Showing posts with label variant cover. Show all posts
Showing posts with label variant cover. Show all posts

July 11, 2023

DC Pride: Tim Drake Special # 1 - Meghan Fitzmartin & Belén Ortega

Demelza Carlton asked “are they so pure that they don't eat, drink or have sex, being so perfect that they can't do anything wrong?”. If you think Carlton was talking about superheroes you're basically right although to be more specific the writer was talking about angels. Both superheroes and angels share a lot of in common given the nature of traditional comic book publishers. Sex is always an element that is out of the question and very little in that regard has evolved over the years. 

It’s true that in the 21st century some of the rules that used to govern the comics code authority aren’t as strict as they used to be, but the disappearance of the code hasn't really been as liberating as one would have thought. What we have now is basically a bunch of references that somehow satiate or please the readers: a character will say “hey, look at me, I'm a lesbian” or “hey, look at me, I'm gay”. In general publishers think that by adding a certain amount of LGBT characters they are doing more than enough to support its queer fanbase. but I think there's always so much more that they could do because sex is a part of our lives and sexuality is more complex than just saying “hey, look at me, I'm straight or I'm gay”. 

Belén Ortega

Since the 40s there has always been gossip concerning the relationship between Batman and Robin. In the 50s, Frederic Wertham was a psychiatrist obsessed with destroying comic books, which he saw as a medium that would corrupt America’s youth and turn everyone into underage criminals and/or sexual deviants. Wertham said that Batman and Robin were the ultimate gay male fantasy: a rich older man living together with a young and impressionable boy, sleeping together, going out at night, dressing on, wearing tights and all that. Of course, the complete absence of women in their lives made their friendship a bit suspicious. And sure enough, there is some homoerotic subtext in those early Batman comics, but as we know superhero comics are always devoid of sex. Even if in this fictional universe they could have been attracted to each other there was never the possibility of actually doing anything. Superheroes, like action figures, don’t come with genitals after all. 

Travis Moore

Over the decades much has changed. The original Robin, Dick Grayson, became Nightwing. Then there was the second Robin, Jason Todd, who died at the hands of the Joker (and later resurrected). And then, of course, we have the third Robin, Tim Drake, who was always my favorite, especially because Tim Drake is the only Robin who actually had a choice: we know that Dick and Jason lost their parents, they were orphans. When Bruce Wayne decided to adopt them, they basically had to say yes. There was really not much else they could do to survive in that situation. With Tim Drake is quite different. He was smart enough to figure out Batman's secret identity and he volunteers to replace the fallen Robin. He's the only one that has a choice, his father is alive and loves him and provides him with a comfortable life (until the tragic events of Identity Crisis). Besides Tim Drake is strongly linked to Young Justice, a comic I love and that I always say I should review soon. 

Tim Drake & Bernard Dowd

Evidently, I was very interested in this DC Pride Tim Drake Special which was published a year ago, in June 2022, to celebrate the pride parades all over the US. This comic includes material originally published in Batman: Urban Legends # 4-6 & 10, in 2021. First, “Sum of our parts”, written by Meghan Fitzmartin and illustrated by Belén Ortega, is a story that begins with Tim Drake meeting his high school friend Bernard Dowd, whom he hasn't seen in quite a while. 

According to Brian Rabadeau: “One of Bernard's earliest appearances was in Robin #140 by Bill Willingham, Scott McDaniel, Andy Owens, and Guy Major. In Bernard's early days, he was Tim's cocky friend who Tim enjoyed hanging out with because it gave him a breath of fresh air from his crime-fighting life”, although I have Robin comics from that run I actually haven’t read issue # 140 so I wasn't really familiar with the character of Bernard. It was very interesting to see how a forgotten character from Robin's past is reintroduced as his future love interest. You’re probably asking, wasn’t Robin interested in girls in the past? Well, the solution is quite simple. Instead of coming out as gay, Robin comes out as bisexual and now his new boyfriend is actually going to be Bernard. I enjoyed this first date between Tim and Bernard and, of course, we have the classic supervillains trying to ruin everything and eventually the two boys just fight against them and win. It's a pretty uplifting ending!

Robin & Bernard

“Happy Holidays”, written by Meghan Fitzmartin and illustrated by Alberto Jiménez Alburquerque, revolves around Batman and Robin. According to Rabadeau: “Batman never had a conventional personal life. Many of his relationships have been dysfunctional, to say the least. So it came as a pleasant surprise to fans that Batman approved and admired Tim's relationship with Bernard. In Batman: Urban Legends, Batman admitted he gave up on happiness but assured Tim that he had the right to be happy and that he was glad he found Bernard”. In this story we see a side of Batman that we don't normally see, perhaps a more vulnerable or more human side. Certainly I think it is a great holiday story and it’s very inspiring to see the way Batman approves of Robin's newly discovered bisexuality.

“The Elephant in the Room” (again by Meghan Fitzmartin & Belén Ortega), as the title indicates, is a “major problem or controversial issue that is obviously present but avoided as a subject for discussion”. It's hilarious how in this story we actually have a ghost elephant who wreaks havoc. My favorite moment is a reunion of sorts, which brings together Superboy, Robin and Impulse, the founding members of Young Justice. In Rabadeau’s words “One interesting moment in Bernard's earlier, immature stage occurred when Bernard jokingly implied that Tim was gay because he didn't believe his then girlfriend Stephanie Brown existed”. Stephanie was the heroine Spoiler and she's happy for Tim and Bernard. When the 3 of them finally meet it’s a very sweet moment. You won’t find sex here, but you sure will find tender moments between Tim and Bernard. Special shoutout to Travis Moore for that stunning variant cover! 
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Demelza Carlton preguntó “¿son tan puros que no comen, ni beben ni tienen sexo, siendo tan perfectos que no pueden hacer nada malo?”. Si creéis que Carlton estaba hablando de superhéroes, básicamente tenéis razón, aunque para ser más específicos, la escritora estaba hablando de ángeles. Tanto los superhéroes como los ángeles tienen mucho en común dada la naturaleza de las editoriales tradicionales de cómics. El sexo siempre es un elemento que no se discute y muy poco ha cambiado en ese sentido a lo largo de los años.

100% romance

Es cierto que en el siglo XXI algunas de las reglas que regían la autoridad del código de los cómics no son tan estrictas como solían ser, pero la desaparición del código no ha sido realmente tan liberadora como se hubiera pensado. Lo que tenemos ahora es básicamente un montón de referencias que de alguna manera sacian o complacen a los lectores: un personaje dirá “oye, mírame, soy lesbiana” u “oye, mírame, soy gay”. En general, los editores piensan que al agregar una cierta cantidad de personajes LGBT están haciendo más que suficiente para apoyar a sus fans queer. Pero creo que siempre hay mucho más que podrían hacer porque el sexo es parte de nuestras vidas y la sexualidad es más compleja que simplemente decir “oye, mírame, soy heterosexual o soy gay”.

