to impress me, but perhaps the biggest surprise this time was All-New X-Men #40, an issue that made it into the headlines of every comic news website, the reason? Bobby Drake, AKA Iceman, founding member of the X-Men, admits that he’s gay, we owe this wonderful coming-out-of-the-closet issue to Brian Michael Bendis. Finally, the best issue of the month was Alan Moore’s Providence. And now, without further ado, here are May comics as per solicitations:

ALL-NEW X-MEN #40 
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) MAHMUD ASRAR (A) ANDREA SORRENTINO (CA) Who are the Utopians? And what secret do they hold that pertains to the future of mutantkind? The All-New X-Men may regret finding out!

CHRONONAUTS #3 (MR)
(W) Mark Millar (A/CA) Sean Murphy. From ancient Rome to the roaring twenties to the 1980s music scene, Corbin and Danny-the world's first time travelers-continue to wreak havoc with the time-stream, and get into more hijinks with some of history's most notorious figures! And it's all happening while the world-and their bosses-are watching! 

FCBD 2015 SECRET WARS #1 
Prepare yourself for the final days of the Marvel Universe as you know it as the march to the biggest comic event of the year continues! From the ashes of a decimated cosmos rises…Battleworld! Amid the strange, patchwork realm, refugees from thousands of obliterated universes struggle for survival. Even if they can endure the horrors of Battleworld - the home they knew has been destroyed! Time has run out, and the opening salvo of Secret Wars has been fired. But can anything restore the Marvel Universe that once was?

FCBD 2015 2000 AD SPECIAL
The galaxy's greatest Eisner-nominated SF anthology returns to Free Comic Book Day with a 48 page zarjaz line-up of stories. In Through the Out Door, a brand new story from Matt Smith and Norm Breyfogle, Judge Dredd uses the iron fist of the law to settle a block dispute; in 3000 AD some jobs are murder, as proved by The Traveller from Mick McMahon; galactic frontiersman Ajax Bloodthirsty meets his match on the astronomical object of oblivion known as the Death Rock in a new tale from Ben Willsher and Barry Krishna; the Grand Master of Termight is sickened to find that his final resting place has been defiled by the legendary alien freedom fighter, Nemesis the Warlock in Tomb of Torquemada by Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill; wizened master of the occult, Doctor Sin returns to pass on his mantle (and battle a demon) in Don't Call It A Comeback by Rob Williams and Luca Pizzari; pilot of the future, Dan Dare, discovers an alien satellite in Star Slayer by Dave Gibbons and Gerry-Finley Day; Celtic warrior Sláine acquaints more enemies with his axe in A Simple Killing by Pat Mills and Simon Davis; Judge Dredd upholds the law in some classic Dredd newspaper strips by John Wagner, Alan Grant and Ron Smith; and Prepare your mind to be melted by Tharg's Alien Invasions from supreme craz-o-naut Henry Flint. If this wasn't enough each strip comes with a FREE digital story attached!

FCBD 2015 LADY JUSTICE  
Back in print for the first time in two decades! Lady Justice FCBD edition reprints issue #1 of Neil Gaiman's lost comics classic.

FCBD 2015 LEGENDARY COMICS SAMPLER 
Working with industry-leading talent such as Grant Morrison, Frazer Irving, Matt Wagner, Simon Bisley, Judd Winick, Geoff Shaw, Jonathan Hennessey and Shane Davis, we've created an ever-growing library of thrilling sagas including Annihilator, Epochalypse, A Town Called Dragon, The Harvester, The Tower Chronicles: DreadStalker and more, alongside cinematic tie-ins such as Godzilla: Awakeningand the best-selling Pacific Rim: Tales from Year Zero. Join us this Free Comic Book Day as we unveil an exclusive first look at the exciting next chapter of Legendary Comics.

FCBD 2015 MERCURY HEAT DEBUT (MR) 
Kieron Gillen blasts into Free Comic Book Day with an exclusive preview introduction to his all-new sci-fi series, Mercury Heat! Over the last few years, Gillen's work has gained a massive following from titles like Uber, The Wicked and the Divine, and Iron Man. Now Gillen takes you to Mercury, a slow turning planet where you can outrun the sunrise. Along with the blistering heat it brings. This is the new frontier of space, where humanity's insatiable need for energy is being fueled by Mercury. It's a tough environment and it attracts a rough crowd. So Luiza is bringing her own heat as a cop on Mercury, since she's just a bit too intense to be one on Earth. This special issue features the first chapter of this ongoing saga, a special introduction to the World of Mercury Heat, and a look at the ships, designs, and making of this epic. The future is here with this primer and first chapter of 2015's biggest sci-fi title!

INVINCIBLE #111 (MR) 
(W) Robert Kirkman (A/CA) Ryan Ottley. THE WALKING DEAD CREATOR ROBERT KIRKMAN WRITES INVINCIBLE!!! A new beginning for INVINCIBLE as things take a turn down a dark path. Everything changes as Invincible is betrayed by one of his own. You won't want to miss this explosive issue #1... 1... 1! It packs the punch of THREE relaunched number one issues! IN ONE BOOK!

JUPITER'S CIRCLE #2 (MR)
(W) Mark Millar (A) Wilfredo Torres (CA) Frank Quitely. It's 1958 America, and Dr. Richard Conrad is a superhero and celebrated surgeon...with another identity that he struggles to keep hidden from his trusted teammates. When the director of the FBI threatens to reveal his secret, Richard is forced to make an impossible decision, all while his team battles to keep the world safe.

