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Batgirl – 11 for 2011

Batgirl #4 courtesy DC Comics

  Batgirl is one of my favorite titles of 2011 and one of my favorite relaunches in DC’s New 52. In this new reality Barbara Gordon survived the Joker’s ambush and recovered to once again wear the cape and cowl to face a psychotic new villain.

  Batgirl’s cat and mouse game with the Mirror made her relive the Joker nightmare, confronting her past and evolving as a hero.

  Gail Simone’s first arc was a thrill ride and empowering survival story. Artist Adrian Syaf’s Batgirl is sexy and dangerous. From brutal fights with the Mirror to a clash reunion with Nightwing to bonding with her roommate the arc was filled with thrills and heart.  This is the beginning of a great new Batgirl era.

X-Men Schism – 11 of 2011

 

X-Schism collection cover courtesy Marvel.com

One of the biggest comic events of 2011 was X-Men: Schism. New villains and one misguided mutant trigger an international incident that inflames anti-mutant hatred. When all X-Men should stand together, one decision leads to the destruction of the very foundation of the team. Jason Aaron delivered shocking new villains, a global threat to mutant existence and a Cyclops/Wolverine battle for the ages. 5 of the best artists on the industry illustrated a chapter in the tale that changed the X-Men.

There is plenty of tense action but there’s heartbreak and raw emotions. From Wolverine and Cyclops reaching the breaking point to Idie’s reaction to an impossible scenario no child should have to endure, Aaron created a story that will reverberate with the divided X-family for years to come.

Generation Hope’s Idie may be the X character that defined 2011. The young mutant was responsible for schism, death and reinvention. Idie was one of the breakout characters of 2011.

This collection out today includes X-Men: Schism 1-5, Generation Hope 10-11 and X-Men: Regenesis.

By Editor

Aquaman With Bite

Justice League #4 courtesy DC Comics

  Some comic book issues are worth it just for one panel! Justice League #4 is one of those issues. The future members of the Justice League are finally together in one issue. DC’s greatest source of evil makes his New 52 debut. Those reasons alone make #4 worthy.

  When Green Lantern asks Aquaman, “…so, really, what can YOU do that WE can’t?”

  And then Aquaman serves up a savage seafood buffet…and I geeked completely out. You see not only am I obsessed with super heroes but with sharks – so thank you Geoff Johns and Jim Lee for returning the Justice League to glory and showing why Aquaman is a badass with this issue’s Great White shocker.

He’s Quentin Quire! Wolverine and the X-Men #3

Wolverine and the X-Men #3 courtesy Marvel.com

  One of my favorite books of 2011 is Wolverine and the X-Men. The best word to describe how I feel after reading is joy, pure joy. Jason Aaron delivers a perfect mix of action, humor and the unexpected.

  I just read issue #3 of the opening day chaos at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning in which the pint-sized new Hellfire Club unleashed Krakoa to attack the students and school. I was surprised when Aaron brought Quentin Quire back from oblivion for Schism. I shook my head when Kid Omega was in the lineup for this series but now I can’t imagine the book without him.

  The odd cast of old school favorites (Logan, Kitty, Beast, Iceman, Rachel) and new kids (Idie, Kid Gladiator, Broo, Quentin Quire) are an entertaining dynamic. The book is filled with humor and character and shows us a new side of Logan.

  This final issue of the first arc is filled with surprises including a funny flashback between Logan and Captain America, a clever cameo by a non-mutant favorite hero on his day job and a huge shocker in the last panel that foreshadows some painful lessons ahead for the staff and students of the Jean Grey School.

Robin in The Dark Knight Rises?

  I admit I am just seeing this because I was away doing the family thing in rural NC last week but I wanted to share anyway. Speculation that Joseph Gordon Levitt might be Dick Grayson is not a new theory but ComicBookMovie found what might be a clever Easter egg or major hint from director Christopher Nolan in the new trailer.

During the football scene featuring the Gotham Rogues – the R in the ROGUES fan made sign is the same style as the R in the Robin Comic book – compare both here.

Earlier I speculated (and hoped) that Joseph Gordon Levitt may be playing Grayson but in his Nightwing identity. The actor is listed as playing police office John Blake in the cast list. Speculation that Bane will break or kill Batman in the final film is rampant. What if the “breaking” happens mid film and inspires others to take over for the Dark Knight meaning we might see many cameos from the Batman family supporting cast like Grayson, Tim Drake or Jason Todd?

Devouring The Walking Dead

 

Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Laurie Holden on the set of The Walking Dead courtesy AMC

  A sure sign zombie fans are more insatiable than ever…and new fans are biting: Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic series holds 3 of the top 4 bestselling paperback and 3 of the top 9 hardcover titles on the New York Times list according to The Hollywood Reporter Heat Vision.

Creator Robert Kirkman and The Walking Dead television series stars Jon Bernthal and Laurie Holden will all appear at Emerald City Comicon in 2012.

The Walking Dead Compendium One collects the first eight volumes of the series.

Top 5 for 12/28/11

Secret Avengers #20 courtesy Marvel.com

Secret Avengers #20 The Avengers are all dead except Black Widow? The secret agent is trapped in the past on a secret mission to save her teammates

Avengers: Children’s Crusade #8 Death of a Hero? The Young Avengers fight their lifelong heroes to the death and find themselves on the bad side of Scarlet Witch’s reality warping powers.

Uncanny X-Men #4 Mister Sinister’s manipulation of the Dreaming Celestial could mean a nightmare for everyone on Earth. The immortal Space Gods are coming to render their devastating judgement on humanity.

Teen Titans #4 No kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve for this couple! Wonder Girl versus Superboy in Times Square. Can Red Robin and his brand new teen heroes save Wonder Girl in time?

Roots of the Swamp Thing Scott Snyder’s new series is smash hit. Now you can creep out with this blast from the past. Experience the tales the made Swamp Thing a fan favorite from his debut in House of Mystery to Swamp Thing #1-13 featuring art by the legendary Berni Wrightson.

New Creators at Emerald City Comicon

Marvels #2 courtesy Marvel.com by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross

The gifts keep on coming from Emerald City Comicon with new stars announced for the 2012 show:

Kurt Busiek – Creator of Astro City, writer of Marvels, Conan, JLA/Avengers, Eye of the Camera, Thunderbolts and many more. I was actually a little speechless when I met the mighty Kurt in 2008 when I had my JLA/Avengers and Avengers signed by him.

Brian Buccellato is the co-writer/colorist of the Flash, and colorist on many DC books.

Francesco Francavilla Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive, Detective Comics, Scalped, Dark Shadows, and had an upcoming creator owned project, Black Beetle.

Chris Samnee’s work includes Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Serenity: A Shepherd’s Tale, and Captain America and Bucky.

Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreary are co-creators/writers of Kill Shakespeare.