Comics Briefly: Action Comics #8, Avengers Vs. X-Men #1, Legend of Oz: The Wicked West #3, Wolverine and the X-Men #8

Bit bigger haul this week, but I don't expect it to keep up...

Favorite Issue this week: Wolverine and the X-Men #8

All books new in stores on 3/4/12

Side Note: Congrats to the Princeless team for two shiny new Eisner Nominations! They deserve it!



Action Comics #8
Writer: Grant Morrison, Artists: Rags Morales, Brad Walker, Rick Bryant & Bob McLeod, Colorists: Brad Anderson & David Curiel

That... That was a thing that happened. Actually, I liked big chunks of this issue, but the bits I didn't like really threw off my overall enjoyment. Superman is super, Kryptonian, awesome: Good! Lex is a whiny little shell of a man, and not a credible villain: Bad! Gorgeous ending splash page: Good! Hideous art switch for 5 sort of important pages: Bad! So I guess what I'm saying is that I'm conflicted. I'm also pretty confused as to what was going on with Metallo and Brainiac; I'm not sure I got it all. However, the next issue takes place on Earth-23, so I guess it doesn't matter.


Avengers Vs. X-Men #1
Script: Brian Michael Bendis, Pencils: John Romita Jr., Inks: Scott Hanna, Colors: Laura Martin

Wow, Cyclops has really gone off a bit, hasn't he? I understand the grasping at straws, though, because the mutants have really been screwed over by the universe in recent years. I really like that it's Magneto who's keeping a wary eye on Scott to make sure he doesn't go completely off the map. I'd read a lot of this issue in various previews, but I still really enjoyed it. The X-Men are a little outnumbered in this issue, but that could change quickly. I like that both sides here have a really good reason for pushing the other. Phoenix is a gamechanger.


Legend of Oz: The Wicked West #3
Writer: Tom Hutchinson, Artist: Alisson Borges, Colorist: Kate Finnegan

I'm still enjoying this spin on Wizard of Oz, although I get impatient waiting for the issues to come out! This issue features some bonding and banter for our characters, some action, and getting the whole gang together in time to spot an oncoming attack from the Witch. I like the spirit of this story, and I like the art, plus I love Gale and Scarecrow like crazy. With an indie like this, it's never really safe to assume you can get the trade later, so this is one title I'm going to keep collecting.



Wolverine and the X-Men #8
Writer: Jason Aaron, Penciler/Colorist: Chris Bachalo, Inker: Tim Townsend

Woo! Two plots, two resolutions, one issue! That's what I like to see! The students go on an ill-advised jaunt led by Angel to try to fix the injury done to Wolverine last issue, while Beast faces off with Sabertooth...IN SPACE. There are some excellent moments for Angel and Genesis which I was excited to see. There were a few brief time-jumps for the storytelling so you have to pay attention, and overall this was just a great issue.