JUSTICE #3

The villains’ master plan begins to take shape as the Justice League falls apart. One by one, it seems the members of the JLA are meeting unseemly fates, while the world at large is being made to believe that the villains may be earth’s only hope. Things are definitely going south fast, and it doesn’t look hopeful when Martian Manhunter begins his search for Aquaman and finds Grodd instead. Writer Jim Krueger’s intricately plotted story utilizes artist Alex Ross’ favorite classic #147;super friends#148; in a smart, modern way that succeeds at mixing the best of old and new---classic Silver Age characterizations that mingle with the sophistication of intelligently delivered scripts. And having Alex Ross paint over Doug Braithwaite’s pencils seems to provide a more dynamic look for Ross’ usual stiff-but-realistic figures. Discuss

RUNAWAYS #11

The kids’ New York adventure continues with the team split up and finding trouble in various neighborhoods and pocket dimensions. Their parents’ status as villains finally brings some good their way when Chase and Nico find themselves in a tight spot. Meanwhile, the tasty power of sushi brings Gert and Victor together with a certain misunderstood wall-crawler. And you don’t think writer Brian K. Vaughan would forget about spunky little mutant Molly Hayes, did ya? Heck no, she has her own life-or-death battle to face in the form of…nahhh, that’d be telling. Discuss

INFINITE CRISIS #3

If you’re one of the three DC fanboys who hasn’t been reading this, there’s still time to catch up! After carefully weaving together various and seemingly unrelated subplots over the past two years, things are really starting to come together in the DC Universe, and Infinite Crisis stands as the lynchpin that pulls everything together. In the skillful hands of writer Geoff Johns, known for streamlining and perfecting convoluted character histories (Hawkman, Green Lantern:Rebirth), everything that was never fully or completely explained after the original Crisis On Infinite Earths seems to be finding a resolution here. It’s also becoming apparent that DC is using this series as a way of stepping up its game, with a number of massive changes to the status quo promsing to make the DCU a very different place when all is said and done. Most comic book "events" promise big changes and come up empty---this one actually follows through on its promise. Discuss

GIRLS #8

The Luna brothers’ sleeper hit "Ultra" has nothing on this, their sophomore effort. With every issue leading readers on a very riveting and unexpected journey, Girls manages to accomplish what few comics do these days: to not only entertain its audience but to offer something new and unexpected. Brothers Joshua and Jonathan use a subtle approach through both story and art to lure the reader into a frightening world that is both fascinating and original, with characters that come to life without the use of overinflated egos or physiques. What began as the story of girl-crazy, socially inadequate Ethan Daniels has mutated into a horror story of potentially epic proportions. With every issue venturing into even more dreadful territory, it’s impossible to say where they’ll take it next, and it’s exactly that sort of page-turning shock that will keep fans coming back for more. Discuss

SEVEN SOLDIERS: BULLETEER #2

With this issue comes more insight into the mysterious events of Seven Soldiers #0. The new Bulleteer assists an FBI agent in discovering the fates of a group of nil-rated heroes and ends up learning things far beyond her own comprehension. Grant Morrison begins to pull the plot strings tighter as situations from both the one-shot and various mini-series start to come together. The true brilliance of Morrison’s story lies in his ability to tell multiple tales that work as individual narratives as well as part of a much greater tapestry without ever forcing the reader to take on more than he or she desires. Discuss

PUNISHER VS BULLSEYE #2

Few writers have portrayed the Punisher as the obsessed nutjob with a gun that he really is as perfectly as Garth Ennis. Writer Daniel Way certainly seems to have as firm a grip on the grim vigilante as Ennis, and pitting him against Daredevil’s nemesis Bullseye certainly makes for some wonderfully nihilistic storytelling. Couple a character bent on ridding the world of organized crime one bullet at a time with a crazed hitman-for-hire with the ability to turn anything into a weapon and you definitely have a recipe for disaster, which in lesser hands could transform a book like this into a series of violent splash-pages and over-used cliches. Way takes the same impish glee as Ennis in using characters like these and turning the proceedings into a twisted sort of "Spy VS Spy" tale. Add to that mix acclaimed Punisher artist Steve Dillon, and you have a series close in tone to Ennis’ and Dillon’s Marvel Knights run on Punisher without simply repeating its best bits. In this issue, the Punisher learns that he may have met his match in Bullseye, who almost effortlessly turns the urban vigilante’s well-laid plans to dust. Discuss

BATGIRL #71

After embarking on a journey to uncover the mystery of her birth mother, Batgirl has inevitably bitten off more than she can chew. Now she finds herself on the run from a virtually unbeatable gang of killers including the deadly Lady Shiva and no closer to the truth. A final showdown with Shiva is surely around the corner, but can Batgirl hope to survive that long? Writer Andersen Gabrych takes great care in taking Batgirl on an emotional trip that could lead her to a greater understanding of herself or an untimely death, and with the cancellation of this title only two issues away, anything is possible. Discuss

SPIDER-WOMAN: ORIGIN #1

Brian Michael Bendis has been showing his love for the character of Jessica Drew long before she became a member of the New Avengers. Originally planned (but eventually nixed) as the protagonist for Bendis’ Marvel Max series "Alias", she even made an appearance late in the series. Now she’s finding herself in the spotlight again with not only membership in Marvel’s premiere super-team but a book detailing her mysterious past. In the first issue, Jessica is born into a family of scientists conducting studies at Wundagore Mountain. Father Jonathan hopes to harness the adaptive powers of the spider for use by humans, but his plans may prove far more sinister than they appear when his wife uncovers a very disturbing secret to his studies. Discuss