Essential Reading: Black Panther #27

Ah, Spring is here at last! Unfortunately, we have to take the good with the bad. Along with warm, sunny days and gorgeous greenery comes Mother Nature's biggest nuisance: bugs! For most of us, that means spraying some insecticide and getting out the flyswatter, but super heroes do everything bigger, especially the Fantastic Four. Instead of crawling in through a window, their bugs get in from the Negative Zone.

In the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War, the husband and wife team of Black Panther and Storm find themselves standing in for Reed and Sue in the FF. Though these two may be able to mange the entire kingdom of Wakanda, they are quickly learning that running the Fantastic Four is no walk in the park. In Black Panther #27, the team returns from deep space, where they had to deal with the Silver Surfer and Galactus, hoping for just a little bit of down time. Instead, a giant, armored, seemingly unstoppable, bug scurries through the Baxter Building's Negative Zone portal and starts munching on the furniture. What a revoltin' development!

Black Panther #27 is written by Reginald Hudlin, with pencils from Francis Portela. Hudlin does a great job characterizing not only his lead characters, but also their new FF teammates. The story has just the right balance of serious super-hero action, character interaction and FF-style humor. Portela's art is up to all of the challenges Hudlin throws his way, including bug-monsters, frog-powered dimensional travel, and alien planets. (All in one issue!)

In Marvel's post-Civil War landscape, Black Panther has become a pretty essential read. Now that T'Challa is standing in for Reed Richards, he is right at the heart of Marvel's super-community. He has to deal with heroes from both sides of the conflict, and work with S.H.I.E.L.D. to keep Reed's super-prison under control. Not only should fans of the FF or Civil War be reading Black Panther nowadays, but anyone who is into the enormously popular Marvel Zombies books will not want to miss this issue...

Nowhere else can you find this much stuff packed into one slim comic! You definitely need to try out Black Panther #27 now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! You don't want to find yourself being shipped off to prison in the Negative Zone, do you? (Hey, that's not a threat. I'm just sayin'...)

A Fresh Approach: Unique 1 & 2

"Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean everyone ISN'T out to get me!" OK, that's an old joke but it does pose a serious question. If the world seems to be going crazy around you, if you think everyone is out to get you, how do you know if it's all true? You don't think you're crazy, but a crazy person wouldn't think that, would they? It's enough to give you a serious brain-ache.

That conundrum is just a small part of the troubles faced by accountant Jon Geoffries in Platinum Studio's Unique. Jon is troubled by strange dreams, paranoia, and bouts of sleep-walking. His shrink has put him on a wide variety of meds, but all to no avail. There is, though, an experimental new treatment that could solve all of Jon's problems. Or make them much, much, worse.

Not only does Jon discover that everyone really is out to get him, he learns that he is being hunted down by people from multiple universes. You know you're in trouble when parallel worlds are out to get you! Jon Geoffries problem is that he is a Unique. That means that in all of the parallel universes, there is no parallel Jon. That unique status also means that Jon is one of the very few people who can, under the right circumstances, travel back and forth between the parallel worlds. Unluckily for Jon, there are nefarious, powerful, people who would like to put his abilities to use for their own personal gain. Or maybe none of this is true, and Jon really is just crazy...

Unique is written by Dean Motter, with art by Dennis Calero. Motter's story is full of twists, turns, conspiracies and the unexpected. Dialogue is used sparingly but effectively. The characters are all very real, and Jon seems like a regular guy who finds himself drawn into this bizarre situation. Readers are definitely kept on their toes, wanting to see what happens next. Calero's art is perfect for this story. It is dark and just a bit surreal, which gives Jon's mind-trip a very dream-like quality.

You're probably not crazy, but can you be sure? Are you really even reading this, or do you just think you are? Does your parallel self have some weird facial hair variant, like Mirror Universe Spock? Find out the answers to all this and more by reading Unique! You aren't imagining that it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. (Plus, there are two issues already in stock. Try 'em both!)

Don't miss this comic: She-Hulk #17

One awesome, and often overlooked, book has been at the center of all Marvel's recent blockbuster events. This book had major connections to Civil War and is playing a big part in the lead-up to World War Hulk. This book has humor, action, romance, and makes better use of continuity than any other Marvel title. It also has a lead character with the best green gams in the super-hero business.

Of course, by now you realize that we're talking about She-Hulk. Written by rising Marvel star Dan Slott with art by Rick Burchett, She-Hulk is one the smartest and most fun comics on the stands. It should be right up there on the sales charts with New Avengers, 52, and X-Men. I'm not sure why it isn't up there, but if you are one of the people who has not tried She-Hulk, we really need to do something about that ASAP.

As a result of the recent Super-human Registration Act, lawyer Jennifer Walters has found herself pressed into service by S.H.I.E.L.D. Tony Stark and S.H.I.E.L.D. are less interested in Jen's legal abilities than in her smashing abilities as She-Hulk. Due to the machinations of the Illuminati, Jen's cousin Bruce (you know, you wouldn't like him when he's angry) was shot into space. Without the Hulk around to smash guys like the Abomination and Wendigo, S.H.I.E.L.D. needs help keeping them under control. Clay Quartermain makes Jen the muscle in his new Hulkbuster team. Joined by the magician Agent Crimson, and the super-sexy Life-Model Decoy Agent Cheesecake, Shulkie takes on all of the Hulk's old adversaries. Though things could turn ugly when She-Hulk figures out who is responsible for Bruce Banner going missing in the first place.

