6 Books You CANNOT Miss!!!

This is a good week for comic-book aficionados! I mean, sure 52 is raging along, and Warren Ellis’ next volume of Black Gas begins, but there are 6 books that you DO NOT want to miss, or you’ll be kicking yourself in the head and scrambling to find them further down the line, and probably at outrageous prices!!! Surprisingly these aren’t Indie books; they belong to the big two! So without further ado, let’s jump right into this week’s Hit List!

GIANT-SIZE HULK # 1
COVER BY: RYAN SOOK
WRITER: PETER DAVID
GREG PAK
PENCILS: JUAN SANTA CRUZ
PUBLISHED BY: MARVEL

THE STORY:
What is the untold story of the battle between one of the strangest superhero teams in the Marvel Universe and the engine of destruction known as the Incredible Hulk? See ol’ Purple Pants go toe-to-toe with Angel, Ice-Man, Ghost Rider, The Black Widow and Hercules in a story that holds a key to Post-PLANET HULK events! By legendary Hulk scribe Peter David and Juan Santacruz.
PLUS! A PLANET HULK INTERLUDE! Bruce Banner makes his first appearance on Planet Sakaar — and battles the Hulk for his body and soul! What secret is the Hulk hiding? What terrible truth does Banner reveal? And who will triumph in this ultimate showdown? By Greg Pak and Aaron Lopresti.
Also: Re-presenting the outstanding INCREDIBLE HULK: THE END by Peter David and Dale Keown.

First up we have Giant Size Hulk #1. With Civil War rampant in the Marvel U, the first hero to be a victim of it was the green skinned goliath. Tony “The Manipulator” Stark shot poor Bruce Banner into the stratosphere and beyond in an effort to finally put a nail in the Hulk’s coffin. Little did he know that Hulk was going to crash land on some distant planet where there is a gladiatorial contest going on and pretty much destrou everyone that got in his way! But the real reason to pick up this book is for the back up story, it was the first Marvel: The End story with Hulk: The End by Peter David and Dale “where the hell are you?” Keown. In this story we see what is left at the end of the universe, cockroaches, and Mr. Greenskin, The Incredible Hulk! The first time I saw this book I neglected to pick it up and boy was I sorry for it, and without spoiling anything, this is the way the Hulk is going out, if he can! So if you see it, grab it, read it, and love it!



ETERNALS # 1
COVER BY: RICK BERRY
WRITER: NEIL GAIMAN
PENCILS: JOHN ROMITA JR.
COLORED BY: MATT HOLLINGSWORTH

THE STORY:
"ID"
You are thousands of years old. You have amazing powers. You have watched civilizations rise and fall-- so why does no one remember any of this? Bestselling Author Neil Gaiman (Marvel: 1602, Anansi Boys, Sandman) is joined by superstar artist John Romita Jr. (Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine) to bring you the eagerly-awaited event of 2006—ETERNALS!! Ike Harris has dreams of adventures, love affairs and betrayals, but no one involved remembers or believes him. And who is trying to kill him to keep him from talking about it?

Next up, The Eternals. What can I say, I have a soft spot for Neil Gaiman, I mean, he’s the man! He kicked McFarlane’s ass and reminded him why Image was formed in the first place when he took him on for Miracle Man, but I digress. Gaiman is a storyteller’s storyteller, he is a rare breed of writer that can interweave philosophy and literature into comics, and I don’t care what anyone says, Gaiman is better than Alan Moore! The Eternals are an old concept that hardly anyone knows about, unless you are a hardcore Marvel Zombie. Gaiman’s Sandman was THE best comic ever published, and in that series he toyed with tales of forgotten gods, which is exactly what the Eternals are. Add John Romita Jr.’s art, and you know this is gonna rock like a virgin on prom night! Gaiman is going to screw with your head, and make you re-think the Marvel Universe like he did on 1602. Make Mine Marvel!!!

THE FLASH: FASTEST MAN ALIVE #1
Written by Paul DeMeo and Danny Bilson;
Art and cover by Ken Lashley;
Variant cover by Andy Kubert and Joe Kubert
Published by: DC Comics

The Flash is back. And in this landmark issue written by Paul DeMeo and Danny Bilson — creators of the groundbreaking TV series The Flash — and illustrated by Ken Lashley (LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, Age of Apocalypse), one of the biggest questions of 2006 is answered: Who will wear the ring?