Desde los 40s siempre huno rumores sobre la relación entre Batman y Robin. En los 50s, Frederic Wertham era un psiquiatra obsesionado con destruir los cómics, a los que consideraba un medio que corrompería a la juventud estadounidense y convertiría a todos en delincuentes menores de edad y/o desviados sexuales. Wertham dijo que Batman y Robin eran la fantasía masculina gay definitiva: un adinerado hombre mayor que vivía con un chiquillo joven e impresionable, dormían juntos, salían de noche, se vestían, usaban mallas y todo eso. Por supuesto, la ausencia total de mujeres en sus vidas hizo que su amistad fuera un poco sospechosa. Y, por supuesto, hay un subtexto homoerótico en esos primeros cómics de Batman, pero como sabemos, los cómics de superhéroes siempre carecen de sexo. Incluso si en este universo ficticio podrían haber sentido atracción el uno por el otro, nunca existió la posibilidad de hacer algo. Después de todo, los superhéroes, como las figuras de acción, no vienen con genitales.

Batman & Robin

A lo largo de las décadas mucho ha cambiado. El Robin original, Dick Grayson, se convirtió en Nightwing. Luego estaba el segundo Robin, Jason Todd, quien murió a manos del Joker (y luego resucitó). Y luego, por supuesto, tenemos al tercer Robin, Tim Drake, quien siempre fue mi favorito, especialmente porque Tim Drake es el único Robin que realmente tuvo una opción: sabemos que Dick y Jason perdieron a sus padres, eran huérfanos. Cuando Bruce Wayne decidió adoptarlos, básicamente tuvieron que decir que sí. Realmente no había mucho más que pudieran hacer para sobrevivir en esa situación. Con Tim Drake es bastante diferente. Fue lo suficientemente inteligente como para descubrir la identidad secreta de Batman y se ofreció como voluntario para reemplazar al Robin caído. Él es el único que tiene elección, su padre está vivo y lo quiere y le brinda una vida cómoda (hasta los trágicos eventos de Identity Crisis). Además Tim Drake está fuertemente ligado a Young Justice, un cómic que me encanta y que siempre digo que debería reseñar pronto.

Evidentemente, estaba muy interesado en este DC Pride Tim Drake Special que se publicó hace un año, en junio del 2022, para celebrar los desfiles del orgullo gay en Estados Unidos. Este cómic incluye material publicado originalmente en Batman: Urban Legends # 4-6 & 10, del 2021. Primero, “La suma de nuestras partes”, escrito por Meghan Fitzmartin e ilustrado por Belén Ortega, es un relato que comienza con Tim Drake saliendo con su amigo de la escuela secundaria Bernard Dowd, a quien no ha visto en bastante tiempo.

Impulse, Superboy, Robin, Spoiler & Batgirl

Según Brian Rabadeau: “Una de las primeras apariciones de Bernard fue en Robin #140 de Bill Willingham, Scott McDaniel, Andy Owens y Guy Major. En los primeros días de Bernard, era el amigo engreído de Tim con quien Tim disfrutaba pasar el rato porque le daba un soplo de aire fresco a su vida de lucha contra el crimen”, aunque tengo cómics de Robin de esa etapa, en realidad no he leído el número 140, así que no estaba muy familiarizado con el personaje de Bernard. Fue muy interesante ver cómo un personaje olvidado del pasado de Robin es reintroducido como su futuro interés amoroso. Probablemente os estéis preguntando, ¿a Robin no le interesaban las chicas en el pasado? Bueno, la solución es bastante simple. En lugar de declararse gay, Robin se declara bisexual y ahora su nuevo novio será Bernard. Disfruté de esta primera cita entre Tim y Bernard y, por supuesto, tenemos a los supervillanos clásicos que intentan arruinarlo todo y, finalmente, los dos chicos luchan contra ellos y ganan. ¡Es un final bastante edificante!

“Felices fiestas”, escrito por Meghan Fitzmartin e ilustrado por Alberto Jiménez Alburquerque, gira en torno a Batman y Robin. Según Rabadeau: “Batman nunca tuvo una vida personal convencional. Muchas de sus relaciones han sido disfuncionales, por decir lo menos. Así que fue una agradable sorpresa para los fans que Batman aprobara y admirara la relación de Tim con Bernard. En Batman: Urban Legends, Batman admitió que renunció a la felicidad, pero le aseguró a Tim que él tenía derecho a ser feliz y que estaba contento de que hubiese encontrado a Bernard”. En esta historia vemos un lado de Batman que normalmente no vemos, quizás un lado más vulnerable o más humano. Ciertamente creo que es una gran historia navideña y es muy inspirador ver la forma en que Batman aprueba la bisexualidad recién descubierta de Robin.

Bernard, Tim & Stephanie

“El elefante en la habitación” (nuevamente por Meghan Fitzmartin y Belén Ortega), como indica el título, es un “problema importante o tema controvertido que obviamente está presente pero que se evita como tema de discusión”. Es gracioso cómo en esta historia tenemos un elefante fantasma que causa estragos. Mi momento favorito es una suerte de reencuentro, que reúne a Superboy, Robin e Impulse, los miembros fundadores de Young Justice. En palabras de Rabadeau, “un momento interesante en la etapa anterior e inmadura de Bernard ocurrió cuando Bernard insinuó en broma que Tim era gay porque no creía que su entonces novia, Stephanie Brown, existiera”. Stephanie fue la heroína Spoiler y está feliz por Tim y Bernard. Cuando los 3 finalmente se encuentran, es un momento muy dulce. No encontrareis sexo aquí, pero seguro que encontrareis momentos tiernos entre Tim y Bernard. ¡Un saludo especial a Travis Moore por esa impresionante portada variante!

July 16, 2016

June Comics / cómics de junio

Unlike previous months, in June I only got a few comics. Doctor Strange and Cinema Purgatorio were quite good. I bought Rebirth # 1 because it was a giant-sized issue with a very low price (which I always appreciate), and some of my favorite artists were in it; I have to admit it was surprisingly satisfactory. However, the best issue of the month was Alan Moore’s Providence # 9. And now, without further ado, here are June comics as per solicitations:  

CINEMA PURGATORIO #2 
(W) Alan Moore & Various (A) Kevin O'Neil & Various (CA) Ignacio Calero. Welcome once again to the theatre of the macabre! Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill are your hosts as the finest creators in all of comics join us in an anthology to end all anthologies. Cinema Purgatorio is the ongoing monthly series which brings together the powerhouse creators to tell stories that only Avatar Press could. These tales claw into your brain and nest there as you attempt to recover from the horrors you've witnessed. Illustrated in stark moody black & white, every page of this series is filled with visions from the minds of your favorite creators. Every issue is perfect-bound, with no ads, and all of the works are very long-form, there are no collections planned before 2018. Jump in now and embrace the new future of comics. The one of which Alan Moore has always dreamed. It's here, now. Hiding in the dark corner. Welcome to Cinema Purgatorio.

DC UNIVERSE REBIRTH #1 
It all begins here. Do not skip to the last page. Do not let a friend or message board ruin this comic for you. The future (and past) of the DC Universe starts here. Don't say we didn't warn you! THEY SAID IT: 'Rebirth is about focusing in on the core of the character and their respective universe,' says writer and DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns. 'It brings back what has been lost, the legacy of the characters, the love and the hope of the DCU!'.