Trust me when I tell you that She-Hulk #17 is one great comic. If you haven't tried it, now is your chance. The folks at Four Color Fantasies are so sure you'll love this book that it's guaranteed all week long as FCF's Book of the Week. If you don't enjoy this comic, you can get your money back! And angels will cry, but don't let that sway you or anything.

P.S. Read She-Hulk. Have I mentioned it's awesome?

Cool Again: Moon Knight #9

A year ago, very few people would have believed that Moon Knight could ever be made cool again. Moony had become a joke. He was seen as Marvel's white-suited version of Batman, with a silly Moon-copter and a stereotypical French sidekick. However, just nine issues later, thanks to novelist Charlie Huston and super-star artist David Finch, Moon Knight is one cool, hardcore, vigilante!

Moon Knight #9, still written by Huston, with new artist Mico Suayan, showcases this crazy, violent hero at his best. Marc Spector (AKA Moon Knight) is still single-mindedly struggling to overcome the damage his "career" as a hero did to his body. (Not to mention the mental damage Spector may be suffering from!) More of his disasterous past catches up with him, in the deranged form of a deadly former sidekick, and serial killer, who has a serious bone to pick with his former mentor.

If you like your heroes with a heaping dose of crazy, Moon Knight is a book you simply should not miss. Marc Spector is portrayed as a remorseless, driven, angry vengeance machine. He has no powers to speak of and succeeds by sheer, hard-headed, bone-crushing refusal to fail. He is either constantly accompanied by his god Khonshu (in the form of his late, mutilated arch-enemy) or he is a psychotic nut-job with a very minimal grip on reality. Either way, the last thing you would ever want to see is Moon Knight leaping down on you in some dark alley, because he puts his opponents in a world of major hurt.

Coming in after David Finch, artist Mico Suayan has some big shoes to fill. Fortunately, he delivers 100 percent. His art is very detailed and realistic, very much in the same overall style as Finch. However, I actually found his storytelling to be smoother and easier to follow than his high-profile predecessor. He brings plenty of grit to this down and dirty tale, and this issue's main fight is depicted with a level of tooth-pulling detail that made me wince more than once.

If you like the Punisher, Wolverine, Batman (at his most bada$$), or anything written by Garth Ennis, you should really give Moon Knight a try. Moony may be a complete nut-job, but he sure is cool again. Try out Moon Knight #9 now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week.

Shining Example: Nova #1

Back in the day, if you were an average space-person in the Marvel Universe and your planet was being stomped on by a giant space-monster or crisped by solar flares, you'd call the Nova Corps for help. A bunch of powerful folks in cool helmets would show up, loaded with equipment and experience, to save the day! Hooray for the Nova Corps! Unfortunately, that's not quite what happens now, as shown in the new Nova #1.

Thanks to that big space-jerk Annihilus, the entire Nova Corps was destroyed in the Annhilation Event. Well, ALMOST the entire Nova Corps. The Corps' Earth representative, Richard Rider survived, and he has to carry the weight of the whole Corps on his human shoulders. That is a whole lot of responsibility for one guy. Now when you call for help, if you're really lucky, you'll get one amped-up, over worked, inexperienced, and just plain cranky, Nova on the scene.

Nova #1 is written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, with art from Sean Chen. Abnett and Lanning have a long track record as writers for the UK's 2000AD, but they also handled Nova brilliantly in the just-finished Annhilation crossover in the cosmic part of Marvel's neighborhood. The events of Annhilation have left the often over-looked Nova with a new status quo. He has all the power of the entire Nova Corps at his disposal, and the complete knowledge of the Worldmind to draw on, but he is still just one inexperienced guy trying to save the whole universe.

This first issue sees Rider jumping from planet to planet to take on everyone's problems, so there is a ton of action to draw in new readers. Sean Chen does an excellent job showing Nova in action against a diverse range of alien menaces. He keeps up with the crazy pace the writers set for our hero admirably. This is definitely NOT one of those comics where readers will feel they didn't get enough story for their money.

Anyone who read and enjoyed the Annhilation series should absolutely not miss Nova. I don't want to give too much away, but this issue's cliffhanger ending might also interest fans of Civil War. (Hint: Next issue may feature some serious helmet on helmet action. If you know what I mean!) For older fans of the Human Rocket, it's nice to see the Man Called Nova getting a little respect again. It's about time! Try it out now, while this book is Four Color Fantasies' Book of the Week!

A Tasty Anthology: Savage Tales #1

I love comics anthology books. This particular form is, all too often, neglected. What could be better than getting different stories by different creators all under one convenient cover? As a reader, you get to experience work from a range of writers and artists and you have an excellent opportunity to find out about stuff you didn't even know you liked. This is essentially the way the pulp magazines, the forebearers of modern comics, worked, and that's why the anthology format is the perfect form for the awesome stories waiting to be discovered in Savage Tales #1.