PROVIDENCE #1 (of 12) (MR)
(W) Alan Moore (A/CA) Jacen Burrows. The most important work of 2015 begins here with the long-awaited arrival of Alan Moore's breathtaking epic PROVIDENCE with his artistic partner Jacen Burrows. In his most carefully considered work in decades, Moore deconstructs all of Lovecraft's concepts, reinventing the entirety of his work inside a painstakingly researched framework of American history. Both sequel and prequel to NEONOMICON, PROVIDENCE begins in 1919 and blends the mythical visions of HPL flawlessly into the cauldron of racial and sexual intolerance that defined that era on the East Coast of America. Every line from artist Jacen Burrows is perfectly honed to complete this immersive experience. The result is a breathtaking masterpiece of sequential art that will define modern horror for this generation. Invoking a comparison it to a prior literary masterpiece is not something to be handled lightly, but in scope, importance and execution: Providence is the Watchmen of horror. Moore has designed every cover, every single page, and every nuance of this work to create his most fully-realized vision to date. There are no ads, all 32 pages are written by Moore, and Jacen Burrows has spent the past two years slaving over the finest detail possible on the pages. The entire work is already written, intricately crafted to tie the most nuanced threads together over the breadth of the series. Painstakingly researched, meticulously produced, this is a sequential masterpiece that will serve as important a call to the next generation of comic book writers as Watchmen did 30 years ago: this is a definitive demonstration of just how good a comic book can be. Available with Regular, Pantheon, Portrait, Dreamscape Wraparound, Women of HPL, and a special Ancient Tome Incentive cover, all by collaborator Jacen Burrows.

SANDMAN OVERTURE #5 (MR) 
(W) Neil Gaiman (A/CA) J. H. Williams. The fate of the entire universe hangs in the balance when Dream finally gets his mother's full attention. Magic, joy, war and heartbreak are brought to life on the pages with epic luminosity in the penultimate issue of THE SANDMAN: OVERTURE. This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

STAR WARS #4
(W) Jason Aaron (A/CA) John Cassaday. THE GREATEST SPACE ADVENTURE OF ALL TIME CONTINUES! • Luke Skywalker is NOT a Jedi-not yet, at least. • He's only ever met one Jedi in his life...and he died. • So, Luke's quest leads him back to Obi-Wan's hut...on Tatooine. Rated T Star Wars © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Text and illustrations for Star Wars are © 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

STAR WARS #5
(W) Jason Aaron (A/CA) John Cassaday. • The Empire is rounding up fugitive Alderaanians... • ...that doesn't sit well with their Princess. • But what can one woman do against an Empire?

THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #10 (MR) 
(W) Kieron Gillen (A/CA) Jamie McKelvie, Matthew Wilson. Ragnarock is finally here. The show to end all shows promises to be a lovely experience for all the gods... wait. Oh noes! Jamie and Matt have drawn Baphomet drenched in blood on the cover. What a hilarious internal communication error. I'm sure it's a mistake and nothing to do with the story whatsoever.
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Mayo es siempre uno de mis meses favoritos, y creo que es porque recibo cómics gratis. Estoy hablando, por supuesto, del Free Comic Book Day, y ahora, por tercer año consecutivo, mi favorito ha sido “2000AD”, con 48 emocionantes páginas y además cómics digitales gratuitos, sin duda este ha sido el ofrecimiento más generoso de la temporada. Otro gran título del FCBD es “Mercury Heat”, de todas maneras leeré el próximo número en un mes, más o menos. ¡Y me encantó la portada de Alex Ross para “Secret Wars”! “Jupiter’s Circle” continúa asombrándome, pero tal vez la mayor sorpresa en esta ocasión fue All-New X-Men #40, un número que apareció en los titulares de todas las páginas web de cómics, ¿la razón? Bobby Drake, también conocido como Iceman, miembro fundador de los X-Men, admite que es gay, le debemos esta tremenda salida del closet a Brian Michael Bendis. Por último, el mejor número del mes fue “Providence” de Alan Moore. Y ahora, sin más preámbulos, aquí están los cómics de mayo:

ALL-NEW X-MEN #40 
¿Quiénes son los Utópicos? ¿Y cuál es su secreto? 

CHRONONAUTS #3 (MR)
Desde la antigua Roma hasta los vibrantes años 20, pasando por la escena musical ochentera, los primeros viajeros temporales continúan causando desastres en la corriente temporal, y se meten en problemas con algunas de las más notorias figuras históricas. Y eso no es todo.

FCBD 2015 SECRET WARS #1
De las cenizas de un cosmos diezmado se alza… Mundo-Batalla. En este extraño reino, refugiados de miles de universos aniquilados luchan para sobrevivir. El tiempo se acaba, y la primera ráfaga de las Guerras Secretas ha sido disparada. Pero, ¿podrá el universo ser restaurado?

FCBD 2015 2000 AD SPECIAL
JUDGE DREDD de Matt Smith y Norm Breyfogle, THE TRAVELLER de Mike McMahon, AJAX BLOODTHIRSTY de Ben Willsher and Barry Krishna, NEMESIS THE WARLOCK de Pat Mills y Kevin O'Neill, DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK de Rob Williams y Luca Pizzari, DAN DARE de Gerry-Finley Day y Dave Gibbons, SLÁINE de Pat Mills y Simon Davis, más JUDGE DREDD de John Wagner, Alan Grant y Ron Smith, y THARG'S ALIEN INVASIONS de Henry Flint.

FCBD 2015 LADY JUSTICE  
El clásico perdido de Neil Gaiman. 

FCBD 2015 LEGENDARY COMICS SAMPLER
ANNIHILATOR, EPOCHALYPSE, A TOWN CALLED DRAGON, THE HARVESTER, THE TOWER CHRONICLES: DREADSTALKER y más obras de Grant Morrison, Frazer Irving, Matt Wagner, Simon Bisley, Judd Winick, etc.

FCBD 2015 MERCURY HEAT DEBUT (MR)
Mercurio, un planeta que gira lentamente, donde no puedes dejar atrás al atardecer. Junto con el intenso calor. Esta es la nueva frontera del espacio, donde Mercurio satisface la insaciable necesidad de energía de la humanidad. Es un ambiente duro y atrae a hombres rudos. LUIZA es policía en Mercurio, porque es demasiado feroz para serlo en la Tierra.

