The Longbox Short-List - Week of February 7, 2018

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Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Tue, 02/06/2018 - 03:00

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s long-running weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week. Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that. Let's get to it!

Comics shipping this week

X-MEN RED #1 – Jean Grey’s team of X-Men…not quite sure why Jean needs her own team, but I love the team and Tom Taylor writes great comics, so I am definitely on board as a customer here. Curious if we are going to see both Jeans in this book, since at the end of PHOENIX RESURRECTION they are both alive again.

INFINITY COUNTDOWN ADAM WARLOCK #1 – Apparently this was supposed to be GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #151, but they changed it last minute. I grew up on Starlin’s SILVER SURFER and INFINITY WATCH so I love Adam Warlock. I am actually really looking forward to INFINITY COUNTDOWN. I am assuming that this will lead to him appearing in AVENGERS INFINITY WAR.

EXIT STAGE LEFT: THE SNAGGLEPUSS CHRONICLES #2 – I was not ready for the first issue of this, which was a pretty indepth look at McCarthyism and how it targeted Hollywood. DC has done such a great job subverting all expectations with their Hanna-Barbera books. JETSONS and the last issue of DASTARDLY AND MUTTLEY also come out this week.

BATMAN #40 – Last issue of BATMAN was a bit odd. Batman and Wonder Woman found themselves keeping a promise to allow the Gentle Man a day off from his eternal war against something or another. But they have quickly discovered that time flows different in his world and that day has lasted for years and years. At the end of the issue, Batman and Wonder Woman share a kiss, which has had a lot of people questioning whether Batman and Catwoman’s relationship is over. I doubt it since DC is already promoting the wedding happening in July…

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #795 – Nathan Osborn as Carnage…really?? I actually hate that Marvel keeps trying to make Norman into something he’s not. He has always been a terrifying personal threat for Peter Parker, but turning him into the head of HAMMER, a cult leader, and now Carnage actually makes him less interesting and threating to me.

LEGENDERRY RED SONJA #1 – I had a lot of fun with Dynamite’s Legenderry line. I had thought they had gotten away from doing those, so it was a nice surprise to see them doing a new LEGENDERRY RED SONJA series. Basically Legenderry is one big shared steampunk world featuring new versions of characters like Red Sonja, Vampirella, and Green Hornet. I hope we get to see some more of those in this series and not just Red Sonja. GIVE US A LEGENDERRY ONGOING SERIES!

YOUNG MONSTERS IN LOVE #1 – I love those quirky holiday specials that DC puts out, but with a $10 price tag, I have to pass on it.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #38 – It’s kind of hard to get excited about Priest’s run when we just found out that it is ending after the first arc. I actually am looking forward to NO JUSTICE, but it sure hamstrings any expectations I have of Priest’s run having any real depth or lasting impact.

ARMSTRONG AND THE VAULT OF SPIRITS #1 – I miss having an ongoing ARCHER AND ARMSTRONG series, but at least we get Armstrong in a one-shot. Come on Valiant! SHADOWMAN is back, when are we getting A+A??