DOCTOR STRANGE #8
(W) Jason Aaron (A/CA) Chris Bachalo. THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC STORY CONTINUES! All of Doctor Strange's magic has been destroyed and our world is on the edge of disaster. What on Earth can Stephen do? Rated T+

PROVIDENCE #9 Pantheon Cvr (MR)
(W) Alan Moore (A/CA) Jacen Burrows. The world of H.P. Lovecraft has begun to invade the mind of Robert Black. His quest began as project to write a book but the more he is exposed to these horrors the closer to the edge of insanity he is pushed. The cracks in the world seem to be widening as he nears some inexplicable crescendo of horror. Alan Moore and artist Jacen Burrows have created the most realized version of Moore's Lovecraftian vision ever published. Fans and classical scholars have flocked to the pages of Providence to decipher the many layers of story being told in this masterpiece. Moore has written every cover detail, every single page, and every nuance of this work to create an unforgettable series. Fans of Moore's immersive style and meticulous grasp of storytelling will be thrilled to add this essential piece of comics history to their collections! Available with Regular, Pantheon, Portrait, Dreamscape Wraparound, Women of HPL, and a special Ancient Tome Incentive cover, all by collaborator Jacen Burrows.
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A diferencia de meses anteriores, en junio hubo poquitos cómics. "Doctor Strange" y "Cinema Purgatorio" me gustaron bastante. Compré "Rebirth" porque era un especial extra grande a un precio bajo (algo que siempre valoro), y algunos de mis artistas favoritos estaban allí; debo admitir que fue sorprendentemente satisfactorio. Sin embargo, el mejor cómic del mes fue "Providence" de Alan Moore. Así que sin más preámbulos los dejo con los cómics de junio:
my drawing / mi dibujo

CINEMA PURGATORIO #2
¡Bienvenidos una vez más al teatro de lo macabro! Alan Moore y Kevin O'Neill serán vuestros anfitriones en esta antología. Estos relatos quedarán grabados en vuestros cerebros y allí anidarán a medida que intentéis recuperaros de los horrores que habéis presenciado. Ilustraciones a blanco y negro, todas las páginas son fieles a la intención de sus creadores.

DC UNIVERSE REBIRTH #1
Todo comienza aquí. El futuro (y el pasado) del Universo DC. No digáis que no os lo advertimos. Así lo dijeron: “REBIRTH se centra en el núcleo del personaje y en su respectivo universo”; y “recupera lo que se ha perdido, el legado de los personajes, el amor y la esperanza del Universo DC”.

DOCTOR STRANGE #8
“Los Últimos Días de la Magia” continúan. Toda la magia del Doctor Extraño ha sido destruida y nuestro mundo está al borde del desastre.

PROVIDENCE #9 (MR)
El mundo de H.P. Lovecraft ha comenzado a invadir la mente de Robert Black. Su viaje comenzó como un proyecto para escribir un libro pero al exponerse cada vez más a los horrores, se ha ido acercando al borde de la locura. Las grietas en el mundo parecen estar aumentando, mientras que el inexplicable terror va en crescendo. Disponible en portadas Regular, Panteón, Retrato, Escenario onírico, Mujeres de Lovecraft, y Tomo Antiguo, todas hechas por Jacen Burrows.

April 23, 2016

March Comics / cómics de marzo

Unlike other months, there were only a few comics in March, but they were good ones. Doctor Strange continues to surprise me; I’ve also been enjoying Paper Girls a lot more than I thought I would. I would consider The Young Protectors as the best comic of the month, but it wasn’t originally published in 2016, so to follow my own rules, I’d say International Iron Man # 1 wins this time. And now without further ado here are March comics as per solicitations:

ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT AVENGERS #6
(W) Mark Waid (A) Mahmud A. Asrar (CA) Alex Ross. The villain pulling the Avengers' strings stands revealed - someone who's been a part of Avengers history for almost all of the team's existence, in a way you've never seen them before! The All-New, All-Different Avengers' first story arc ends here - and you won't guess who's left standing on the last page. Rated T+

DISCIPLINE #1 
(W) Peter Milligan (A/CA) Leandro Fernandez. Between fighting her sister and hating her husband, Melissa still finds time to fall in lust with a stranger who's an awful lot more than he seems. What appears to be a simple seduction is revealed as something much darker and more dangerous. This controversial and erotically-charged tale of sex, death, and metamorphosis begins with an explosion of carnality and weirdness.

DOCTOR STRANGE #6
(W) Jason Aaron (A) Chris Bachalo (CA) Kevin Nowlan. 'THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC' STARTS NOW! The Emperikul have arrived, leaving universes purged of magic in their wake. Their next target? The Marvel Universe. And with Doctor Strange weakened beyond measure? We don't have a chance! Rated T+

HUCK #5 
(W) Mark Millar (A/CA) Rafael Albuquerque. An old grudge leads to deadly threats against Huck and those he holds dear.
my drawing (color version) / mi dibujo (versión a color)

INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN #1 
(W) Brian Michael Bendis (A/CA) Alex Maleev. Who is Tony Stark, really? Since learning that he was adopted as a baby, this question has cast a shadow over Stark's life. Now, it is time to uncover what his legacy truly is, a journey that will carry Tony into new directions as a man and as a super hero. Alongside his strange new quasi-ally Doctor Doom, Iron Man will discover new things about the Marvel Universe he didn't know existed before! A character deconstruction from Bendis and Maleev along the lines of their award-winning DAREDEVIL run! Rated T+

JUPITER'S CIRCLE, VOL. 2 #4 (MR) 
(W) Mark Millar (A) Chris Sprouse (CA) Frank Quitely. A new villain ups the ante with a threat that unites former enemies-and creates new ones.

PAPER GIRLS #2
(W) Brian K. Vaughan (A/CA) Cliff Chang. The hottest new ongoing series of the year continues, as the Paper Girls witness the impossible.

PAPER GIRLS #4
(W) Brian K. Vaughan (A/CA) Cliff Chang. What lurks beneath the streets of Stony Stream?

THE YOUNG PROTECTORS 
The Young Protectors Volume 1: Engaging the Enemy is a multi-chapter superhero comic created by writer Alex Woolfson, penciler Adam DeKraker and colorist Veronica Gandini. 
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A diferencia de otros meses, sólo hubo unos cuantos cómics en marzo, pero valieron la pena. “Doctor Strange” continúa sorprendiéndome; también he estado disfrutando “Paper Girls” mucho más de lo que hubiese imaginado. Considero que el mejor cómic del mes es “The Young Protectors” pero no fue publicado originalmente en el 2016, así que para seguir mis propias reglas, diría que “International Iron Man” gana esta vez. Y ahora, sin mayores preámbulos, aquí están los cómics de marzo:

ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT AVENGERS #6
No podréis imaginar quién queda de pie en la última página.