INVINCIBLE #111 (MR)
Un nuevo comienzo: las cosas dan un vuelco hacia un camino oscuro. Todo cambia cuando INVINCIBLE es traicionado por uno de los suyos. 

JUPITER'S CIRCLE #2 (MR)
Estados Unidos. 1958. El doctor Richard es un superhéroe y un afamado cirujano… pero tiene otra identidad que debe ser ocultada a sus colegas. Cuando el director del FBI amenaza con revelar su secreto, Richard se ve obligado a tomar una imposible decisión sin pensar en sus camaradas.

my drawing (color version) / mi dibujo (versión a color)

PROVIDENCE #1 (of 12) (MR)
Deconstrucción de los conceptos de H.P. Lovecraft, reinventando su obra a lo largo de una historia de los Estados Unidos meticulosamente investigada. Todo empieza en 1919, al combinar las míticas visiones de H.P. con un escenario de intolerancia racial y sexual que definieron una era. 

SANDMAN OVERTURE #5 (MR)
El destino de todo el universo pende de una balanza. Sueño finalmente recibe toda la atención de su madre. Magia, alegría y guerra son llevados a la vida en las luminosas páginas de este penúltimo capítulo. 

STAR WARS #4
LUKE SKYWALKER aún no es un JEDI. Sólo ha conocido a un JEDI en su vida. La búsqueda de Luke lo llevará al hogar de OBI-WAN en TATOOINE.

STAR WARS #5
El Imperio está capturando a los fugitivos de Aldebarán… y eso no le gusta a la Princesa. Pero, ¿cómo puede ella enfrentarse al Imperio? 

THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #10
El RAGNAROCK finalmente está aquí. El show definitivo que promete ser una experiencia adorable para todos los dioses… esperad. Oh no. Han dibujado a BAPHOMET todo ensangrentado en la portada. Qué hilarante error interno de comunicación. Seguramente es un error y no afecta la historia.

May comic books / cómics de mayo

It happens every year. My favorite FCBD book comes from Rebellion: it’s 2000AD. Am I losing impartiality? Is it because I grew up reading old 2000AD progs? I don’t know, the thing is that 2000AD FCBD 2014 was the best of the bunch. Epic (from Comix Tribe), however, was surprisingly good. May has also been a month for back issues, a chance to catch up on some of the All New Marvel Now series (the best has been Loki Agent of Asgard # 1, what an unforgettable first issue!). Certainly, Jason Aaron continues to surprise me with some of the best comics I've read lately: Thor God of Thunder and Wolverine & the X-Men. Both brilliant! Of  course, Miracleman continues to amaze me, and Mark Millar’s universe is still the best place to go. Starlight was terrific but if I had to choose my favorite comic book of the month the award would be a tie between MPH # 1 and 2000AD. A veritable British thrills overload! And now, without further ado, here are May comic books as per solicitations:

ALL NEW INVADERS #2 
(W) James Robinson (A) Steve Pugh (CA) Mukesh Singh 'GODS AND SOLDIERS' PART TWO • Eisner Award winner James Robinson (STARMAN, EARTH 2) returns to MARVEL, uniting with Steve Pugh (ANIMAL MAN, HOTWIRE, GEN-X') to create a unique new take on the INVADERS • As the ORIGINAL HUMAN TORCH decides to rejoin the human race, he and his fellow INVADERS face the savage fury of Kree's ultimate hunter, TANALTH THE PURSUER! How can they beat a threat that seems unbeatable? • Learn the long-forgotten secret Invaders' mission -- involving dead heroes, Nazis and Norse Gods! • And what is the desperate measure the Invaders decide to save their teammate NAMOR from the clutches of the SUPREME INTELLIGENCE? 

FCBD 2014 2000 AD SPECIAL (Net)  Item Code: JAN140046
(W) John Wagner & Various (A) Ronald Smith & Various. The Galaxy's Greatest SF anthology returns to FCBD with this stellar line-up of stories! Dredd races to save a fellow Judge in "The Badge" from Matt Smith & Chris Burnham; Sláine stars in "Lord of the Beasts" by Pat Mills & Rafael Garres; Rogue Trooper recounts his bloody past in "Glass Zone" by Gerry Finley-Day & Dave Gibbons; and Psi-Judge Anderson faces a magical monstrosity in "Golem" by Alan Grant & Enric Romero! Plus: D.I. Harry Absalom (by Gordon Rennie & Tiernen Trevallion), Durham Red (by Leah Moore, John Reppion & Jan Duursema), Future Shock (by Henry Flint), and classic Dredd newspaper strips by John Wagner & Ron Smith! 

FCBD 2014 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY Item Code: JAN140009
(W) Brian Michael Bendis (A) Nick Bradshaw (CA) Sara Pichelli. In an all-new story by award-winning writer Brian Michael Bendis and acclaimed artist Nick Bradshaw, the Guardians of the Galaxy welcome Venom and Captain Marvel to the team for the launch of a not-to-be-missed death-defying epic! PLUS: Writer Dan Slott lays the foundation for 2014's top secret Spider-Man event that will rock the Wall Crawler's world forever! 

FCBD 2014 EPIC #0 Item Code: JAN140028
(W) Tyler James (A) Matt Zolman, Fico Ossio (CA) Fico Ossio. After a freak experiment gives teenager Eric Ardor incredible powers, he does what you would do...he puts on a costume and becomes EPIC! Super strength, speed, flight, optic blasts...it's a fanboy's dream come true. Unfortunately, he's just discovered he has one weakness...pretty girls! While most boys his age lose their cool around the hotties, EPIC loses his powers! Living in Miami, home to the zaniest super-villains AND the most bikinis per capita in America, it's gonna be a problem... Not a dinky preview or a unfulfilling teaser, this is a super-sized, action packed, 32-page pilot issue of your new favorite super hero book...for FREE! Get it on May 3, and then grab the first issue of the new EPIC ongoing series the following Wednesday at your local comic shop!

