Ones To Watch 22/07/2010

Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour

The series is about 23-year-old Canadian Scott Pilgrim, a slacker, hero, and part-time bassist who is living in Toronto and plays bass guitar in the band "Sex Bob-Omb." He falls in love with American delivery girl Ramona V. Flowers, but must defeat her seven "evil exes" in order to date her. By now most people have probably heard this has been adapted into a movie by Edgar Wright starring the ever-awkward Michael Cera and is bound to be one of the smash hits of the year.

The reason for the ones to watch article is to point readers in the direction of books that are either new or are easily accessible jumping on points. Now you might say that this is far from that. This is volume six in a series of books that has been running since 2004 so its not exactly new or easily accessible but it will be. This is because tomorrow you should go out and buy volumes one to six and you’ll read each and every single book one after another.

This is one of the best and most fun comic books out there written and drawn by Bryan Lee O'Malley this is a project of love and dedication and it really does show from the quality of the books.

True Blood Issue 1

Alan Ball’s hit HBO series, the sensually sizzling story of the lives and loves of vampires, mind readers ,and all manner of creatures, comes to IDW! Blood and sex mix on a hot rainy night at Merlotte's, when Sookie and her friends are trapped by a vengeful spirit who feeds on shame. People die and dirty secrets are revealed as Sookie, Bill, Eric, Sam, Tara, Jason, and Lafayette and are all coerced to dig deep and tell painful memories from their past—those things we all have locked within us that we never tell another living soul! Bon Temps, Louisiana has never been stranger, or more twisted, in a story co-plotted by TRUE BLOOD series creator Alan Ball, with a script by David Tischman (Bite Club) and Mariah Huehner, and lush art by David Messina (Star Trek: Countdown).

Spin off book’s rarely live up to the quality of the original pieces and are more aimed at completists than anything else. This though could be something different as one of the minds behind the TV series has helped with the plot of the story, which could lead into a close link between the two.

This could be a away for people who are curious about the show to be introduced to one of the best shows on television and as new creatures and characters are being introduced and expanded on in this comic fans of the show should definitely be keeping their eye on this series.

Avengers Sweepstakes!

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!

Who will be the latest member of Earth's Mightiest Heroes?

At the San Diego comic convention this coming Friday afternoon Marvel will be announcing the next member of the Avengers. To be in with a chance of winning a hardcover Avengers graphic novel (£25.99 value) simply tell us who you think is going to be the newest member!

I've started a new discussion entitled "Avengers Sweepstakes" on our Facebook page so simply write in their the character of your choice. It's one character per entry and one entry per person I'm afraid so have a good think about it! Search for "The Superfriends of Nostalgia & Comics" on Facebook and sure to join the group!

The entries close on Friday 23rd July at 12:01 AM and we'll announce who the winner is on the Saturday.it is first come, first serve when it comes to character choices and there can only be one winner! Rules and Restrictions apply (always wanted to say that!)

This is free so why the heck wouldn't you have a go?!

Ones To Watch 14/07/2010

Sweets Issue 1

A spree killer terrorizes New Orleans days before Hurricane Katrina makes landfall. Detective Curt Delatte just buried his only daughter, and he’s in no condition to work. But when the bodies pile up, he masks his grief and joins the hunt through the bowels of the Big Easy. It won’t be long until his city--and his evidence gets washed away.

CHAMBERLAIN, a native of southern Louisiana, makes his writing debut with this dark and gritty miniseries.

The Man With The Getaway Face

Darwyn Cooke's adaptation of The Hunter was one of the best-received and most popular graphic novels of 2009. A New York Times best-seller, it has appeared on over 50 "best of the year" lists.

The second book, The Outfit, will debut in the fall, but IDW and Darwyn are presenting the first chapter here as a stand-alone preview comic. Priced at only $2.00, this is a full, 24-page story that offers new readers a perfect introduction to Richard Stark's classic crime novel anti-hero, as well as a great story that stands alone. As an added bonus to readers, this preview is a whopping 8" x 12."

Ones to watch 08/07/2010

This week's ones to watch are:

Shadowland #1

Matt Murdock Dared Evil…and Lost! The battle for the soul of a hero begins! Pushed beyond his limits, Daredevil faces off for a final time against his deadliest foe--Bullseye-- in their most brutal battle ever with more than just Hell’s Kitchen is at stake. Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Punisher and more join forces to stop a war that is breaking out throughout New York, with Daredevil at the center. This event will change the streets of New York City—and the heroes that protect it—forever. Plus, a jaw-dropping final page that will have everyone talking for years to come!