Dynamite Entertainment's Savage Tales comes out of the gate strong, with an excellent starting line-up of stories and creators. There are four ongoing stories in this first issue, and each one offers readers something different.

First up is The Witch's Familiar, starring cover she-devil Red Sonja. (By the way, all of the variant covers are nice, but the Arthur Suydam version is worth the cover price all by itself.) It's certainly a good idea to start off with Dynamite's most recognizable character, and Sonja is in fine form here. Part one of this tale, by Ron Mars and Adriano Batista, has gorgeous art, a very clever opening scene, a bit of sword-wielding action, and a cliff-hanger that will leave you counting the days until the next issue.

Battle for Atlantis, by Leah Moore, John Reppion, and Pablos Marcos sets the stage for a somewhat different take on the question, "Why did Atlantis fall?" The art is lush and detailed. The blend of primitivism with Atlantean super-science is very "pulpy." Maybe it's just me, but the inflated pride and corrupt politics of the Atlanteans may also be a sly commentary on current world affairs.

A Red Sonja spin-off, Where Walks the Hunter by Lieberman, Oeming and Sharpe, is the third offering in this issue. This story follows a brutal warrior, the Hunter, who is an enemy of both Sonja and her mortal foe Kulan Gath. This character first appeared in Red Sonja's ongoing title, but everything you need to know about him is filled in quickly in this story. Seeing his encounters with Sonja from the "villain's" point of view gives this story a neat twist.

Finally, we have The Elder Things that Fell to Earth by Mike Raicht and Pere Perez. Keeping the pulpy theme going, this story has elements of both Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, doing justice to both creators. A group of warriors (Out hunting dinosaur monsters!) run into a weird space vessel. The ship's pilots are a powerful race of aliens looking for help reigning in the escaped power of the evil Lovecraftian deity Cthulhu. Of course, Cthulhu has some recruits of his own and is not going gently back into his cage...

For fans of good, old-fashioned, sword swinging, monster battling adventure, Savage Tales #1 is a wicked tome full of fun! You may pick this up just to check out Red Sonja, but all of these stories feature great art and pulp-tacular adventure. You have nothing to fear (except maybe Cthulhu), because this book is guaranteed awesome this week at Four Color Fantasies!

Don't you just hate it when you miss out on a cool new series? You hear all the buzz, but you already missed the first few issues, so you just don't feel like you can catch up. It's even worse when you hear all about how cool a title is, but you have YEARS worth of missed issues scaring you away from the book. Lucky for you, those clever folks at Marvel have everything under control.

In this case the cool series you may have missed out on is Runaways, by Brian K. Vaughan and an assortment of excellent artists. This title has hidden on the fringes of the Marvel Universe. Despite excellent reviews, lots of people still haven't read it. Now you may have heard that hot-shot writer Joss Whedon (You know, the Buffy and Astonishing X-Men guy.) is going to be taking over the book. This would be a great time to try this book, but what about the first 42 issues? To you I say, "Runaways Saga #1!"

This special Runaways issue cleverly compacts the events of the entire series into one handy-dandy issue. Still on the run, the team picks up the journal of their youngest member, Molly. Reading the journal, they get to see the crazy events of their lives from Molly's sometimes naive viewpoint, starting with how they had to run from, and eventually defeat, their own villainous parents. If you've never picked up an issue of Runaways before, this book is a great introduction. If you are already a fan, you may still enjoy seeing the events of the series analyzed by Molly. As an added bonus, there are a few new story pages by Humberto Ramos to link everything together.

Now's your chance to hang out with the cool kids and make up for your shameful ignorance! Runaways Saga #1 has everything you ever wanted to know about the Runaways, but were afraid to ask. It's all in one convenient book at one thrifty price, so what do you have to lose? Nothing! Because this book is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week!

Kid Fair: Franklin Richards-Son of a Genuis: March Madness!

Need a break from all the doom and gloom in the world of comics? Had enough wars, shocks, dead super-heroes and black costumes? Or maybe you'd just like a comic your kids can read without needing therapy later in life? Either way, I've got the book for you! The hugely titled Fantastic Four Presents: Franklin Richards-Son of a Genius: March Madness!

The basic premise of Franklin Richards (by Chris Eliopoulos and Marc Sumerak) is pretty simple: Franklin, son of Reed "Mr. Fantastic" Richards deals with many of the problems kids face in their day-to-day life by using stuff found in his dad's lab. His robotic baby-sitter, H.E.R.B.I.E, tells him not to, but Franklin doesn't listen and chaos ensues. It's kind of like what would happen if Calvin and Hobbes' Calvin had a real transmogrifier or dimensional portal, instead of just a painted cardboard box. I'm pretty sure the creators must be fans of Bill Watterson's duo.

This book is a one-shot collection of several short Franklin Richards adventures. Franklin de-evolves his dad, rides the subatomic sled, has a bad hair day, and plays his first basketball game, all with predictably silly results. My personal favorite from this issue has to be when Franklin foolishly decides to give his hamster, Mr. Sniffles, super-expanded intelligence. Little did he know that he would be unleashing the villainy of Norbert Q. Sniffles, Hamster of Destruction upon an unprepared world! Oh, the horror!