INFINITE CRISIS aimed a mortal blow at the legacy of the Fastest Man Alive — but what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger! Be here for a historic chapter in the legacy of The Flash!

It’s a D.C. book and I’m getting it! I picked up Wonder Woman #1 and was pleasantly surprised with the story and the art, and this issue should be no different. There’s only one reason to get this book however…the question that has been on everyone’s mind since the end of Infinite Crisis…who will wear the ring? My guess…Bart Allen!

ALL-STAR SUPERMAN #4
Written by Grant Morrison
Art and Cover by Frank Quitely
Published by: DC Comics

“Jimmy Olsen, the Daily Planet's "Mister Action," is young, brilliant, and reckless! For this week's story he must become the director-for-a-day of P.R.O.J.E.C.T. With top agents assigned to protect him, he's looking forward to an easy day of jet-setting and international liaisons all in the name of scientific discovery. Instead, P.R.O.J.E.C.T. receives a terrifying directive — to take down a rogue Superman!”

Another DC book, yes yes, I know what you may be saying…WTF Ramos! We Thought you were hardcore Marvel Zombie? And I am, but, these are some truly awesome tales that Morrison is spinning, mind you they’re later than the anti-christ showing up in 1996 but All-Star is worth the wait. Quietly’s art is amazing, I picked up WE3 when it first came out which was a Morrison/Quietly Joint and was blown away, I never thought bunnies, kitties, and doggies were capable of homicide!

The stuff that Morrison has been doing in All-Star has me going huh? Not only does he seamlessly blend in wacky wonky nostalgic Superman history, but he presents some ideas that leave me wishing I had taken that drink he offered me at the SDCC all those years, I thought it was some gay guy in black leather offering me a drink so I was hesitant…HELLO!


ASTONISHING X-MEN #15
COVER BY: JOHN CASSADAY
WRITER: JOSS WHEDON
PENCILS: JOHN CASSADAY
INKS: JOHN CASSADAY
COLORED BY: LAURA MARTIN
LETTERED BY: CHRIS ELIOPOULOS
PUBLISHED BY: MARVEL COMICS

THE STORY:
“TORN”
Move over Astonishing X-Men...there’s a new club in town and their name is...”Hellfire.” In this issue, after secretly lying in wait for months, they make their move!”

When Morrison was writing New X-Men, it was awesome, then came Whedon, and took what Morrison had established, made it his own, and kicked some more ass!!!

There was a point when I actually thought Emma Frost was turning over a new leaf, after seducing Cyclops and giving him some backbone, but I was wrong, and I’ve never felt so good about being so wrong!

Whedon is an extraordinary writer and teamed with John Cassaday, what’s not to love?

ULTIMATES 2 #11
COVER BY: BRYAN HITCH
WRITER: MARK MILLAR
PENCILS: BRYAN HITCH
INKS: PAUL NEARY
COLORED BY: LAURA MARTIN
LETTERED BY: CHRIS ELIOPOULOS

THE STORY:
“GRAND THEFT AMERICA”

”The penultimate issue of volume two gives us answers to long-standing mysteries and brings us closer to the epic conclusion to “Grand Theft America”! With the traitor revealed and the Triskelion in ruins, the remaining Ultimates must unite to defeat an invasion force bent on establishing a new world order. But with the team shattered, who will lead the charge?”

Millar, man, that guy is awesome at the political intrigue and action. If you guys pickjed up issue 10 then you know what I’m talking about, Hawkeye’s escape was the coolest s#&t I had seen in the series, besides the Hulk eating the “Skrull” in volume 1! This is the type of book I live for and it does make me sad to know that Millar is leaving the book after issue 12 along with Hitch…*sniff, *sniff…Jeph Loeb is supposed to take over with that Mad character drawing, but come on! Millar and Hitch make this book what it is! An action packed balls to the wall ULTIMATE superhero fest that leaves you wanting more and makes me re-read my issue about 6 times before I can finally take a breath and say…DAMN! I wish I would have thought of that!!!

Don’t forget that Star Wars: LEGACY also comes out on Wednesday, I am mentioning it because I’m a huge Star Wars fan, and this book looks Kick Ass!!!

So that’s it for this week, catch you cats here next week for the next round of hits!!!