Scarlet #1

THE AWARD WINNING, BEST SELLING, POWERHOUSE CREATIVE TEAM BEHIND DAREDEVIL, HALO, AND THE AVENGERS UNLEASH THIR BOLDEST PROJECT YET! SCARLET! This is the comic experience of the year! The first creator owned series by one of the most successful teams in all of modern comics. Scarlet is the story of a woman pushed to the edge by all that is wrong with the world…A woman who decides to stand up and fight back…A woman who will not back down…A woman who discovers within herself the power to start a modern American revolution!! In the vein of Alias, Powers, and Jinx, Scarlet debuts a fascinating new comics character that, with every issue, reveals new things about herself against a completely original backdrop of intrigue and drama. Get in on the ground floor of the first creator owned series by Bendis since Powers, and the first creator owned series by Maleev…ever. (and, yes, the trademark obnoxious Bendis letter column will be here too)

Ones To Watch 20/05/2010

This week's ones to watch are:

The Avengers Issue 1

THE HEROIC AGE IS HERE! There came a day! A day unlike any other...where two of Marvel's top creators teamed up for the very first time to create a bombastic new monthly Marvel comic that not only ushers in the Heroic Age of Marvel Comics but unleashes onto the world the most blockbuster Avengers team ever! Who will answer the call? And will they assemble just in time...because Kang the Conqueror is here from the future. And wait till you find out why…! Bonus back up feature: the oral history of the Avengers, part one. A brand new illustrated look at the Avengers in a way you have never seen before by series writer Brian Michael Bendis.

Zatanna Issue 1

At last – the Mistress of Magic in her own ongoing series! Zatanna Zatara has long made her home in San Francisco, but right under her nose a sinister threat has developed – a crime boss who dominates the criminal underworld with the dark powers of the magical underworld! The terrifying Brother Night is making his play for San Fran, and the police force – including hunky detective Dale Colton – turn to Zee for help. But Brother Night is a whole new kind of criminal and if Zatanna thinks she can backwards-talk him down, then she's in over her top-hatted head! Superstar writer Paul Dini (BATMAN: MAD LOVE) is paired with the gorgeous art of Stephane Roux (BIRDS OF PREY), making his anticipated DC debut on interior art! There's only one thing to say – T'NOD SSIM TI!

Ones To Watch 13/05/2010

This week's ones to watch are:

Batman: The Return Of Bruce Wayne Issue 1

The most anticipated series of 2010 is here! Superstar writer Grant Morrison tackles his most ambitious project to date with THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, a special six-part series that chronicles the return of the original man behind Batman's cape and cowl! Each issue spans a different era of time and features the dynamic artwork of one of today's artistic juggernauts, starting with Chris Sprouse (TOM STRONG) on the extra-sized issue #1 and Frazer Irving (SEVEN SOLDIERS: KLARION) on the 40-page issue #2!

Birds of Prey Issue 1

Soaring out of BRIGHTEST DAY, the Birds are back in town! Because you demanded it, fan-favorites Gail Simone (WONDER WOMAN, SECRET SIX) and Ed Benes (JUSTICE LEAGUE, GREEN LANTERN) reunite to reinvent the book where they made their explosive debut as a team. Oracle, Black Canary, Huntress and Lady Blackhawk all return to Gotham City where they belong – and they've brought a couple of new friends (or are they foes?) along with them!

Don't forget Birds of Prey issue 1 is one of our fantastic books of the month. So this means that it is 35% off for anyone but if you have a standing order with us it means you get this book at a whopping 50% off!

Ultimate Avengers 2 Issue 1

If you live in the UK you will have only just managed to get your hands on the final part of Millar’s Ultimate Avengers 1 due to problems with a certain volcano. And if you’re anything like me and a lot of people I’ve heard from you were generally under whelmed by the whole thing (Ultimate Avengers not the volcano!).

The second part of Millar’s ongoing run on the Ultimate Avengers is based around the Punisher’s role in the Ultimate Universe as part of Nick Fury’s black ops team and this introductory issue definitely seems to be an improvement on the first series. I’m feeling increasingly hopeful for this comic, Millar absolutely nails the Ultimate version of the Punisher; brutal, dry, unforgiving yet still human enough to take a beating realistically – Millar wants us to see his Punisher as a flawed person, not some superhero, and does so starting with a simple, effective, single page origin.

One of the problems with the issue is that it does take eight pages before the story actually gets going. Millar uses this opening to exaggerate his Punisher, really emphasizing the brutality and how much of a man on a mission he is. But this is something we’ve all seen before and it just feels like a waste of pages, making the issue seem less than it could have been and focusing more or less completely on Frank Castle / The Punisher. The audience may forget that this is a team book and if it continues some of the other characters may not get their fair share of the page count in the series.

The main reason I bought this book after the let-down of the first series is the art by the unbelievable Leinil Yu, one of only a handful of artists I follow since discovering his work in 2005 in the mini-series Silent Dragon.

I’ve always said that a perfect comic book is an equal mix of great art and great writing. No amount of brilliant writing can save a book if it is drawn terribly and vice versa. And although Millar’s writing is not perfect, Leinil Yu’s art is as close to perfect as you might get. The scratchy style that he excels at is inked and coloured in a way that makes me believe the stuff in Ultimate Avengers is as good as, if not better than his run on Secret Invasion. Yu certainly does not shy away from putting as much detail as possible in his work and he produces some of the best facial expressions in the comic art business.

Yu draws one of the best depictions of Frank Castle that we have seen on the shelf in a long time; cold, calculated, with the classic costume and big guns. To be honest with this character there’s little more you could actually ask for.

This is a good introductory issue and it does what it’s supposed to – which is make you want for more. Hopefully it’s a return to form for Millar and we may get some more of the Ultimate style writing we know and love him for. If things keep up like this then Millar will again be giving us the only Ultimates book on the shelves that’s really worth buying.