DISCIPLINE #1
Luego de pelear con su hermana y odiar a su marido, Melissa aun encuentra tiempo para caer en la lujuria con un desconocido que es muchísimo más de lo que parece ser. Una seducción sencilla se revela como algo mucho más oscuro y  peligroso. Este relato polémico y cargado de erotismo, sexo, muerte y metamorfosis comienza con una explosión de carnalidad y rarezas.

DOCTOR STRANGE #6
Estos son los últimos días de la magia. El enemigo ha llegado, tras eliminar la magia en múltiples universos. ¿Su próximo objetivo? La Tierra.

HUCK #5
Un viejo rencor genera amenazas mortales contra HUCK.

INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN #1
¿Quién es TONY STARK, en realidad? Luego de descubrir que fue adoptado, este asunto ha ensombrecido la vida de STARK. Ahora, es el momento de descubrir cuál es su legado; Tony emprenderá un nuevo camino. Junto a DOCTOR DOOM su insólito aliado, IRON MAN descubrirá cosas nuevas sobre su mundo.

JUPITER'S CIRCLE, VOL. 2 #4
Un nuevo villano. Una nueva amenaza unirá a antiguos enemigos.

PAPER GIRLS #2
Serán testigos de lo imposible.

PAPER GIRLS #4
¿Quién está al acecho bajo las calles del pueblo?

THE YOUNG PROTECTORS 
The Young Protectors Volumen 1: Engaging the Enemy. (W) Alex Woolfson, (A/CA) Adam DeKraker, (C) Veronica Gandini.

August 24, 2015

July Comic Books / Cómics de julio

I got a dozen of wonderful comics in July. There were a few first issues that I found fascinating: Waid’s Strange Fruit (good story and impressive art), Vaughan’s We Stand On Guard (which deserves its own review) and Gillen’s Mercury Heat (smart sci-fi plus lots of action scenes). Garth Ennis continues to crack me up with his All Star Section 8, it’s just so much fun. And Airboy also made me laugh out loud, amazing mini by James Robinson. It’s safe to say that in July, the best books come from Avatar, in fact, my favorite comic of the month is Moore’s Providence # 2. And now, without further ado, here are July comics as per solicitations. 

AIRBOY #2 (of 4) (MR) 
(W) James Robinson (A) Greg Hinkle. To be announced.

ALL-STAR SECTION 8 #2 (of 6) 
(W) Garth Ennis (A) John McCrea. It's Green Lantern's turn in the barrel as Sixpack's quest for the eighth Section Eighter continues. But what does GL himself think about all this? Why is Sixpack hearing voices? And can Bueno Excellente really have found love? Find out in part two of the miniseries the creative team themselves are calling an unprecedented masterpiece.

CROSSED PLUS 100 #6 (MR)
(W) Alan Moore (A/CA) Gabriel Andrade. The final issue of the first story arc comes to a dramatic and powerful conclusion! The truth about the Crossed outbreak and the resurgence of the miserable tribe of maniacs is revealed to Future Taylor. Alan Moore's incredible story of the inevitable conclusion to the Crossed outbreak will shock and stun you like no other tale. This multi-layered story delivers a new brand of horror to Crossed fans at the hands of the scribe that redefined the comics medium. All the covers for the series have been planned out by Alan Moore, with the images enriching and expanding on the series. Clues and glimpses of what came before, and what might be, are found throughout the variant covers. Available with Regular, American History X Wraparound, Crossed Culture, Future Tense, as well as Retailer Incentive covers of Red Crossed and Design Sketch. Also, the New World Order Wraparound (Bagged for your safety). Due to all these special protective measures this edition is strictly limited to initial orders. Don't miss out on the ultra-rare CGC Numbered Edition as well!

GRANT MORRISON'S 18 DAYS #1 
From legendary creator Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman, Batman & Robin, The Invisibles), comes the first chapter in his newest creation. 18 Days is the story of three generations of super-warriors, meeting for the final battle of their age, a climactic war that concludes the age of the gods and begins the age of man. 'This is not a Lord of the Rings or a Star Wars where the good guys win because they are right. The good guys in 18 Days are forced to cheat and lie and break rules to win. Although it has fantastic, mythic trappings, this is a very modern story of realpolitik and the failure of ideals in the face of harsh truth.' - Grant Morrison. Main covers by Jeevan Kang and Mukesh Singh. Also available with Cosmic Krishna and Oracle variant covers, each limited to 1,000 copies.

JUPITER'S CIRCLE #4 (MR)
(W) Mark Millar (A) Wilfredo Torres (CA) Frank Quitely. To be announced.

MERCURY HEAT #1
(W) Kieron Gillen (A) Omar Francia. Blasting out of the incredible Free Comic Book Day Mercury Heat Debut comes Kieron Gillen's World-building space epic! This ongoing monthly is pure Gillen, Mercury Heat introduces the sci-fi world of the future where individuals are identified by genetic markers and personality types to fill roles in society, the troublemakers end up on Mercury. Luiza wanted to help people, she wanted with all her heart to be a police officer. But the automated Grapevine system had other plans for her. There are only a few legal options for someone branded with her neuroprofile. As an adult Luiza's dream came true - just on Mercury where she enforces laws with extreme prejudice as a bounty agent in a world of hard-as-nails miners and cyborgs. Available with Regular, Wraparound, Art Nouveau, Excessive Force, and a special Designs Incentive Cover by series artist Omar Francia. This first issue also has a Black Leather cover, limited to just 750 copies!

PROVIDENCE #2 (of 12) Portrait Cvr (MR) 
(W) Alan Moore (A/CA) Jacen Burrows. In this giant-size, ad-free, second issue, Alan Moore's breathtaking epic PROVIDENCE continues to weave a complex tapestry of modern horror. With his artistic partner Jacen Burrows, they lead the main character Robert Black on the first leg of his exploration of the seedy underbelly of America. 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, with all 40 pages written by Moore. 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.

SECRET WARS #1 
(W) Jonathan Hickman (A) Esad Ribic (CA) Alex Ross. 

SILVER SURFER #9
(W) Dan Slott (A) Michael Allred. This is the moment everything changes. • There is no coming back from this. SILVER SURFER VS. GALACTUS! Don't read this comic alone. You're going to need someone close by. Rated T+

STRANGE FRUIT #1 
(W) Mark Waid (A) J. G. Jones. What's to Love: Two of the industry's most respected and prolific creators come together for the first time in a deeply personal passion project. J.G. Jones (52, Wanted, Y: The Last Man) and Mark Waid (Irredeemable, Superman: Birthright, Kingdom Come) take on a powerful, beautifully painted story set during the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Strange Fruit is a challenging, provocative examination of the heroic myth confronting the themes of racism, cultural legacy, and human nature through a literary lens, John Steinbeck's classic novel, Of Mice and Men. What It Is: It's 1927 in the town of Chatterlee, Mississippi, drowned by heavy rains. The Mississippi River is rising, threatening to break open not only the levees, but also the racial and social divisions of this former plantation town. A fiery messenger from the skies heralds the appearance of a being, one that will rip open the tensions in Chatterlee. Savior, or threat? It depends on where you stand. All the while, the waters are still rapidly rising…

WE STAND ON GUARD #1 
SAGA writer BRIAN K. VAUGHAN teams with artistic legend and MATRIX storyboard artist STEVE SKROCE for an action-packed military thriller that will have everyone talking. 100 years from now, a heroic band of Canadian civilians must defend their homeland from invasion...by the United States of America! The hyper-detailed combat between badass freedom fighters and giant f***ing robots begins with a spectacular 40-PAGE FIRST ISSUE for the regular price of just $2.99!

