Elfbytes July '07

BLACK CANARY WEDDING PLANNER.  Look for the TV series starring Mellisa Joan Hart on W network, Thursday’s after Bridezillas… we’re kidding, sorry Timmy. The Big Question is if this will be bigger then Black Panther and Storm’s nuptials, you know that “Wedding of the Decade”.

GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY WEDDING SPECIAL #1.  Has DC really considered the ramifications of this, I mean if they go the traditional route, and Canary changes her name… well Green Canary just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

JLA WEDDING SPECIAL.  As if planning a wedding wasn’t hard enough, try dealing with the injustice league while dress fitting.

SUICIDE SQUAD: RAISE THE FLAG #1. By John Ostrander and Javier Pina.  Rick flag JR is back from the dead, and just how he survived a nuclear blast will be revealed in this gripping spy book.  Meanwhile Amanda whaler puts together a new suicide squad for a new secret mission… to steal the guest list to the Green Arrow and Black Canary wedding.

ACTION COMICS #856.  Written by Geoff Johns & Richard Donner.  Art and cover by Eric Powell.  Goodbye.  This book no am about rampaging Bizarros.  Superman’s life are peaceful and his family members am in no danger.  Don’t buy this book.  Hello. 

CATWOMAN #71 Written by Will Pfeifer.  Illustrated by David Lopez & Alvaro Lopez.  Cover by Adam Hughes.  This title delivers month after month with one of the most solid creative teams in comics right now, and with the added bonus of covers by Adam Hughes.  Things have been slowly building towards a significant change for Catwoman for some time now, and you should check this one out as the climax nears. 

COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY #1.  Written by Steve Gerber and Matt Sturges. Art by Justiniano & Walden Wong and Stephen Segovia.  Cover by Justiniano.  Dr. Fate gets another chance to star in a book.  His last series crashed and burned even before it got into stores.  This time he’s managed to snag an eight issue limited series for himself.  Let’s hope that this one survives its full run.

Nobody wanted to read it last time, until it got cancelled. So if your one of those fantastic Monday morning quarterbacks that griped about not getting a good dose of everyone’s favourite “other” sorcerer supreme until it was to late don’t forget to place your order… else wise you are leaving this title to it’s fate (oh that was so bad it hurt just typing it)

COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #2.  Written by Adam Beechen and Justin Gray.  Art by Eddy Barrows & Julio Ferrera and Fabrizio Fiorentino.  Cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert.  This is the series featuring Starfire, Animal Man, and Adam Strange continuing their adventures from 52, but it’s the backup story that made the cover: Forerunner vs the Nazi Justice League of Earth-10!

This issue will finally complete the story started with the first arc of the relaunched series, illustrated as only the Dodson’s can.  It will also feature a back-up illustrated by Gary Frank and Jonathan Sibal, who will be the new artistic team on Action Comics starting this fall.  Let’s hope it has been worth the wait. 

FLASH #232 Written by Mark Waid.  Illustrated by Daniel Acuna.  We told you last month that things were going to be kicking into high gear for the Flash!  You really should learn to trust us by now.  The series has been re-launched, with the old numbering, and features the exciting new creative team of Waid & Acuna.  This series is going to be good, so make sure you start reading it now. 

Don’t worry, you didn’t miss 218 issues, DC is just using “Mighty Marvel Math”.  It’ the Triumphant return of one of the most influential Flash writer’s ever, plus a dark secret is revealed! Why are there so many dark secrets? And Why can no one keep them quiet?

INFINITY INC. #1.  Written by Peter Milligan.  Art and cover by Max Fiumara.  Yet another one of the 52 spin-offs.  Seems like if you enjoyed any of the storylines from that series then you’ll find a new book to read in the upcoming months.  This one follows the fallout of the Everyman Project and the new Infinity Inc.  With Milligan as the writer, this promises to be a darker book than most conventional titles.

John (Steel) Irons, tries to figure out why in the sweet #%@* this story still isn’t over.

JLA/HITMAN #1.  Written by Garth Ennis.  Art and cover by John McCrea.  Unseen for several years, Tommy Monaghan returns, written by his creator, the one and only Garth (Preacher) Ennis.  Now here’s hoping we get appearances by Dogwelder and the rest of Section 8 (even though they are long dead).

