Weekly Treats! Neonomicon, Flashpoint, Spaceman

 

Here's an awkward one to kick us off.  Normally I'd have no qualms about suggesting you take a look at some new work from Alan Moore - after all, how often are we treated to that?  However there are moments in this particular book that readers of a gentler disposition should be cautious of.  Alan Moore said of Neonomicon (Avatar) that he had sort of, erm, forgotten writing it and that when he read it again he was worried that he had gone to too far.  I think that this serves both as a warning about its content and prepares you for the type of book you're about to read; it's reaching out from darker territories about the darker subversion's of HP Lovecraft.

If you fancy some preparatory reading, Neonomicon is a follow-up to The Courtyard (Avatar), an earlier (and shorter) piece of work.  And if you do want to read more about the book there's a very good review at Multiversity (see here).
 

Given that many people are enjoying the DC relaunch, I would suggest that the hardcover release of Flashpoint (DC) may, at the very least, make it onto a few Christmas lists this year.  Yes, the idea of the New 52 is that it's a continuity-lite jumping on point but for new readers this is something of an irresistible curiosity and to existing DC fans it represents an important end of chapter and should (shudder to think) the whole thing ever be reverted I'm sure the clues will be in this story.  It's a Flash-centric story (who else has can safely subvert time lines?) but feels like it has the fate of the DCU in its pages - and how often does that genuinely happen?

Talking of which, let's see how the #2's are progressing.  Following on from one of the pleasant surprises of last month, Aquaman #2 Geoff Johns' newest villains, The Trench manage to wipe out a whole town...and they're spreading.  Batman: The Dark Knight #2 makes timely use of Arkham Asylum (not the back, not the back!) and there's a new, improved power alert in The Flash #2, but at what cost?  Superman #2 sees him battling a foe that only he can stop but that only he can't see.  Two other really good reads continue in the form of I, Vampire #2 (battle of the exes, vampire style) and Justice League Dark #2; it worked! Constantine, Shade, Madame Xanadu, Zatanna - great stuff!

Marvel have a nice list of highlights this week: Incredible Hulk #1 combines the tough-talking Jason Aaron with the muscular Marc Silvestri which could turn out to be a Hulk dream-team and Wolverine and the X-Men #1 launches with that man Aaron again and Chris Bachalo.  Both essential.  There may be more eyes than usual trained on Mighty Thor #7 given the conclusion to Fear Itself.  This issue fills us in on all that funny business between Odin and the Serpent that they kept alluding to.  The enjoyable Spider-Island comes to a conclusion in Amazing Spider-Man #672 and the Avengers: Solo #1 spotlight series begins with Hawkeye.  And finally, Warren Ellis has turned Secret Avengers #18 into a fantastic series with his trademark done-in-one sci-fi super heroics. Shang-chi joins the crew this issue and who better to draw the issue than Immortal Iron Fist artist David Aja.

 

One more thing: definitely worth a look is the new comic from the 100 Bullets team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso.  Featuring a storyline that appears to be a curious mix of newspaper headline and sci-fi, Spaceman #1 (DC) is set in a post-apocalyptic future where lead character Orson, works in a scrap metal yard dreaming of adventures in the stars.  He then finds himself embroiled in a celebrity child kidnapping case and sees a chance to become a hero. It's a nine-issue series and the first issue is only $1 (70p in real money!).