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En julio recibí una docena de maravillosos cómics. Hubo varios primeros números que me parecieron fascinantes: “Strange Fruit” de Waid (buena historia e impresionante arte), “We Stand On Guard” de Vaughan (que merece su propia reseña) y “Mercury Heat” de Gillen (ciencia ficción inteligente y mucha acción). Garth Ennis me ha hecho reír a carcajadas con “All Star Section 8” (divertidísimo). Y “Airboy”, la asombrosa miniserie de James Robinson, también me ha hecho reír una y otra vez. Es justo afirmar que en julio, los mejores títulos vienen de Avatar, de hecho, mi cómic favorito del mes es “Providence” # 2 de Moore. Y ahora, sin más preámbulos, aquí están los cómics de julio.

AIRBOY #2 (of 4) (MR)
(W) James Robinson (A) Greg Hinkle.

ALL STAR SECTION 8 #2 (of 6)
Es el turno de GREEN LANTERN, mientras la búsqueda de SIXPACK continúa. Pero ¿qué es lo que GL piensa sobre esto? ¿Por qué SIXPACK escucha voces? ¿Y podrá Bueno Excelente encontrar el amor? 

CROSSED PLUS 100 #6 (MR)
La dramática y poderosa conclusión del primer arco argumental. Taylor descubre la verdad sobre los infectados y la resurgencia de las miserables tribus de maniáticos. Un relato impactante e increíble.

GRANT MORRISON'S 18 DAYS #1
“18 días” es la historia de tres generaciones de súper-guerreros, reunidos para la batalla final de su era, una guerra que concluirá la edad de los dioses y dará comienzo a la era del hombre. 'Esto no es un Señor de los Anillos o una Guerra de las galaxias, donde los buenos ganan porque tienen razón. Los buenos en “18 días” se ven obligados a engañar y mentir y romper las reglas para ganar. Aunque tiene atavíos fantásticos y míticos, esta es una historia muy moderna sobre la política real y el fracaso de los ideales al ser enfrentados a la dura verdad' - Grant Morrison. 

JUPITER'S CIRCLE #4
(W) Mark Millar (A) Wilfredo Torres (CA) Frank Quitely.

MERCURY HEAT #1
Esta nuevo título nos acerca al mundo de la ciencia ficción en un futuro en el que los individuos se identifican mediante marcadores genéticos y tipos de personalidad para desempeñar sus roles en la sociedad, los alborotadores terminan en Mercurio. LUIZA quería ayudar a la gente, y quería con todo su corazón ser un agente de policía. Pero el sistema automatizado GRAPEVINE tenía otros planes para ella. Sólo hay unas pocas opciones legales para alguien marcada con ese perfil neurológico. En la edad adulta, su sueño se hace realidad - en Mercurio donde ella hace cumplir las leyes con violencia extrema al ser una caza-recompensas en un mundo duro. 

PROVIDENCE #2 (of 12) (MR)
La épica de Alan Moore sigue tejiendo un complejo tapiz de terror moderno, conduciendo al protagonista Robert Black en los primeros pasos de su exploración por el lado sórdido de Estados Unidos. Moore ha diseñado todas las portadas, cada página, y todos los matices de esta obra para hacerle justicia a su visión. No hay anuncios, y todas las 40 páginas están escritas por Moore. Cuidadosamente investigada, meticulosamente producida, esta es una obra maestra secuencial que será tan importante para la nueva generación de escritores de cómics como lo fue Watchmen hace 30 años: se trata de una manifestación definitiva de lo bueno que puede ser un comic book. Disponible con portada regular, Panteón, Retrato, Dreamscape Wraparound, Mujeres de HPL, y una portada especial de tomos antiguos, todas de Jacen Burrows.

SECRET WARS #1
(W) Jonathan Hickman (A) Esad Ribic (CA) Alex Ross.

SILVER SURFER #9
Este es el momento en el que todo cambia. Y no habrá vuelta atrás. El duelo definitivo: SILVER SURFER versus GALACTUS. 

STRANGE FRUIT #1
¿Qué más se puede pedir? Dos de los creadores más respetados y prolíficos de la industria se reúnen por primera vez en un proyecto que los apasiona profundamente. J. G. Jones (“52”, “WANTED”, “Y: THE LAST MAN”) y Mark Waid (“IRREDEEMABLE”, “SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT”, “KINGDOM COME”) narran una poderosa historia, maravillosamente pintada y ambientada durante la gran inundación de Mississippi de 1927. Una examinación retadora y provocativa del mito heroico que enfrenta los temas de racismo, legado cultural y la naturaleza humana a través del lente literario de la novela clásica de John Steinbeck “De ratones y hombres”. Es 1927 en el pueblo de CHATTERLEE, Mississippi, inundado por las fuertes lluvias. El río Mississippi está aumentando, amenazando con romper no sólo los diques, sino también las divisiones raciales y sociales de esta antigua plantación. Un feroz mensajero de los cielos anuncia la aparición de un ser que hará estallar las tensiones en el pueblo. ¿Salvador o amenazador? Depende de dónde está uno parado. Al mismo tiempo, las aguas siguen subiendo rápidamente...

WE STAND ON GUARD #1
100 años en el futuro, una heroica banda de civiles canadienses debe defender a su patria de la invasión... ¡de los Estados Unidos de América! El combate híper-detallado entre los luchadores de la libertad y los robots gigantea comienza con una espectacular primera edición de 40 páginas.

July 12, 2015

June comic books / cómics de junio

There were only 9 comics for me this month. But the good thing is that most of them were absolutely great. Garth Ennis and his All Star Section 8 is the funniest comic I’ve read in 2015, I literally couldn’t stop laughing when I was reading it. On a similar vein, Airboy was also hilarious, and much better than what was expected. And my favorite comic of the month is Crossed Plus Hundred # 5. And now, without further ado, here are June comics as per solicitations. 

AIRBOY #1 (of 4) (MR) 
Worlds and minds explode in a brand-new series! When acclaimed comics author JAMES ROBINSON (Starman, Fantastic Four) is hired to write a reboot of the 1940s action hero Airboy, he's reluctant to do yet another Golden Age reboot. Just what the hell has happened to his career-?! His marriage?! His life?! Hey, it's nothing that a drink can't fix. It's after one such night of debauchery with artist GREG HINKLE that the project really comes into its own. Quite literally. Because Airboy himself appears to set the two depraved comic book creators on the straight and narrow. But is the task too much for our hero?