Two Badass issues by Bad Ass Ennis.  When the JLA can’t handle a problem on they’re moon base they have to turn to Tommy for help.  But can even he handle the fall out from the unpleasant secrets that will be revealed. #$%*ing secrets; DC’s editorial staff are about as discreet as Paris Hilton.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #13.  New Injustice League, New Artist, New Writer. I hope they use the Fisherman on this team.  He really deserves a solid push into the big leagues, I mean he has a fishing rod of doom… that has to count for something.

OUTSIDERS #50.  If sticking batman on the book doesn’t work, they’re going to borrow Wolverine.  Honestly, I picture this as being one of those Disney style team stories, where the beleaguered coach (Batman) has to lead a rag tag group of misfit underdogs (outsiders) to victory.  He’ll do the clichéd thing and introduce a controversial new team member, pissing off the team’s current star.  Eventually everyone will warm up to his gruff no nonsense style and do things his way.  They’re will be pitfalls, and everyone will almost abandon the coach when they’re doubt almost overtakes them, but an arousing speech from one of the quiet yet consistent team members will inspire them to keep going.  Ignoring historical accuracy, everyone will drink Gatorade.  Yay, product placement!

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #40.  Written by Alan Burnett.  Art and cover by Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs.  The goddamn Batman gropes a hottie.  Not only is she a New God but she also happens to be Orion’s wife.  The Dark Knight better have some Anti-Pissed-Off-Deity Spray in that belt of his.

TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS PRESENTS PARALLAX #1.  Written by Ron Marz.  Art by Adriana Melo & Marlo Alquiza.  Cover by Mike McKone & Andy Lanning.  If you’ve read the Sinestro Corps Special then you know that things are looking dim for the Green Lantern Corps.  This series focuses on the stories behind the individual Sinestro Corps members starting off with the brand new Parallax.

Things have gotten VERY interesting for the Green Lanterns lately, and these special promises to only add to the excitement.  If you picked up the Sinestro Corps Special last month, or if you even remotely like the Green Lanterns, you won’t want to miss this issue. 

TEEN TITANS #51 Written by Sean McKeever.  Illustrated by Ale Garza & Mario Alquiza.  The future arrives for the Teen Titans in a very big way, with the re-appearance of their future selves.  Check out the first arc by the new creative team of Sean McKeever and Ale Garza as they challenge the Titans and set the stage for the excitement to come. 

THE QUESTION: ZEN AND VIOLENCE VOL. 1 TP.  Written by Dennis O’Neil.  Art by Denys Cowan & Rick Magyar.  Cover by Cowan & Bill Sienkiewicz.  Vic Sage may have died but now you have the chance to relive the adventures from his classic, late 1980’s comic series.  The Question learns about Zen philosophy while fighting crime and getting the crap kicked out of him.  What more could you want?

WONDER GIRL #1 (of 6).  Cassie Sandsmark strikes out on her own to tie up the loose ends and left over monsters from Attack of the Amazons.  I hate stragglers, when the parties clearly over, go home.

WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL #1.  Written by Allan Heinberg.  Art by Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson and Gary Frank & Jonathan Sibal.  Cover by Terry and Rachel Dodson.  This is the story that finally concludes the first Wonder Woman arc.  Let this be a lesson to comic book creators: if you can’t get your work done in time then you’ll be bumped for the next creative team… only to be rewarded with a special annual later on.

Will the real issue five please stand up… finally.  Plus a Gary Frank back up story!

WILDSTORM

COUNTDOWN PRESENTS THE SEARCH FOR RAY PALMER: WILDSTORM #1.  Hot on the heels (actually several years later) of Marvel’s Exiles comes the reality hopping exploits of the Dead Robin, The other, other, other Green Lantern and the Substitute Wonder Woman traveling through out the Multi Verse.  Starting in the Wildstorm Verse, where they will have to fight everyone’s favourite ambiguously gay duo and 90’s teen team.  Yay!!!

EX MACHINA #30 GREAT JUMPING ON POINT! Written by Brian K. Vaughan.  Illustrated by Tony Harris & Jim Clark.  A new story-arc begins here, and promises to deliver the excitement we’ve come to expect from this fantastic series, and likely reveal a few more clues in the mystery behind Mayor Hundred’s powers. 

HIGHWAY MEN #4 (of 5) Written by Adam Freeman & Marc Bernardin.  Illustrated by Lee Garbet.  This mini-series has been a wonderful surprise, and is well worth checking out before it wraps up.  Great story, interesting characters, lots of espionage, and excellent artwork are just the beginning of what makes this one so good.  Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.