This comic won't "change the universe forever!" But, it will provide a chuckle or two. (And, really, couldn't we all use a good chuckle?) If you're in the mood for some simple, cartoony, fun, you need to try out Franklin Richards. It IS Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. Besides, if you choose not to read it you may will incur the wrath of Norbert Q. Sniffles, Hamster of Destruction! I don't think anybody wants that.

Character Development: Robin #159

First dates are always awkward, difficult, terrifying situations. You have to figure out what to talk about, what not to say, and how to not make yourself look like a total idiot. In the most extreme and horrible situations, you have to keep your date away from your embarassing family, who you just KNOW will ruin everything and make you look like a dork. You might think that super heroes don't have to deal with such trivial trials, but Robin might beg to different.

Robin #159 sees Tim Drake (AKA Robin) on his first date with Zoanne, his adorable classmate and tutor. Things start out just the way you might expect: bad conversation, awkward silences, and lots of goo-goo eyes being made across the table. Unfortunately for Tim, right after they order he gets an unexpected appetizer-a heaping helping of Bat-Signal. What is a sidekick to do?

Like many a normal parent, Bruce Wayne shows up (in costume) to catch a glimpse of Tim and his date. Unlike normal parents, Bats suggests that maybe Tim could cut his date short to come punch some bad guys. Naturally, Tim refuses. Most parents might get the hint and go away, but Bruce ends up crashing through the window and onto Tim's table. And you thought your mom showing off baby pictures was bad!

Robin #159 is written by Adam Beechen with art by Freddie William II. The story is a very clever super-heroic twist on a romantic comedy staple. Tim and Zoanne's conversation rings very true, as does Tim's suspicion that maybe Batman's date crashing wasn't ENTIRELY unintentional. William's art is a nice, clean style that works well for the story's romantic comedy moments but also perfectly captures an action-packed Bat-tussle.

This is a self-contained story with a little love, a little action, and a lot of fun. What more could you ask for? You know you have to find out if Robin gets a goodnight kiss or not! Check out Robin #159 while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. Just remember, comic shops are probably not the best place to bring a first date. MAYBE a second date...

Intriguing story, cinematic art: Legion of Monsters: Werewolf by Night

Everybody loves a good monster. Monsters come in many varieties: good, bad, scary or silly. Some monsters are such universal classics that they become a part of our shared folklore. Even if you've never watched a horror flick or read an H.P. Lovecraft tale, you know these all-time great monsters. I'm talking about monsters like Dracula, the Mummy, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein's monster.

These classic purveyors of nightmare have long been a part of Marvel's ecclectic universe. Lucky for all you monster fans, the House of Ideas is shining an eerie beam of moonlight on these sometimes forgotten fear-mongers in a series of one-shots under the title Legion of Monsters. The first book in this series features two heavy-hitters, the Werewolf by Night and the Monster of Frankenstein. The two stories do share a common theme-monsters coming to terms with what they are.

The Werewolf story is written by Mike Carey with art by Greg Land. A young woman named Rhona has lived her whole life with the curse of the wolf. Carey's story is a simple, but effective tale about a young woman dealing with the curse of the wolf and the prejudice of the yokels in her hometown. This tale would make a great opening scene in a Werewolf by Night movie. (C'mon, somebody make that movie!) The ultra-realistic art by Land really enhances the story's cinematic feel, and is mighty pretty to look at too.

The Monster of Frankenstein story by Skottie Young has an interesting take on (arguably) the most famous monster of them all. This story features a reformed monster, pushed to violence in a "good cause." Young takes a thoughtful look at what makes people, or monsters, good or bad. Is it who they are or how others treat them? This dark and introspective story is a great choice to accompany the more "fun" and action packed opening tale, with art that is much moodier than other work I've seen from Skottie Young.

With two great stories in one spooky book, you can't go wrong by trying out Legion of Monsters: Werewolf by Night. Just have your silverware and an unlit torch close at hand when you read it! This book even comes with Four Color Fantasies' money-back guarantee, so what are you afraid of?

A Unique Take: Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears #1

Johnny Blaze and the Spirit of Vengeance are burning across movie screens this week and, fingers crossed, the movie looks pretty promising. It only makes sense that Marvel is making sure there are some Ghost Rider comics on the shelves for new fans to check out. Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears is an unusual choice, but one that definitely deserves reader's attention.

It makes sense that the Spirit of Vengeance has been around a lot longer than Blaze or follow-up host Danny Ketch. Trail of Tears, by Garth Ennis and Clayton Crain, takes us way back to the Civil War (the real one, not the Marvel one) for a look at an earlier incarnation of the flaming-headed one. Protagonist Travis Parham is a Lieutenant in the Confederate Army. He starts out as a gung-ho soldier fighting for his cause, but one horrific battle leaves him injured, disillusioned, and out of the war. He is taken in by a former slave who worked to earn the freedom of his family. During his recovery, Travis learns a lot about himself and discovers a mysterious altar adorned with brightly burning skulls....