ALL-STAR SECTION 8 #1 (of 6) 
(W) Garth Ennis (A) John McCrea. The greatest super heroes of all time, unseen since the end of the hit series HITMAN, have returned for the greatest super hero story ever told! Befuddled hero Sixpack returns to Gotham City, desperate to rebuild the all-star team known as Section Eight in the face of a deadly threat. He gathers old friends Bueno Excellente, Baytor and the seemingly reborn Dogwelder, along with some new faces - but he still needs that elusive eighth member. And that's when the Dark Knight Detective gets an offer he can't refuse in part one of this unforgettable six-issue miniseries. 

AUTUMNLANDS TOOTH & CLAW #6
(W) Kurt Busiek (A/CA) Ben Dewey. The (literally) shattering showdown with the Bison Tribes that tears all alliances apart and sends the series in a whole new direction. Finale of the hit series' first arc!

CHRONONAUTS #4 (MR) 
(W) Mark Millar (A/CA) Sean Murphy. MINISERIES CONCLUSION Captured by enemies and robbed of their ability to time travel, Danny and Quinn have created the biggest mess the space-time continuum has ever seen. Now, it's up to them to defeat the bad guys, fix past wrongs, and escape the wrath of their bosses! The finale to this sci-fi buddy adventure features MORE breathtaking Sean Murphy art-with MORE soldiers, MORE dinosaurs, and a conclusion to leave you clamoring for a sequel!

CROSSED PLUS 100 #5 AMERICAN HISTORY X WRAP CVR (MR)
(W) Alan Moore (A/CA) Gabriel Andrade. Future Taylor discovers the shocking truth about the Crossed infection and their evolution. The impossible has occurred and the future holds an ominous and seemingly unstoppable horror from taking root. Alan Moore, the man who revolutionized the comics medium, returns to monthly comics and puts his unique stamp upon the Crossed universe, as he and artist Gabriel Andrade paint a vivid picture of the future 100 years after the outbreak! This multi-layered story delivers a new brand of horror to Crossed fans at the hands of the scribe that redefined the comics medium. All the covers for the series have been planned out by Alan Moore, with the images enriching and expanding on the series. Clues and glimpses of what came before, and what might be, are found throughout the variant covers. Available with Regular, American History X Wraparound, Crossed Culture, Future Tense, as well as Retailer Incentive covers of Red Crossed and Design Sketch. Also, the New World Order Wraparound (Bagged for your safety). Due to all these special protective measures this edition is strictly limited to initial orders. Don't miss out on the ultra-rare CGC Numbered Edition as well!

JUPITER'S CIRCLE #3 (MR) 
(W) Mark Millar (A) Wilfredo Torres (CA) Frank Quitely. Fitz Fenton is part of America's greatest super-team. When he meets a sweet small-town girl on one of his missions, sparks fly-but at what cost? With his family back home and his teammates to contend with, Fitz must choose between a promising new life and the respect of those he holds dear.

NAMELESS #4 (MR) 
(W) Grant Morrison (A/CA) Chris Burnham. The world descends into chaos and the astronauts stranded in the Tunnels of Xibalba must endure unspeakable tortures when their captors finally reveal themselves. As all human hopes, fears, doubts, and dreams are subjected to the cruel and merciless scrutiny of an inhuman, sadistic intelligence, is reality collapsing? Or sanity?

STAR WARS #6 
(W) Jason Aaron (A/CA) John Cassaday. • Luke vs. Boba Fett! Han Solo in hot water! • This is 'the comic book you're looking for!' - Comic Book Resources Rated T Star Wars © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Text and illustrations for Star Wars are © 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #11 (MR) 
(W) Kieron Gillen (A/CA) Jamie McKelvie, Matthew Wilson. The end of Fandemonium. The end of Ragnarock. The end of the arc. The start of something else. Everything's going to be okay.
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Este mes sólo hubo 9 cómics para mí. Pero lo bueno es que casi todos fueron estupendos. Garth Ennis y su All Star Section 8 es el cómic más divertido que he leído en el 2015, literalmente no pude dejar de reírme mientras lo leía. De manera similar, Airboy también fue hilarante, y mucho mejor de lo que había esperado. Y mi cómic favorito del mes es Crossed Plus Hundred # 5. Y ahora, sin mayores preámbulos, aquí están los cómics de junio.

AIRBOY #1 (of 4) (MR)
Cuando el aclamado autor de cómics JAMES ROBINSON (“STARMAN”, “FANTASTIC FOUR”) es contratado para darle un nuevo giro a AIRBOY, héroe de acción de 1940, él es reacio a hacer otro refrito de la Edad de Oro. ¿Qué demonios ha pasado con su carrera? ¿Su matrimonio? ¿Su vida? No es nada que un trago no pueda arreglar. Es después de una de esas noches de libertinaje con el artista GREG HINKLE que el proyecto realmente cobra vida. Literalmente. Porque el mismísimo AIRBOY aparece para guiar por el buen camino a estos dos depravados creadores de cómics. 

ALL STAR SECTION 8 #1 (of 6)
¡Los más grandes superhéroes de todos los tiempos, desaparecidos desde el final de la saga de HITMAN, están de vuelta! El confundido héroe SIXPACK vuelve a GOTHAM CITY, desesperado por reunir al equipo de estrellas conocido como Sección 8. Él reúne a viejos amigos como Bueno Excelente, BAYTOR y el renacido DOGWELDER, junto con algunas caras nuevas –pero todavía necesita a ese octavo miembro esquivo. Y es entonces cuando el Caballero Oscuro recibe una oferta que no podrá rechazar.

AUTUMNLANDS TOOTH & CLAW #6
El destructivo enfrentamiento con las tribus de bisontes.

CHRONONAUTS #4 (MR)
Capturados por los enemigos, los protagonistas pierden su capacidad de viajar en el tiempo, tras haber creado el desastre más grande del continuo espacio-tiempo. Ahora, les toca a ellos derrotar a los malos, corregir los errores del pasado, y escapar de la ira de sus jefes. El final de esta aventura de ciencia ficción os dejará clamando por una secuela.

CROSSED PLUS 100 #5 (MR)
Taylor investiga la evolución de los infectados. Lo imposible ha ocurrido y un ominoso e imparable horror podría sentar raíces en el futuro.  

JUPITER'S CIRCLE #3 (MR)
FITZ FENTON es parte del súper-equipo más grande de Estados Unidos. Cuando conoce a una dulce chica de pueblo en una de sus misiones, las chispas vuelan, pero ¿a qué costo? Con su familia en casa y sus competitivos compañeros de equipo, FITZ debe elegir entre una prometedora nueva vida y el respeto de aquellos a quienes más quiere. 

NAMELESS #4 (MR)
El mundo cae en el caos y los astronautas atrapados en los túneles de XIBALBA deberán soportar terribles torturas cuando sus captores finalmente se presentan. Todas las esperanzas, miedos, dudas y sueños humanos son sometidos al despiadado escrutinio de una inteligencia sádica e inhumana. ¿Colapsará la realidad? ¿Y también la cordura? 

STAR WARS #6
¡Luke versus BOBA FETT! ¡Han Solo en peligro! • STAR WARS © 2015 LUCASFILM Ltd. & TM. Todos los derechos reservados. 

THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #11 (MR)
Es el final de Fan-demonio. El final del RAGNAROCK.

March 11, 2015

February comic books / cómics de febrero

All good things must come to an end”, and in February, after 6 outstanding years, “The Unwritten” comes to an end. I’m glad to say I was there at the beginning, in July 2009, when I bought the first issue. I’ve been a fan of Carey’s series ever since. The last issue of “The Unwritten” is my favorite comic of the month. I also read the conclusion of “MPH”, Millar’s miniseries (and I’ll review it on April). The final chapter of Olympus in Moore’s “Miracleman” was absolutely brilliant. But of course after so many endings there are also new beginnings, in fact, the first issue of Morrison’s “Nameless” was surprisingly good. And now, without further ado, here are February comics as per solicitations:

MIRACLEMAN #15 (MR) 
(W)  The Original Writer (A/CA) John Totleben • The utterance of a single word has unleashed hell on earth. • Johnny Bates has let the Nemesis out. Kid Miracleman is loose. • Smokes rises over London. And nothing will ever be the same. • Miracleman faces Kid Miracleman in the genre-redefining climax of Book Three! • Including material originally presented in MIRACLEMAN (1985) #15, plus bonus content. Mature 

MPH #5 (OF 5) CVR B TOCCHINI 
(W) Mark Millar (A) Duncan Fegredo (CA) Greg Tocchini. Down to the last MPH pills, the gang finds their speed powers running on empty just as the Feds close in. Will they have enough juice to make it through a final showdown? And at last, we learn what makes the mysterious Mr. Springfield so dangerous. MILLAR & FEGREDO dish up an epic finale you'll never see coming! 

NAMELESS #1 (MR) 
(W) Grant Morrison (A/CA) Chris Burnham, Nathan Fairbairn An astronomer kills his family, then himself, leaving a cryptic warning. A Veiled Lady hunts her victims through human nightmares. An occult hustler known only as 'Nameless' is recruited by a consortium of billionaire futurists for a desperate mission. And the malevolent asteroid Xibalba spins closer on a collision course with Earth. But nothing is what it seems-a terrifying inhuman experiment is about to begin. Abandon all hope and experience ultimate horror in NAMELESS. 
my drawing / mi dibujo

STAR WARS #2 
(W) Jason Aaron (A/CA) John Cassaday. THE GREATEST SPACE ADVENTURE OF ALL TIME CONTINUES! • The Rebel assault on Cymoon 1 continues! • Luke Skywalker - cornered by Darth Vader! • Han, Leia, and the others - trapped! 

THE AUTUMNLANDS TOOTH & CLAW #4 (MR) 
(W) Kurt Busiek (A/CA) Ben Dewey. With the Great Champion away, the city is vulnerable to Goodfoot's machinations. 

UNWRITTEN VOL 2 APOCALYPSE #12 (MR) (NOTE PRICE) 
(W) Mike Carey (A) Peter Gross (CA) Yuko Shimizu. FINAL ISSUE 'And I awoke, and found me here...' Wilson Taylor delivers the apocalypse the only way he knows how: at his son Tom's expense. It's the end of the world as we know it. But there's no need to worry because it's just a story. Isn't it? Don't miss the extra-sized conclusion to the fan-favorite Vertigo series! 

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Todo lo bueno debe terminar”, y en febrero, después de 6 soberbios años, “The Unwritten”  llega a su fin. Me alegra decir que estuve allí al principio, en julio de 2009, cuando compré el primer ejemplar. He sido fan del título de Carey desde entonces. El último número de “The Unwritten” es mi cómic favorito del mes. También leí la conclusión de “MPH”, la miniserie de Millar (que será reseñada en abril). El capítulo final de Olimpo, en el Miracleman de Moore fue realmente brillante. Pero, desde luego, después de tantos finales también hay nuevos comienzos, de hecho, el primer número de “Nameless” de Morrison fue sorprendentemente bueno. Y ahora, sin más preámbulos, aquí están los cómics de febrero:

MIRACLEMAN #15 (MR)
MIRACLEMAN (1985) #15. Y material adicional.

MPH #5
Cuando las píldoras de MPH están por acabarse, la pandilla descubre que sus poderes han desaparecido y que los del FBI les pisan los talones. ¿Tendrán suficiente fuerza para una última fuga?  
NAMELESS #1 (MR)
Un astrónomo mata su familia, y luego a sí mismo, y deja una advertencia críptica. Una dama de velo caza a sus víctimas a través de las pesadillas. Un ocultista prostituto conocido sólo como Sin Nombre es reclutado por un consorcio de billonarios futuristas para una misión desesperada. Y el malévolo asteroide XIBALBA se acerca a un curso de colisión con la Tierra.

STAR WARS #2
El ataque de la Rebelión continúa. LUKE SKYWALKER es acorralado por DARTH VADER. HAN, LEIA, y los otros, están atrapados.

TOOTH & CLAW #4 (MR)
Con el Gran Campeón alejado, la ciudad es vulnerable. 

UNWRITTEN VOL 2 APOCALYPSE #12 (MR)
“Y cuando desperté, me encontraba aquí”. Wilson Taylor desatará el apocalipsis como solamente él sabe hacerlo. A expensas de su hijo Tom. Es el fin del mundo tal como lo conocemos. Último número de la aclamada serie.

February 25, 2015

January Comic Books / Cómics de enero

It doesn’t matter if it’s 2015 or 1988, Alan Moore continues to be the best writer of the medium. Miracleman is getting better issue after issue, and Crossed Plus One Hundred # 2 was the best comic of the month. As a general rule I never buy Star Wars comics, but as a general rule I always buy everything John Cassaday does, so I read January’s best selling title (over 800,000 units, breaking every sales record of the past 2 decades) and it sure was a lot of fun. Jupiter’s Legacy, The Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw, and The Wicked + The Divine were quite good. And now, without further ado, here are January comics as per solicitations:

CROSSED PLUS 100 #2 FUTURE TENSE CVR (MR) 
(W) Alan Moore (A/CA) Gabriel Andrade. Writer:  Alan Moore Covers and Art: Gabriel Andrade  Alan Moore places his unique stamp upon the Crossed universe, as he and artist Gabriel Andrade paint a vivid picture of the future 100 years after the outbreak!  Future Taylor leads a salvage team that is exploring the ruins of Tennessee. She tries to piece together the past, while they gather supplies for the future.  Together with the settlement of Chooga, they take the tentative steps of a new generation as they attempt to understand the horror that nearly wiped out the human race.  But disturbing threads emerge, some sightings of Crossed occur, and a century-old mystery begins to be revealed.   This multi-layered story delivers a new brand of horror to Crossed fans at the hands of the scribe that redefined the comics medium.  Enter Alan Moore's world of grueling survival with Crossed +100.    This masterwork is a self-contained whole new world, no prior knowledge of the Crossed series is needed.  All the covers for the series have been planned out by Alan Moore, with the images enriching and expanding on the series.  Clues and glimpses of what came before, and what might be, are found throughout the variant covers.  American History X Wraparound - Each of these will depict a specific time in the past hundred years, showing how things have changed and offering a peek at some key events.  Each cover will display the year in which it takes place to help build the full picture.  Crossed Culture  - These are all images of how the Crossed have changed the way they live.  With few humans left to hunt,  and the animal kingdom thriving with predators, even the thrill-driven Crossed have had to make adjustments to their lifestyle.  Future Tense - Each cover is a homage to a famous work of science fiction, and each of those original works ties into themes of this series.  New World Order Wraparound - These are not for the faint of heart or delicate of constitution.  We can't even picture them in this catalog, they are visions of what an ideal all-Crossed world would be.  If the madmen have their dreams come true, what would the everyday life look like® These covers are brutally intense images of true horror and may have scenes of torture, depravity, and nudity. These are clearly for adults only.  Each copy of this edition will ship in a sealed polybag with a protective slip cover over the actual image to assure it can be racked in stores.  The graphic pictured here is the slip cover only.  Due to all these special protective measures this edition is strictly limited to initial orders.  Also available with  Retailer Incentive covers of Red Crossed and Design Sketch, showing the original works of series artist Gabriel Andrade.  Don't miss out on the ultra-rare CGC Numbered Edition as well! 

JUPITERS LEGACY #5 CVR A QUITELY (RES) (MR) 
(W) Mark Millar (A/CA) Frank Quitely. Meet BARNABAS WOLFE-a former supervillain with Sherlock Holmesian instincts who hunts heroes for the U.S. government. While Brandon and Uncle Walter struggle with their utopian vision for America, Chloe and family live under the radar in Australia. But their peaceful lives are about to explode when the authorities find suspicious super-activity down under and send their #1 weapon to investigate. The generation gap is about to reach the next level as Millar and Quitely bring their epic to a head! 

MIRACLEMAN #14 (MR) 
(W)  The Original Writer (A/CA) John Totleben • Miracleman and Miraclewoman return to Earth as Olympus' pantheon grows! • Weeks old, Baby Winter decides it's time that she and her father discuss her future. • The Firedrake that brought Miracleman's makers to Earth is discovered! • With his family gone, Michael Moran faces a somber decision. • Johnny Bates utters four short syllables that will shatter the world. • Including material originally presented in MIRACLEMAN (1985) #14, plus bonus content. Mature  

MIRACLEMAN ANNUAL #1 
(W/A)  Various (CA)  TBD • Joe Quesada illustrates Grant Morrison's lost Miracleman story, a disturbing confrontation prior to the Battle of London • Peter Milligan and Mike Allred reunite for a new Miracleman classic! • Plus bonus material! Parental Advisory

SANDMAN TP VOL 08 WORLDS END NEW ED (MR) 
In this new edition collecting THE SANDMAN #51-56, two wayward compatriots trapped in a 'reality storm' are entertained by myths of sea creatures, dreaming cities, ancient kings, funerals and moralistic hangmen.

STAR WARS #1 
(W) Jason Aaron (A/CA) John Cassaday THE GREATEST SPACE ADVENTURE OF ALL TIME RETURNS TO MARVEL! Luke Skywalker and the ragtag band of rebels fighting against the Galactic Empire are fresh off their biggest victory yet-the destruction of the massive battle station known as the Death Star. But the Empire's not toppled yet! Join Luke along with Princess Leia, smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca, droids C-3PO and R2-D2 and the rest of the Rebel Alliance as they strike out for freedom against the evil forces of Darth Vader and his master, the Emperor. Written by Jason Aaron (Original Sin, Thor: God of Thunder) and with art by John Cassaday (Astonishing X-Men, Uncanny Avengers), this is the Star Wars saga as only Marvel Comics could make it! Rated T 

TOOTH & CLAW #3 CVR B ROSS (MR) 
(W) Kurt Busiek (A) Ben Dewey (CA) Alex Ross. Enter: Goodfoot the Sly. Is she here to help the wizards...or herself? [Hint: herself.] 

WICKED & DIVINE #7 (MR) 
(W) Kieron Gillen (A) Jamie McKelvie, Matthew Wilson (CA) Matthew Wilson, Jamie McKelvie. Last year, before The Recurrence, fans gathered from their distant worlds at RAGNAROCK to wonder whether the gods were really about to return or not. Now, as the next RAGNAROCK approaches, everyone knows things are different. What's more, there are two gods still to emerge. Will anyone there get 'lucky?' Look at us whistle, shuffle feet, and avoid eye contact. 
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No importa si estamos en el 2015 o en 1988, Alan Moore sigue siendo el mejor escritor. Miracleman sigue mejorando con cada número, y Crossed Plus One Hundred # 2 fue el mejor cómic del mes. Como regla general nunca compro cómics de Star Wars, pero como regla general siempre compro todo lo que hace John Cassaday, así que leí el título más vendido de enero (más de 800,000 ejemplares, rompiendo así todos los records de venta de las últimas 2 décadas), y fue muy entretenido. Jupiter’s Legacy, The Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw, y The Wicked + The Divine estuvieron bastante bien. Y ahora, sin más preámbulos, aquí están los cómics de enero:

CROSSED PLUS 100 #2 FUTURE TENSE CVR (MR)
Taylor está a cargo de un equipo de salvamiento que explora las ruinas de Tennessee. Ella trata de ensamblar las piezas del pasado, mientras recolecta provisiones para el futuro. Junto a un asentamiento, toman los pasos tentativos de una nueva generación mientras intentan entender el horror que casi exterminó a la raza humana. Pero las amenazas surgen, los infectados han sido vistos, y un misterio de más de un siglo empieza a ser revelado.  

JUPITERS LEGACY #5
Conoced a Wolfe, un ex-villano con instintos detectivescos que caza héroes para el gobierno de Estados Unidos. Brandon y Walter discuten su visión utópica para la nación; y mientras tanto, las autoridades descubren actividades súper-humanas sospechosas en Australia.

MIRACLEMAN #14 (MR)
MIRACLEMAN (1985) #14. Y material adicional.

MIRACLEMAN ANNUAL #1
La perturbadora confrontación antes de la batalla de Londres.

SANDMAN TP VOL 08 WORLDS END NEW ED (MR)
THE SANDMAN #51-56. Neil Gaiman et al.

STAR WARS #1
LUKE SKYWALKER y un grupo de rebeldes pelean contra el Imperio Galáctico, tras haber destruido la gigantesca estación de batalla conocida como la Estrella de la Muerte. Pero el Imperio aún no está derrotado.  

TOOTH & CLAW #3 CVR B ROSS (MR)
Aparece un nuevo personaje, pero ¿ayudará a los hechiceros? 

WICKED & DIVINE #7 (MR)
El último año, antes de la Recurrencia, fans de los mundos más distantes se reunieron en RAGNAROCK para preguntarse si los dioses estaban realmente a punto de regresar. Ahora que se aproxima el próximo RAGNAROCK, todos saben que las cosas han cambiado. Además, aún falta que emerjan dos dioses. ¿Alguno de ellos tendrá suerte?