FCBD 2014 MOUSE GUARD LABYRINTH RUST HC  Item Code: JAN140024
(W/A) David Petersen & Various (CA) David Petersen. When Archaia released their first hardcover FCBD offering two years ago, it was a rousing success with fans and retailers alike. Now they're doing it again! Readers will get original, all-ages content from a powerhouse lineup of Archaia creators. Plus, the debut of FARSCAPE comics under the Archaia imprint!

FCBD 2014 ATOMIC ROBO & FRIENDS Item Code: JAN140047
(W) Brian Clevinger, Jay P. Fosgitt (A) Jay P. Fosgitt, Scott Wegener (CA) Scott Wegener. Unanimously heralded by fans, creators, retailers and critics as the perfect first comic to give to a non-comic-reader. ATOMIC ROBO has defeated the greatest foes of the last century, but his latest discovery has reduced him to a mere play thing for the Yonkers Devil. Plus, an all-new adventure from mischievously-lovable BODIE TROLL and previews of 2014 Red 5 favorites and new faces. 

FF #16 
(W) Matt Fraction, Lee Allred (A/CA) Mike Allred FINAL ISSUE! - 'For All We Have And Are' • The final showdown. The last FF member standing, Scott Lang goes up against Dr. Doom alone -- and everyone knows the Ant can't. The smackdown of the century. •Plus an extra ten page bonus of F4/FF goodness co-written by Karl Kesel and the Allreds. 

LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #1 
(W) Al Ewing (A) Lee Garbett (CA) Jenny Frison Old God - New Trickster! Kid Loki's all grown up - and the God of Mischief is stronger, smarter, sexier and just plain sneakier than ever before. As Asgardia's one-man secret service, he's ready to lie, cheat, steal, bluff and snog his way through the twistiest, turniest and most treacherous missions the All-Mother can throw at him... starting with a heart-stopping heist on Avengers Tower - and the death of Thor! And that's just the beginning! Would we lie to you? This is LOKI, true believer - we're lying to you RIGHT NOW! 

MIRACLEMAN #5 ROSS VAR 
(W)  TBD (A) Garry Leach, Alan Davis (CA) Alex Ross • Book Two: The Red King Syndrome begins! • The twisted genius who created Miracleman initiates a long-held plan that threatens Miracleman's family. • The origins of Dr. Emil Gargunza his Project Zarathustra are revealed. • Issue #5 includes material originally presented in WARRIOR #12-15, plus bonus material.  

MIRACLEMAN #6 
(W)  TBD (A) Garry Leach, Alan Davis (CA) Alan Davis • Book Two: The Red King Syndrome begins! • The twisted genius who created Miracleman initiates a long-held plan that threatens Miracleman's family. • The origins of Dr. Emil Gargunza his Project Zarathustra are revealed. • Issue #6 includes material originally presented in WARRIOR #16-18, plus bonus material 

MPH #1 (OF 5) CVR A FEGREDO 
(W) Mark Millar (A) Duncan Fegredo (CA) Duncan Fregredo. STORY: MARK MILLAR ART / COVER A: DUNCAN FEGREDO COLORS: PETER DOHERTY. The all-new Millarworld Universe kicks into high gear with the launch of Millar and Fegredo's fast and furious miniseries. When a group of hard-luck teens in Motor City stumble upon a street drug called MPH, they gain the power of super speed. Will they use it to save the world? Hell no! Not when there's dolla, dolla bills to be had, y'all. A high-octane urban adventure, MPH brings you super speed like you've never seen before! This launch features a variant cover by Jock, a blank cover variant, and a special series of linked cover variants by Fegredo showcasing the book's cast. 

SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING TP BOOK 06 (MR) 
(W) Alan Moore (A) Rick Veitch, Stephen R. Bissette (CA) John Totleben- This hardcover collection of issues #57-64 of SWAMP THING begins across the galaxy, where the Swamp Thing's consciousness has been hurled. Trying to find his way back to Earth, Swamp Thing stops over on Thanagar, home of Hawkman; Rann, home of Adam Strange; and encounters the Green Lantern of a world of sentient plants. 

SILVER SURFER #2 
(W) Dan Slott (A) Michael Allred, Michael Allred • Who is the NEVER QUEEN? How is the entire future of the Marvel Universe tied into her very existence? And why is she trying to DESTROY the Silver Surfer?! • Are these questions important? Sure. But you know what's just as important? Lunch. Because what Earth girl Dawn Greenwood has for lunch today could change the fate of EVERYTHING! • Not kidding here. This is a very important lunch. 

STARLIGHT #3 CVR A PARLOV (MR) 
(W) Mark Millar (A/CA) Goran Parlov. STORY: MARK MILLAR ART / COVER A: GORAN PARLOV  Duke and his young companion begin their first adventure together! To the people of Tantalus, Duke is a hero and savior. Now, he's their last chance to vanquish the new menace that has invaded the peace-loving world he left behind. But four decades have passed: Duke's not the young man he once was, and the enemy he faces is more powerful than anything he faced in the good old days. The stakes are raised, and the weight of Duke's own conscience might be his heaviest burden yet! 

THOR GOD OF THUNDER #17
(W) Jason Aaron (A) Ron Garney, Emanuela Lupacchino (CA) Esad Ribic. THE GRAND FINALE OF THE ACCURSED! Thor's desperate tour of the Nine Realms brings him to Midgard, to Earth, where he makes his final stand against Malekith and the dark forces of the Wild Hunt. But what has become of Thor's newest compatriots, the League of Realms? Who stands revealed as the traitor in their midst? And what bloody victory has Malekith already won? 