I'll reveal my bias up front: I've never met a Garth Ennis comic I didn't like. Of course, Ennis is most known for over-the-top crazy violence and the darkest of dark humor. Books like Preacher, the Punisher, and The Boys push the envelope for just what you can get away with in a comic before the peasants rise up and chase you off with pitchforks and torches. Ennis is the go-to guy for gritty, macho heroes-guys who would kick you in the knackers as soon as look at you. However, he is also a prolific writer of seriously researched and realistic war stories.

Trail of Tears is very much a product of this more serious side of Garth Ennis. Parham's war is politically complex and utterly horrific. Being on the battlefield leaves Travis a changed man, a man with a lot to think about. The complexity and horror of war is perfectly realized by Crain's amazing artwork. The opening scenes, detailed and grim, do not paint a glamorous picture of this often romanticized war. The few glimpses we get of the Spirit of Vengeance (Don't expect any full-on flaming skull action in this first issue!) have some serious super-natural weight. In the wrong hands, the whole flaming demon skull thing could come across as just silly fantasy, here it is seriously spooky stuff.

Just because there isn't a cool burning biker in this series, don't overlook Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears! This is a different, but exceptionally good, take on the character. Try it now while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week!

In space, no one can hear you chuckle: Outer Orbit #2

Science-fiction very often takes itself WAY too seriously. In an effort to be seen as serious, intellectual fare, sci-fi all too frequently gives us heaps of angst, dystopian futures, mysterious aliens, and heroes who never seem to smile. Don't get me wrong, I love sci-fi. It's just that, every now and then, someone needs to come along and poke some holes in its inflated sense of self-importance. Luckily, Outer Orbit #2 is here, and it brought its poking stick.

Dark Horse's Outer Orbit, by Zach Howard, Sean Murphy, and Reed Buccholz, takes a ton of standard sci-fi ingredients and mixes them up with a heaping helping of fun. The unlikely protagonists of Outer Orbit are the mismatched pair of Quinn and Krunk. Quinn is a goofy, blue, inter-galactic pizza delivery guy with a motor mouth and a tendency to lose his pants. (Don't worry, his undies are quite fetching, and very tight!) Krunk is a disgraced (thanks to Quinn) space cop, and all-around tough guy with a distinct lack of social skills.

Quinn and Krunk find themselves drawn into a plot of galactic intrigue and mayhem by Neoki, a super-hot chick with loads of guns, and a stolen idol that has the criminal underworld's baddest dudes hot on her tail. (Quinn's just hot FOR her tail, but that's just 'cause everyone can totally tell that they're a couple.) The second issue starts with Quinn and Neoki on the run, and the action keeps coming at a fast and furious pace. There are explosions, gunfire, fiery crashes, underwear, more explosions, and a viscious lunch box attack. The action only stops for potty breaks and poker, which seems reasonable to me.

All three creators contribute to the story, and their combined hilarity is awesome to behold. Every line of dialogue is packed with funny, and you'll find yourself quoting lines like you would from the Simpsons or a Kevin Smith flick. The art is equally great, as it perfectly captures the manic energy of the story. Quinn and Krunk's facial expressions alone are worth the price of admission.

I love Outer Orbit and, if you read it, you will too! This series isn't generating nearly as much buzz as it deserves. This book has it all: a hot space-babe, big guns, hilarious dialogue, a fun story, loveable heroes, space gangsters, and tons of action! What could you possibly be waiting for? Try Outer Orbit #2 while it is Four Color Fantasies guaranteed Book of the Week! (Poking stick, unfortunately, not included.)

If you're lucky, there might even be copies of #1 still available. Act now!

How we'd really react: Irredeemable Ant-Man #4

You know, it's all well and good to say that "with great power comes great responsibility," but, in the less-than-ideal real world, most people would probably fall short in the great responsibility department. If Joe Average suddenly found himself with laser-vision, would he risk his life trying to make the world a better place or just mess around in the backyard zapping birds and empty cans? Is that laser fried pigeon I smell?

Eric O'Grady, the star of Marvel's Irredeemable Ant-Man #4, is one such average guy. Eric is a low-level S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who, through a mixture of incompetence and criminal mischief, ends up in possession of Hank Pym's latest Ant-Man suit. Does Eric bravely shoulder his responsibilities to become the next great hero of the Marvel U? Does he team up with his S.H.I.E.L.D. buddies to save the helicarrier when a brainwashed Wolverine attacks? Does he use the suit to thwart a Skrull invasion and deliver Aunt May's heart medicine?

Nah. Eric O'Grady takes the suit off of his dead friend's body and uses it to pick up chicks, sneak into women's locker rooms, and stage ant races. The comic itself does bill Eric as "The World's Most Unlikable Super Hero," and, in many ways, he is pretty awful. He steals the suit on a whim, betrays his commanding officer who is tasked with tracking the suit down, and lies to score with his dead best friend's girlfriend. O'Grady's not evil or villainous, he's just a selfish jerk who doesn't think about the consequences of his actions. He's a lot like one of those idiots on YouTube who sets three friends (and himself) on fire after uttering the immortal words, "Hey, guys, watch this!"

