01.09.13 Shipping Report

If you’d told me when I was reading Channel Zero in 1997 that the same guy would someday be re-launching this bold new direction for this particular property, I probably would have muttered “not bloody likely.” What a difference a decade and a half makes. The only book you really need to know about this week is Star Wars #1 (Dark Horse) by Brian Wood and Carlos D’Anda. It ignores everything superfluous and picks right up after the destruction of the first Death Star, prominently features all the classic characters on the run, including cult favorites like Wedge Antilles, and positions blaster-wielding, Incom T-65 X-Wing Starfighter-piloting, Rebel Alliance-leading, Princess Leia Organa as the series lead. From what I’ve seen, it’s quite obvious that both writer and artist intuitively “get” the universe. It’s going to be the next big thing. And if you’re anywhere in Southern California this coming weekend (Los Angeles/Orange County/San Diego), don’t miss Brian Wood, Carlos D’Anda, and letterer Michael Heisler at Beach Ball Comics in Anaheim, CA on Saturday 1/12 at 1pm signing Star Wars #1. I’ll be there. As for additional floppies, Wood also has Ultimate Comics: X-Men #21 (Marvel) out this week, if you happen to prefer Marvel Mutants to Mon Mothma. If you need some bigger chunks of Wood, both classic and current, I can also point you to Northlanders Volume 07: The Icelandic Trilogy (DC/Vertigo), collecting the 9-issue tail end of the show, not only marking the very last volume in the series, but (I think) the official end of Brian Wood’s forthcoming collected editions for now from former employer DC Comics. You’d also be well-served picking up Conan HC Volume 13: Queen of The Black Coast (Dark Horse), which is the first piece of the story helmed by Brian Wood, with art by Becky Cloonan and James Harren. It’s quite good! Continuing the (non-Wood) collected edition thread this week, it’s worth noting that Batwoman HC Volume 02: Drown the World (DC) is also out, which I think is the second volume of the so-called New 52 run of this title. Which finally brings us to the rest of the floppy stack, including the fantastic Legend of Luther Strode #2 (Image) being an early contender for Best of 2013 (already!), Clone #3 (Image) with the usual art insanity from Juan Jose Ryp, and Think Tank Military Dossier #1 (Image) from Matt Hawkins and Rahsan Ekedal, closing out the powerful Image Comics trifecta this week. It’s also worth mentioning Thor: God of Thunder #4 (Marvel), which is still surprisingly on my radar given Jason Aaron’s unique tertiary narrative structure and Esad Ribic’s crisp “You Keep Comparing Me to Jerome Opena!” aesthetic. What a week!