THOR GOD OF THUNDER #19.NOW 
(W) Jason Aaron (A/CA) Esad Ribic. THE LAST DAYS OF MIDGARD begin NOW! Thor, Asgardian God of Thunder, has always fought to save his adopted home of Earth. But who can he fight when the planet itself is dying? Thor's mortal ally and environmental secret agent Roz Solomon has a few ideas. Namely the world's largest and most nefarious energy company Roxxon, and its ruthless new CEO known as 'The Minotaur.' Has the God of Thunder finally met his match, in the form of a multinational super-corporation? Meanwhile, many millennia ahead, a future version of Thor faces a very different battle to save what remains of the earth--a battle against the greatest villain the Marvel Universe has ever known-Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds! 

UNWRITTEN VOL 2 APOCALYPSE #5 (MR) 
(W) Mike Carey (A) Peter Gross (CA) Yuko Shimizu. This single-issue story interlude, 'When Rabbit Howls' stars reader-favorite character Pauly Bruckner. Sometimes it's hard to be a man - especially if all your recent experience is of being a rabbit. Pauly is back, and having his wishes come true may be just the start of his problems.  

WAKE #6 (OF 10) (MR) 
(W) Scott Snyder (A) Sean Murphy (CA) Andrew Robinson 'My name is Leeward, and this is where my story begins...' Our story jumps two hundred years into a flooded future where nothing is the same. The second half of THE WAKE starts here! 

WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #40 
(W) Jason Aaron (A) Pepe Larraz (CA) Nick Bradshaw • Battle of the Atom is over -- but the battle for the future of mutankind has just begun! • For months, S.H.I.E.L.D. has had designs on the Jean Grey school -- now they make their presence known! • All this, and Cyclops vs. Wolverine as Jason Aaron (THOR) and Pepe Larraz (ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN) bring you the action! 

WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #42 
(W) Jason Aaron (A) Pepe Larraz, Nick Bradshaw (CA) Nick Bradshaw SCHOOL'S OUT FOREVER! FINAL ISSUES! • It's the end of the year for the Jean Grey school - but where do our graduates go from here? And who will have survived the experience?! • Jason Aaron, Pepe Larraz & Nick Bradshaw bring the story of the Jean Grey school to a close! 

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Pasa cada año. Mi cómic favorito del Día del Cómic Gratuito es de Rebellion: 2000AD. ¿Estoy perdiendo imparcialidad? ¿O es porque crecí leyendo viejas historias de 2000AD? No lo sé, lo cierto es que el FCBD de 2014 de 2000AD fue el mejor. Epic (de Comix Tribe), no obstante, fue sorprendentemente bueno. Mayo también fue un mes de números atrasados, una oportunidad para ponerme al día con algunas de las nuevas series de Marvel (lo mejor ha sido Loki Agent of Asgard # 1, ¡un primer número inolvidable!). Ciertamente Jason Aaron continúa sorprendiéndome con algunos de los mejores cómics que he leído últimamente: "Thor God of Thunder" y "Wolverine & the X-Men". ¡Ambos brillantes! Desde luego, Miracleman continúa asombrándome, y el universo de Mark Millar sigue siendo el mejor destino para nuestras visitas. Starlight fue estupendo pero si tuviera que elegir el mejor cómic del mes, el premio sería un empate entre MPH # 1 y 2000AD. Una verdadera sobrecarga de emoción inglesa. Y ahora, sin mayores preámbulos, ahí van los cómics de mayo: 

ALL NEW INVADERS #2
La Antorcha Humana original decide volver a unirse con la raza humana, mientras que los Invasores se enfrentan a la furia salvaje de TANALTH, el Perseguidor, un cazador KREE. ¿Podrán vencerlo?

FCBD 2014 2000 AD SPECIAL (Net)
La más grande antología de ciencia ficción siempre con autores estelares.

FCBD 2014 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY
Llegan dos nuevos integrantes al equipo de los Guardianes.

FCBD 2014 EPIC #0
Luego de que un extraño experimento le confiere al adolescente Erik Ardor increíbles poderes, él hace lo que vosotros haríais… se pone un uniforme y se convierte en EPIC. Súper fuerza, velocidad, vuelo, rayos ópticos… es un sueño hecho realidad. Desafortunadamente, descubre que tiene una debilidad: las chicas lindas. Mientras la mayoría de los chicos pierde la calma alrededor las más atractivas, EPIC pierde sus poderes. Vivir en Miami, el lugar con más súper-villanos peligrosos y más chicas en bikini per cápita de Estados Unidos, será un gran problema.

FCBD 2014 MOUSE GUARD LABYRINTH RUST HC
Antología con las mejores historias para público de todas las edades.

FCBD 2014 ATOMIC ROBO & FRIENDS
ATOMIC ROBO ha derrotado a los más grandes villanos del siglo pasado, pero su último descubrimiento lo ha reducido a un mero juguete.

FF #16
FINAL ISSUE. ‘Por todo lo que tenemos y lo que somos’. El enfrentamiento final. El último integrante en pie de los FF, Scott Lang, deberá enfrentarse solo a DR. DOOM. Y todos saben que no lo logrará.

LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #1
KID LOKI ha crecido – el dios de los engaños es más fuerte, más astuto, más tramposo y más sexy que nunca. Como único integrante del Servicio Secreto de Asgard, está preparado para mentir, hacer trampa, robar y estafar en las misiones más enredadas, retorcidas y traicioneras que pueda encontrar. Empezando con un asalto a la Torre de los Vengadores.

MIRACLEMAN #5
Comienza el síndrome del rey rojo.

MIRACLEMAN #6
Se revelan los orígenes del proyecto y el genio retorcido que lo creó todo. 

MPH #1 (OF 5)
Cuando un grupo de adolescentes pobretones en Motor City encuentran una droga llamada MPH, ganan el poder de la súper velocidad. ¿Lo usarán para salvar el mundo? ¡Que no, joder! No cuando hay dólares de por medio. Una aventura urbana de alto octanaje y de velocidad nunca antes vista.

SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING TP BOOK 06 (MR)
SWAMP THING #57-64, por Alan Moore, Rick Veitch y Alfredo Alcalá.

SILVER SURFER #2
¿Quién es la Reina Nunca? ¿Cómo el futuro del universo está ligado a su existencia? ¿Y por qué ella está intentando destruir a SILVER SURFER? ¿Son estas preguntas importantes? Vaya que sí. 

STARLIGHT #3 CVR A PARLOV (MR)
DUKE y su joven acompañante dan inicio a su primera aventura. Para la gente de Tántalo, DUKE es un héroe y un salvador. Ahora él es su última posibilidad para vencer a la amenaza que ha invadido al mundo amante de la paz que él dejó atrás. Pero han pasado 4 décadas. DUKE ya no es el joven que alguna vez fue, y el enemigo al que se enfrenta es más poderoso que cualquier otro. Los dados están echados.

THOR GOD OF THUNDER #17
El desesperado recorrido de Thor por los Nueve Reinos lo llevará a la Tierra, en donde se enfrentará contra MALEKITH y las fuerzas oscuras de la Cacería Salvaje. Pero ¿qué ha sucedido con los nuevos compatriotas de Thor, la Liga de los Reinos? ¿Quién es el traidor? ¿Y cuál es el triunfo de MALEKITH?

THOR GOD OF THUNDER #19.NOW
Thor, dios del trueno y heredero de Asgard, siempre luchó por salvar a la Tierra, su planeta adoptivo. Pero, ¿contra quién puede pelear cuando el planeta está muriendo? Solomon, el mortal aliado de Thor y agente secreto medioambiental tiene algunas ideas. Y el blanco será la nefasta compañía energética ROXXON, y su cruel CEO conocido como ‘el Minotauro’. ¿El dios del trueno podrá derrotar a una súper-corporación multinacional?

UNWRITTEN VOL 2 APOCALYPSE #5 (MR)
A veces es difícil ser un hombre, especialmente si tu experiencia más reciente consiste en ser un conejo.  

WAKE #6 (OF 10) (MR)
Otra historia comienza aquí, luego de dar un salto de 200 años hacia un futuro en el que todo ha cambiado.

WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #40
La batalla por el átomo ha terminado, pero la batalla por el futuro de los mutantes acaba de empezar. Durante meses, S.H.I.E.L.D. ha estado conspirando contra la Escuela Jean Grey y ahora su presencia se hará notar.

WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #42
FINAL ISSUE. Es fin de año para la Escuela Jean Grey, pero ¿a dónde irán los que se gradúen? ¿Y quiénes sobrevivirán la experiencia?

May comic books / cómics de mayo

I love good gifts and I love good comics, and Free Comic Book Day is the perfect combination of all of that. Each year I eagerly await the arrival of May comics and the first thing I read are FCBD titles. The 48 page 2000AD FCBD was awesome, “full of thrills” as the English say. And IDW’s reprints of old Judge Dredd stories were delightful. I was also surprised by the high level of quality (story and art wise) of the two Prince Valiant tales selected by Fantagraphics. After a two years hiatus I picked up again a Marvel FCBD (due to the online speculation that suggested that this had something to do with Marvelman / Miracleman) but I wasn’t particularly impressed by it.

My two favorite comics of the month are Jupiter’s Legacy and Young Avengers, which I’ll be reviewing promptly. FF continues to be a great Marvel series, and The Unwritten managed to surprise me again. This month the eccentric Witch Doctor Mal Practice comes to an end, and the promising Suicide Risk begins (proving, once again, that Mike Carey really knows how to capture the reader’s attention). Thanks to Amazon and MidtownComics offers I got a bundle of trade paperbacks and hardcovers that I’m still reading, but they all look amazing. So, without further ado, here are May comics as per solicitations:

DOOM PATROL TP VOL 01 CRAWLING FROM THE WRECKAGE (MR) 
(W) Grant Morrison (A) Doug Braithwaite, Richard Case (CA) Brian Bolland. This new printing of the first collection of Grant Morrison's DOOM PATROL run includes issues #19 - 25 of the series, including the restoration of three story pages omitted from the original printing. Plus, a new cover by Bolland. 

FASHION BEAST #9 WRAP CVR (MR)
(W) Alan Moore (A/CA) Facundo Percio. Writer: Alan Moore Cover & Art:  Facundo Percio  Alan Moore's visionary tale reveals the truth and horror behind the lavish trappings of Celestine's fashion empire.  As the world teeters on the verge of self-destruction, and Doll witnesses the final moments of her benefactor, a choice must be made.  And Doll does the unthinkable by proclaiming who the phoenix of Celestine's empire will be…  The end is near and the choices made will either spell the salvation of it or usher in its utter ruin.   

FCBD 2000 AD SPEC 
(W) John Wagner & Various (A) Henry Flint & Various (CA) Henry Flint. Home of Judge Dredd, 2000 AD is the UK's award-winning weekly SF anthology comic. In  this bumper 48-page FCBD special, The Jimps Club is a brand new Judge Dredd story about a club of Judge impersonators compete against each other to see who can last the longest on the harsh streets of the 'Big Meg'. They've got being a Judge down to a fine art, nailed the mannerisms and the stance, but all it takes is one mistake for Dredd to spot an imposter...; Zombo returns in the all-new Planetronix: Mohawk Of Menace! - the failed government(TM) robot defense force Planetronix (TM) are on a mission to just say NO to DRUGS! But when Yellow Lion (TM) starts getting into insidious punk rock music, Zombo has to intervene; plus thrill-pounding action from The Visible Man, dimensional instability issues for Indigo Prime and dubious thermo-nuclear advice from alien delinquents DR & Quinch. Item Code: JAN130045