Written by the amazing Robert Kirkman, with art by the equally awesome Phil Hester, Irredeemable Ant-Man is a unique take on the world of super heroes. The story is often laugh-out-loud funny and offers a very different perspective on life in comic book land. You wouldn't catch Hank Pym using his shrinking powers to secretly live in a stranger's apartment or spy on a woman in the shower, would you? But I bet you can think of at least one friend who, if he found an Ant-Man suit, would do exactly the goofy stuff Eric O'Grady does. He's not heroic, noble, or very smart, but Ant-Man is a lot of fun. He's a guy that, unfortunately, many of us can probably relate to.

The beauty of a Kirkman book is that you never know what to expect. Irredeemable Ant-Man is nothing like Walking Dead, which is nothing like Invincible, or Marvel Zombies, or Battle Pope, or...you get the idea. I'm not sure where this book is going, and that makes it much more fun to go along for the ride. Plus, Hester's design for the new Ant-Suit is really nifty, and would make for a sweet action figure. A tiny, annoying action figure.

What are you waiting for? Get real small and scuttle over to Four Color Fantasies right away to pick up this guaranteed Book of the Week!

Worth it for Action & Characters: Exiles #89

Everyone knows that parallel universes are a pain in the butt. In a parallel universe, everything is kinda like our universe, but different in weird, annoying ways. Like the old Star Trek episode where Spock is a jerk and has a goatee. You never know who you can trust in a parallel universe because maybe you missed your best friend's birthday party when he was six, so he became a serial killer or a dentist or some other scary thing. Freaky!

For Marvel's Exiles, parallel worlds are much more than just annoying places with opposite facial hair. The Exiles are a team of mutants and heroes whose job it is to travel between all the thousands of different realities and make sure everything happens the way it is supposed to. Apparently, if all those pesky universes aren't properly maintained, they could all come crashing down into each other causing untold havoc and destruction.

The Exiles team is an interesting mix of characters. There are alternate versions of characters, like Sabretooth, T-Bird and Power Princess. There are future alternate reality heroes, like Spider-Man 2099. There are characters that are dead or missing in the regular Marvel U, like Morph and Blink. There are even characters that don't exist in regular reality at all, like Nightcrawler's daughter. Anyone that is under-used, or dead, in the Marvel U may well end up in Exiles. In many ways, Exiles is like a What If series where all the "what ifs" really happen.

Exiles #89, by Tony Bedard and Jim Calafiore, is a good issue to showcase what this series is all about. The Exiles find themselves facing an impending crash of realities and their weary team has very little time to fix a bajillion problems on many alternate Earths. They come up against an alternate Sinister Six, and alternate Serpent Society, and an alternate Hellfire Club. As more and more of their members are taken out of action, the dwindling team also has to cope with the fact that their greatest enemy is brainwashed into their ranks and could turn on them all at any moment.

This issue offers a lot of character development, despite also having rapid-fire action. Calafiore's art is dynamic, even when he has to draw a ton of characters on each page. I actually found his art style very reminiscent of the nineties Marvel style, which is very appropriate for this book. Many of these characters first appeared in that much maligned decade, and got pushed out of the spotlight too soon.

Call a truce with your evil twin from Earth #3799, and take time to give Exiles #89 a try. What have you got to lose? It IS Four Color Fantasies guaranteed Book of the Week. (Except on Earth #4907, where the BoW is Archie: Civil War. The Jughead Registration Act is a disaster!)

An Intriguing Chess Game: Civil War: War Crimes

You don't get to be the Kingpin of Crime in the Marvel Universe without some serious smarts. The only way Wilson Fisk has managed to stay at the top of the heap for so long is by staying several moves ahead of the heroes and villains who would love to take him down. Some folks may have the idea that Fisk is just a big, fat, thug, but those who make that mistake usually end up six feet under.

For any ordinary criminal, getting locked up would put a serious crimp in their plans, but not Wilson Fisk. Despite the fact that he is doing time at Riker's Island, Fisk is still clearly the Kingpin. He sits at the head of the mess hall, has a legion of bodyguards and enforcers (including THE Enforcers) and is approached by appointment only. Of course, Wilson's power does NOT stop at the prison's gates, as both Hammerhead and Iron Man will soon learn...

In Civil War: War Crimes, by Frank Tieri and Staz Johnson, Fisk and Tony "Iron Man" Stark play a literal, and figurative, chess game. The Kingpin has information about Captain America's resistance movement that Tony would love to get his hands on. Stark knows that such information isn't going to come without a price, but is it a price he is prepared to pay? Of course, Iron Man is no dummy either, so both players think they are winning this game. Who is making the smarter moves? And who is sacrificing one piece too many?

If you have been following Marvel's Civil War blockbuster, this one-shot is essential reading. Readers will discover what's been going on behind the scenes, and may be shocked to find out just who is making deals with the devil to win this war. If you haven't been reading Civil War, this is still a great self-contained story that explores the character of both Wilson Fisk and Tony Stark.

