MARVEL TEAM-UP #14

A first for the pages of Marvel Team-Up! Robert Kirkman introduces Invincible to the Marvel Universe by way of random transdimensional portal, leading to the traditional team-up tomfoolery. Spider-Man and Invincible take on Doc Ock, share some quality time sharing secret origins, and hang out at Avengers Tower. Okay, so it doesn’t sound like the most revolutionary team-up, but between Kirkman’s brilliant witty banter between the two heroes and Invincible co-creator Cory Walker’s art, this is issue is a must-have for Spidey and Invincible fans alike. Discuss

BATMAN: GOTHAM COUNTY LINE #2

Who would have thought that Steve Niles would ever write a super hero book? Granted, there’s still the required dosage of magic curses and zombie madness for a Steve Niles book, but it’s a superhero book nevertheless. Batman suspects he’s been drugged by the assumed-dead villain from issue one, but he soon discovers that a curse may be behind his wild hallucinations. Enter one very dead special guest to the rescue! Discuss

SENTINEL #1

The fan favorite series returns, picking up the action almost immediately after the end of the first series. It’s been less than two days since Juston Seyfert disappeared from the quiet town of Antigo, and his friends and family fear for his safety. Little do they know that he is actually on the run from his own secrets and lies with a recovered Sentinel as his transportation and protection, along with an agenda to locate his estranged mother. Meanwhile, CSA agent Walsh has begun to piece together evidence of Juston’s connection to the missing Sentinel, and Juston’s father decides to take matters into his own hands. Written by series creator Sean McKeever, with art by Joe Vriens. Discuss

SEVEN SOLDIERS: BULLETEER #1

The latest of the Seven Soldiers series finds Grant Morrison recreating the science fiction superhero for a whole new generation. Resembling the typical four-color superhero power fantasy more than anything else, Morrison turns on its ear the classic scenario of normal people being transformed by esoteric substances into something far more than human. This results in a wry skewering of the cliched concept and sends one woman on a journey she never expected to take. Yanick Paquette and Michael Bair, along with colorist Alex Sinclair, provide the visuals for this Seven Soldiers installment. Discuss

SPIDER-MAN: HOUSE OF M #5

The book that gave Peter Parker everything he ever wanted is taking it all back in this final issue of the House of M crossover. The Parker luck seems to go bad in any reality as Peter finds himself hunted by humans and mutants alike, all while his concerned family tries desperately to find him. What hope can Spider-Man possibly have when the House of M comes calling? Written by Mark Waid and Tom Peyer, with art by Salvador Larocca and Danny Miki. Discuss

DESOLATION JONES #4

If you’re not convinced yet that Warren Ellis is creating some of the best work of his career and that Desolation Jones is part of that, what will it take? Maybe it’s time to trade in those rehashed super-powered fantasy wish fulfillment books for something a bit darker, a bit more adult---and dare I say, a bit more well-written? Warren Ellis is at the top of his game with this and the brilliant Jack Cross, and along with artist J.H. Williams III, is creating an intensely moody and visually captivating landscape full of creepy ex-spooks and scandalous artifacts, and featuring the most unlikable Ellis protagonist since Spider Jerusalem. In this issue, said protagonist gets his face kicked in on his own doorstep and finds a whole new angle to his current case. Discuss