FCBD JUDGE DREDD CLASSICS 
Publisher: IDEA & DESIGN WORKS LLC. (W) John Howard, Joe Collins (A/CA) Brian Bolland. In advance of IDW's coming ongoing series re-presenting the best Judge Dredd stories from the past with all-new coloring, this special FCBD release offers one of the most beloved Dredd stories of all time: the introduction of Judge Death, with all-new color! Plus: bonus "Walter the Wobot" strips appearing in color for the very first time, all beautifully illustrated by the brilliant Brian Bolland! Item Code: JAN130036

FCBD FANTAGRAPHICS PRINCE VALIANT 
Publisher: FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS. (W/A/CA) Hal Foster. This full-color comic collects two Prince Valiant stories from Hal Foster's 1950 peak: "Home Again," in which Val, Aleta, and newborn baby Prince Arn enjoy an eventful ocean journey back to Thule, and "The Challenge," in which another knight's unwelcome advances on Aleta result in a classic duel with Valiant. Item Code: JAN130032

FCBD 2013 MARVEL GOLD INFINITY (Net)
(W) Jonathan Hickman (A/CA) Jim Cheung
JAN130009 $0.00

my drawing: from pencils to inks /
mi dibujo: del lápiz a la tinta

FCBD WALKING DEAD SPECIAL (Net) (MR)
Publisher: IMAGE COMICS (W) Robert Kirkman (A) Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn (CA) Charlie Adlard. This special Walking Dead issue contains a new Tyrese short story, who made his television debut in The Walking Dead Season 3! It also reprints short stories featuring Michonne, The Governor and Morgan. This special issue is a must-have for Walking Dead fans--none of these stories will be reprinted in the trade paperbacks!Item Code: JAN130008

FF #6 
(W) Matt Fraction (A/CA) Mike Allred. Darla vs Yancy Street! ‘ NUFF SAID!

FF #7
(W) Matt Fraction (A/CA) Mike Allred. Field trip…into the heart of the Negative Zone! Scott Lang has already lost a daughter… watch what happens when he puts it all on the line to save… Bentley-23?

JUPITERS LEGACY #1 CVR A QUITELY (MR) 
(W) Mark Millar (A/CA) Frank Quitely. The comic-book event of 2013 finally arrives as superstar creators MARK MILLER and FRANK QUIETLY give us the superhero epic that all future comics will be measured by. The world's greatest heroes have grown old and their legacy is a poisonous one to the children who will never live up to their remarkable parents. Unmissable. 

MORNING GLORIES #26 (MR)
(W) Nick Spencer (A) Joe Eisma (CA) Rodin Esquejo. 'THE WAITING GAME'-Season 2 of the smash hit series begins here, with a special, full-sized, impossibly priced $1 prelude - the perfect jumping-on point for collection readers looking to move to single issues!  

SUICIDE RISK #1 
(W) Mike Carey (A)  TBD (CA) Tommy Lee Edwards. Author(s): Mike Carey Artist(s): TBD Cover Artist(s): A: Tommy Lee Edwards  Heroes are dying, and cops are dying twofold. Humanity is underpowered in the face of their onslaught, and people are suffering untold casualties trying to stem the flow. After barely surviving a super-powered bank heist gone horribly wrong, beat cop Leo Winters vowed to try and find a way to stop them. Following a lead, he discovered two lowlifes who seemed to be able to grant a person powers...for the right price.  Thing is: you don't get to choose which power. It's seemingly random, a crap-shoot, a risk.  Will Leo decide to take that risk? And why is it that even the heroes in this world eventually break…bad? 

UNWRITTEN #48 (MR)
(W) Mike Carey (A) Peter Gross (CA) Yuko Shimizu. In part 2 of 'Orpheus in the Underworld,' Tom's quest for Lizzie has hit a major hurdle, in that he no longer remembers who either of them is. But is it possible he's already found her without even realizing it? And who holds the true power in Hades, where masks may hide anything-or nothing? 

WALKING DEAD #110 (MR)
(W) Robert Kirkman (A/CA) Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn. story ROBERT KIRKMAN art / cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN  Ezekiel vs. Michonne? 

WITCH DOCTOR MALPRACTICE #6 (OF 6)
(W) Brandon Seifert (A/CA) Lukas Ketner, Andy Troy. This is it: Doc Morrow's last stand against the forces making his life hell! If Morrow and his allies fail here, all of Arkham, Oregon will suffer! Too bad he screws it up. Oops: SPOILERS!  'Drips with retro-gore fun' - Paste Magazine 

YOUNG AVENGERS #4 NOW
(W) Kieron Gillen (A/CA) Jamie McKelvie. Kate Bishop finally turns up! A lovely day trip to Central Park for a group of cheery youngsters. LIES! It's not lovely as they're being pursued by bad guys and it's not a day trip as (er) it's at night. A shameless retcon into Marvel Boy's history! 
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Me encantan los buenos regalos y los buenos cómics, y el día del cómic gratis (FCBD en inglés) es la combinación perfecta de todo eso. Cada año espero con impaciencia la llegada de los cómics de mayo, y lo primero que hago es leer los títulos del FCBD. Las 48 páginas de 2000AD fueron extraordinarias, "llenas de emociones" como dirían los ingleses. Y las reimpresiones de IDW de las viejas historias de Judge Dredd fueron una exquisitez. También quedé sorprendido por el alto nivel de calidad (narrativo y artístico) de los dos relatos del Príncipe Valiente seleccionados por Fantagraphics. Después de un hiato de dos años volví a elegir el FCBD de Marvel (debido a la especulación en internet que sugería que tendría algo que ver con Marvelman / Miracleman) pero no quedé particularmente impresionado.