Don't be a mere pawn in the game. Make your move, and head to Four Color Fantasies to try out this 100% guaranteed Book of the Week! With a little help from Wilson Fisk, you could become a Kingpin too!

Worth joining him: Lone Ranger #3

For a long time, the once-popular western genre had all but vanished from the comic racks. Luckily for all fans of gruff, stubbly, men on horseback, comic book westerns have made quite a comeback. Marvel's westerns and DC's Jonah Hex and Loveless have all been great, but now Dynamite Entertainment has brought back the most well-known cowboy of them all: The Lone Ranger.

The Lone Ranger has appeared in just about every entertainment medium there is. He's been on radio and TV, in movies, books, viewmaster reels, and, naturally, comics. Dynamite has published some really great comics based on licensed properties like Red Sonja, Battlestar Galactica, Army of Darkness, and many others. They have already proven that they know how to find the right talent to revive an old property with the love and respect fans expect. I'm not really an old-school Lone Ranger fan myself, but I think those hardcore fans will like what they see in this book. Of course, Dynamite wouldn't put out a book that was only for nostalgia buffs, so they give us a great new take on the Ranger that will appeal to any readers who like a great story with beautiful art.

The Lone Ranger is written by Brett Matthews with art by Sergio Cariello (and art direction from John "Astonishing X-Men" Cassady). In Lone Ranger #3, they continue their version of the Ranger's origin. John Reid, masked and loaded for action, heads off to get revenge on the last of the men responsible for the deaths of his fellow rangers, including his father and brother. With villains and conspiracies all around him, John's going to need all the help he can get just to survive. Lucky for him, there's a guy named Tonto who seems willing to watch his back. Now, he'll just need to find a good horse...

If you are expecting the somewhat campy, sanitized version of the Lone Ranger from the old TV shows, you will be surprised by the extremely dark and gritty tone of this book. This story is told much more in the vein of Clint Eastwood than Roy Rogers. The Ranger's world is violent and the villains he will be coming up against are cruel and sadistic. If you are a fan of the new Jonah Hex, you definitely don't want to miss what Dynamite is doing with The Lone Ranger.

Go to Guy Gardner: Collateral Damage #1

Every office or organization has one and, somehow, they never go away, no matter how much everyone wishes they would. You know the person I'm talking about-the big jerk who does everything wrong, but always gets away with it. They make stupid, inappropriate jokes, steal office supplies, eat your carefully labelled lunch, and mouth off to everyone and anyone. Every school, business, store, or team has one (or two) of these idiots. For the Green Lantern Corps, that jerk who drives everyone crazy and nobody wants to deal with is Guy Gardner.

Amongst all of the noble and self-sacrificing heroes of the Corps, Guy stands out as a selfish bigmouth who just happens to be great with a power ring. The only reason for the Corps to keep a guy like Guy around is to have someone to do the dirty, unpleasant, nasty jobs that all those heroic and noble types don't want to touch. When you need a Green Lantern who isn't afraid to break some bones and kick someone when they're down, you need Guy Gardner. Guy always speaks his mind, regardless of how others might feel about what he has to say. Of course, you wouldn't want him anywhere near sensitive diplomatic situations of any kind. Right?

Well, maybe just this once. The Rann-Thanagar War in the DC Universe has gotten ugly, and there are some parties who would like to put an end to the killing and destruction. Earth has no involvement in the war, so it seems like maybe an Earthling would make a good neutral arbiter. Maybe an Earthling who has some degree of experience with other space-faring races, or even one who owns, say, a bar, where talks could be held. Of course, you need an arbiter who doesn't have a stake in the outcome and who won't be swayed by feelings and stuff. Someone, like Guy Gardner, who just doesn't really care very much.

Guy Gardner: Collateral Damage #1 (of 2) is a great meeting of character and creator. The legendary Howard Chaykin writes and draws this book, and he's great at writing guys who aren't the nicest dudes around. Guy's jerky dialogue is perfect, and kinda fun to read aloud. (Somewhere deep down, we all have an inner jerk just dying to get out, don't we?) Chaykin's art is clean, yet detailed, and loaded with style. He perfectly captures the little details, like Guy's sneer, and the big stuff, like marauding alien hordes.

Don't be a jerk! Give Guy Gardner: Collateral Damage a chance. Is that so much to ask? Or does Guy have to kick your worthless rear end? He'll do it, ya know.

Launching a better NewUniversal #1

Back in the dark depths of the '80s, the folks at Marvel had a pretty good idea. Why not start a whole new universe, where we can tell stories that don't fit into the regular, hero-filled Marvel Universe? The New Universe was a parallel reality, closer to our real world than the Marvel U, a whole new universe where anything could happen. The possibilities were endless! And then they came out with books starring a guy with a super-powered tool box and a bunch of other mediocre, goofy characters. The New Universe soon vanished, never to be heard from again. Until today...

