EX MACHINA SPECIAL #1

Unlike Brian K. Vaughan’s other smash series Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina is always an easy book to pick up without much catching up on the part of the new reader. Having said that, this 2-part special series is a great starting point not only for new readers but longtime fans as well. Detached from the regular series’ motif of juxtaposing Mitchell Hundred’s trials as mayor of New York City with his past exploits as the Great Machine, this series starts with the mayor giving a radio interview and dives headlong into a full-fledged tale from his super hero past. At long last, readers are given a look into the Great Machine’s first run-in with his archenemy Jack Pherson. The yin to Hundred’s yang, Pherson has an ability that grants him similar powers over the animal world to the Great Machine’s "machine talk". And when the two first meet, it’s a clash that may leave Hundred questioning his place in the world.

WOLVERINE: ORIGINS #1

With his memories finally returned to him, Wolverine has a few old scores to settle, and so begins this new ongoing series. Though his final objective may seem mysterious to readers, the man known as Logan knows exactly what he’s doing, and this first issue sees him making his first stop at the White House. And where Wolverine goes, trouble is sure to follow, this time in the form of one of the deadly Shiva robots. All this, plus the re-introduction of one of Daredevil’s long lost mysterious foes!

MANHUNTER #21

One of the best original concepts to come out of the DCU in some time, Manhunter never ceases to surprise readers with fast-and-furious twists and turns for its heroine Kate Spencer. One Year Later, Spencer finds herself in an all-new situation when she is called to defend the nefarious Dr. Psycho for his crimes during the Infinite Crisis. Writer Marc Andreyko has transformed a convoluted and tired concept and breathed new life into it while slowly revealing a secret history rich with strong ties to the heroes of the DC Universe.

JUSTICE #5

The villains’ plan to destroy the Justice League takes on new twists as the heroes begin to fight back. With Superman seemingly down for the count, only one mortal has the might to save the Kryptonian from certain death. Meanwhile, other JLA members begin to clutch small victories from the hands of their attackers even as Luthor steps up his plan to conquer the planet. Alex Ross turns in some of the most dynamic art of his career with the help of breakdown artist Doug Braithwaite while simultaneously teaming with co-writer Jim Krueger to deliver one of the most exciting blockbuster League stories in years.

DAREDEVIL #84

The stakes rise higher for Matt Murdock this issue as another enemy is introduced into the dangerous melting pot at Rykers. The walls continue to close in around Murdock as some of his most murderous foes threaten to make his experience in prison one he won’t easily survive. Outside the prison walls, Dakota North and Ben Urich close in on the mysterious new Daredevil, but are they being lead into a trap? And just when you think writer Ed Brubaker couldn’t possibly make things worse for the Man Without Fear, another player is introduced into the mix.

ANNIHILATION: NOVA #1

House of M! Decimation! Planet Hulk! Civil War! Although Marvel seems to be overflowing with event-driven books of late, the good news is that there’s a little something in all this for everyone. For fans of Marvel’s cosmic heroes, Annihilation is a happy surprise, featuring long-unused and under-appreciated characters from all corners of the Marvel Universe. Nova is perhaps one of the more exciting of these titles, putting earth born Nova Corps member Richard Rider in the deadliest situation of his career. With the entire Nova Corps decimated, the last living Nova must form an alliance with a deadly criminal if he hopes to survive and take on the Annihilation Wave head on.