Mis dos cómics favoritos del mes son "Jupiter’s Legacy" y "Young Avengers", ambos serán reseñados pronto. "FF" continúa siendo una grandiosa serie Marvel, y "The Unwritten" se las arregló para sorprenderme otra vez. Este mes el excéntrico "Witch Doctor Mal Practice" llega a su fin, y empieza el prometedor "Suicide Risk" (demostrando, una vez más, que Mike Carey realmente sabe cómo capturar la atención del lector). Gracias a las ofertas de Amazon y MidtownComics conseguí un montón de tomos que aún estoy leyendo, y que se ven asombrosos. Así que, sin más preámbulos, aquí van los cómics de mayo:

DOOM PATROL TP VOL 01
Por Grant Morrison, Doug Braithwaite y Richard Case. Portada de Brian Bolland. Incluye los números 19 a 25 de esta colección. 

FASHION BEAST #9 WRAP CVR (MR)
Se revelan el horror y la verdad detrás del imperio de la moda. Mientras el mundo está al borde de la autodestrucción, el benefactor de DOLL llega a sus momentos finales. Y DOLL hace lo imposible al proclamar quién será el fénix del imperio de CELESTINE. El fin está cerca y estas decisiones salvarán o arruinarán todo. 

FCBD 2000 AD SPEC
(W) John Wagner et al (A) Henry Flint et al (CA) Henry Flint.

FCBD JUDGE DREDD CLASSICS
(W) John Howard, Joe Collins (A/CA) Brian Bolland.

FCBD FANTAGRAPHICS PRINCE VALIANT
Clásicas historias del Príncipe Valiente de Hal Foster.

FCBD 2013 MARVEL GOLD CLASSIFIED (Net)
Jonathan Hickman & Jim Cheung.

FCBD WALKING DEAD SPECIAL (Net) (MR)
Historias breves e inéditas sobre varios personajes protagónicos.

FF #6
Darla versus Yancy Street.

FF #7
Día de campo, en el corazón de la Zona Negativa. 

JUPITERS LEGACY #1
Un relato épico sobre los más grandes héroes del mundo que han envejecido y sobre su legado venenoso, sus hijos que nunca estarán a la altura de sus gloriosos progenitores. 

KICK-ASS 3 #1 (OF 8) (MR)
HIT-GIRL está en prisión, y ahora la primera misión de KICK-ASS será escapar tanto de la policía como de los criminales. Por primera vez, Dave está teniendo dudas. ¿Podrá solucionar este gran conflicto? 

MORNING GLORIES #26
“El juego de la espera”. 

SUICIDE RISK #1
Los héroes están muriendo, los policías también. La humanidad está impotente frente a la masacre. Luego de sobrevivir, con las justas, a un robo de banco, el golpeado policía Leo ha hecho un juramento. Siguiendo una pista, encuentra a dos rufianes que parecen ser capaces de otorgar poderes a una persona... por el precio correcto. La cosa es que los poderes no se pueden elegir. Es todo al azar y, por tanto, un riesgo. ¿Se arriesgará Leo? ¿Y por qué los héroes de este mundo, eventualmente, se corrompen? 

UNWRITTEN #48 (MR)
En la segunda parte de "Orfeo en el inframundo" Tom busca a su amada pero tropieza con un obstáculo, no recuerde quién es ella ni quién es él. ¿Es posible que ya la haya encontrado sin darse cuenta? ¿Y quién tiene el verdadero poder en el Hades, donde las máscaras lo ocultan todo? 

WALKING DEAD #110 (MR)
¿Ezequiel versus MICHONNE? 

WITCH DOCTOR: MAL PRACTICE #6 (of 6)
Esta es la batalla definitiva del doctor Morrow contra las fuerzas infernales. Si Morrow y sus aliados fallan aquí, todos sufrirán.

YOUNG AVENGERS #4 
Por fin aparece Kate. Un bonito paseo diurno por Central Park con un grupo de simpáticos jovencitos. Mentira, no es bonito, son perseguidos por villanos y tampoco es un paseo diurno, es de noche. 

Free Comic Book Day Lima ICPNA / FCBD 2011

Comic book conventions and Free Comic Book Days have always been activities that I would have considered unviable here in Lima, Peru. However, I’m glad to know that I can still get surprised. And indeed, today hundreds of Peruvian fans went to the first FCBD in Lima, an event organized by Peru21, and in this momentous occasion, they even prepared a very special FCBD edition, namely the Avengers special from FCBD 2009. As a curiosity I’m posting an image of the actual original issue (which I purchased through DCBS a couple of years ago) and the Peruvian edition. Do you notice any difference? I'm sure you do and I’m glad to see that production values have been high on this one, so that this South-American version can be slightly better than the US original.

I’ve also visited the Larco Herrera Museum. In the aptly named "erotic room" you can find the works of the Incas predecessors. This is quite a unique and absolutely astonishing work in ceramics that even after a few centuries still looks beautiful. Enjoy.

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El jueves en la noche fui a la presentación de joyería de Vicky Ugarte en Dédalo, conversé un buen rato con un grupo de españoles que, por esas coincidencias de la vida, resultaron ser fanáticos de los cómics. También hablé con Saúl Peña Kolenkautsky, con María Elena Fernández y, sobre todo, con Eduardo Lores, mientras nos tomábamos un pisco exquisito, puro.  

 
Hace poco, aprovechando que tenía que ir a la Católica para acelerar los trámites de mi tesis, pasé por el museo Larco Herrera. Esta es la segunda vez que visito la muestra de huacos eróticos; la verdad es que me ha gustado tanto que estaría dispuesto a ir una tercera vez.
Y, finalmente, hoy fui al primer Día del Cómic Book Gratuito (FCBD, por sus siglas en inglés), organizado por Perú21. Había muchísima más gente de lo que hubiese esperado, a ver si para el próximo año realizan este evento en un espacio más grande. En todo caso, lo mejor del día fue recibir, efectivamente, un cómic gratuito: el Avengers publicado por Marvel para el FCBD de mayo de 2009. Como curiosidad estoy adjuntando la edición original que adquirí vía DCBS hace un par de años.