Marvel is taking another shot at making the New Universe cool, and this time they have talented guys like Warren Ellis and Salvador Larroca at the helm. In NewUniversal #1, Ellis takes the basic concept of a realistic, parallel world where people gain powers, and runs off wildly in his own direction with it. The first issue introduces a bunch of interesting characters, but doesn't give away too much about where they are all headed. They are just living their normal lives, good and bad, when something weird happens. There is a white flash in the night sky, an ancient temple is uncovered, weird symbols pop up everywhere, some people die and some people seem to develop paranormal abilities.

Being a Warren Ellis book, NewUniversal is full of great characters, big sci-fi concepts, and a few angry Brits. What more could anyone ask for in a comic? (Besides a monkey pirate fighting a zombie ninja. They seem to have left that out of this issue.) Salvador Larocca's art is also a real treat. He excels at small character moments and facial expressions, but he also pulls off giant, cosmic, space stuff. His work here is a little more down to Earth than his recent X-Men art, which emphasizes that the strange goings-on are happening to "real" people. A strange flash in the sky would be the least weird thing to happen in the craziness filled Marvel Universe, but here it seems unique and ominous.

I'm not really sure what might happen next in NewUniversal, and that is a good thing. There is a whole new world of possibilities opened up here and, with Ellis and Larocca in charge, it will be fun finding out what happens next. As long as they keep those Kickers, Inc guys far away from this guaranteed Book of the Week. They were sooo lame.

No Conspiracy Engima Cipher #1

If you believe the conspiracy theorists of the world, you probably think the government is watching you at this very moment. Not the government guys we all see fooling around on CNN, wasting taxpayer money on whatever it is they do all day, but the dark-suited guys behind the scenes. The guys who have Hitler's brain in a jar, keep all the crashed UFOs to themselves, and could have anyone "rubbed out" with one cryptic command. The guys who have the REAL power. Of course, such secret government agencies are pure fantasy, right? Or maybe that's just what they want us to think...

Enigma Cipher #1, from Boom! Studios, drops readers right into the deep end of this mysterious world. A college professor stumbles across a coded Nazi message from World War II. He reports it to the state department, and then shares his discovery with a class. Decoding a message like this should be no big deal, right? It's surely just some dusty old piece of history, a curiousity for students to play around with. There's no way it could lead to a whole lot of people dying, or put a star student on the run from a monolithic organization out to silence her for good. Right? Or maybe that's just what I want you to think...

Written by Andrew Cosby and Michael Alan Nelson, Enigma Cipher could easily be the next blockbuster thriller in the "Bourne Identity" vein. It has a strong and believable cast of characters, even the ones who quickly find themselves victims of the sweeping conspiracy. The story is loaded with twists and turns that keep readers just as unsure about what's happening, or who can be trusted, as Casey (the computer genius heroine who tries to break the enigmatic code).

Greg Scott's art is perfect for this story. His use of heavy shadows and dark tones keeps events shrouded in mystery. There could be, and often are, enemies lurking behind every corner.

This review may leave you with many questions, but there's only one way to find the answers. You DO want to know the answers, don't you? I'm sure it's perfectly safe for you to read Enigma Cipher #1. There's no way you could learn too much by reading this guaranteed Book of the Week. Or maybe that's just what I want you to think...

Giving girls a reason to read comics: White Tiger #1

Who can resist a shapely woman who can kick your butt without breaking a sweat? Apparently, too many people. No one can dispute the dearth of women in comics. Not enough women are working in the industry, not enough women star in the books, and not enough women are reading the material. Now's our chance to celebrate all three with the butt-kicking launch of Marvel's White Tiger.

Scripted by the married team of Tamora Pierce and Timothy Liebe, White Tiger captures the audience with an intriguing story: the mythical organization, the Chaeyi, might be real, the is-he-or-isn't-he Daredevil pops in, and our hero isn't sure if she wants all this. Angela Del Toro, the niece of the original '70s kung fu hero White Tiger, received Hector Ayala's amulets just before being fired from her FBI position investigating Matt Murdock as Daredevil. Leave it to Brian Michael Bendis to introduce a character so compelling she deserves her own limited series, but Del Toro really comes to life in the able hands of Pierce, best known for her strong female leads in a series of young adult fantasy novels.

Despite the history behind White Tiger, the authors quickly fill in her backstory without being bogged down in exposition. And together we stumble through Angela's personal dilemma about using the amulets and whether or not that means she has to wear a costume. In the first of six issues, the Black Widow shows up to mentor Angela and her first stop is helping choose the costume. Fanboys might be disappointed by the decided lack of flesh showing, but the skintight outfit draws the eye to every sinuous muscle.

The artwork by Phil Briones with inks by Don Hillsman and colors by Chris Sotomayor is realistic with gritty, dark New York nights and sunny, yet grimy streets during the day. The world of Angela Del Toro is captivating through the eyes of this creative team and her emotional life is revealed with every expression.

If you are a fan of Collen Wing and Misty Knight AKA Heroes for Hire (and if not, why not?), White Tiger is a must read. If you want to see more female action heroes, White Tiger is a must read. If you want your girlfriend to share your super hero obsession, White Tiger is a must read. Did you need any other reason to check this out? Oh, wait, if you hurry, it comes with Four Color Fantasies' money-back guarantee. Buy it today and make this Tiger purr.