Comics:

VILLAINS UNITED #1

There's no need convincing anyone how big this book is going to be, and DC seems to be 3-for-3 so far with its run of mini-series leading into this fall's Infinite Crisis. This first issue finds Lex Luthor putting together his most heinous "Legion of Doom" yet, which includes just about every villain in the DC Universe. No pressure for the heroes, right? Not everybody wants to join the army of super-criminals, though, so a small group of second-tier and has-been villains is brought together to rebel against Lex and his Society of Super-Villains. If Luthor's tower is toppled, what does that mean for the rest of the DC Universe? Gail Simone writes what is quite possibly the most engaging of the Infinite Crisis lead-ins, with nary a hero in sight. The bad guys get a chance to shine here, and the reader is treated to a view of what makes some of them tick. Dale Eaglesham, along with inker Wade von Grawbadger, gets a chance to really show off his chops after a stint on the (sadly) mostly overlooked H-E-R-O.

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Toys & Statues:

GLA #2

It's nice to see that Marvel doesn't always take itself too seriously, and this book, thanks in no small part to She-Hulk writer Dan Slott, takes absolutely nothing seriously. Comparisons to DC's "Super Buddies" incarnation of JLA come to mind, but even Blue Beetle and company get something accomplished occasionally. Slott weaves an amusing story of a team of loser heroes who never stood a chance, trying to take a stand in the wake of the Avengers disassembling. After losing one of their founding members in the first issue, the Great Lakes Avengers press on, heading out to New York to assemble some new members. If John Byrne is remembered for only one thing, it probably shouldn't be for creating the Great Lakes Avengers (though he's certainly created worse), but you should thank your lucky stars he did. One of the funniest funny books on the shelves, and featuring a cameo by just about every hero in the Marvel Universe!

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MATADOR #1

Devin Grayson takes a swing at something a little less super hero-y for Wildstorm and hits a homer! Introducing Miami Detective Isabel Cardona, dismissed by her police force peers as just another minority quota hire, who must constantly prove that she is much more. When a series of murders seems to lead to the urban legend known as the Matador, Isabel must work even harder to not only prove her worth, but that she isn't totally mad. Brian Stelfreeze provides his usual brilliant pencils as well as some terrifically subdued but vivid colors.

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NEW X-MEN #13

The students at the Xavier Institute must deal with the loss of one of their beloved mentors, Northstar, after the events of "Enemy of the State" (the recent Wolverine epic, as if you didn't know). Writers Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir do an excellent job of portraying the young mutants' reactions to a tragic loss. The story is well-handled and top-notch throughout, though one aspect of Northstar's character---his sexuality--is merely alluded to and not faced head-on. Still, this book continues to be one of the best read of the X-Books, ever fresher than the retread stories in Uncanny X-Men and more accessible than the singly titled X-Men. Michael Ryan's tight, detailed pencils are more than mere icing on the cake and continue to improve with each issue.

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DAREDEVIL: REDEMPTION #4

The twisting story of murder in the tiny town of Redemption Valley continues, with more secrets coming to light. Matt Murdock makes some headway with the case by day, but at night his alter ego only serves to stir up more violence. With the trial only days away, neither Daredevil nor Murdock has much time left in building a case, and the residents of Redemption Valley seem to want it that way. David Hine has managed to craft a Dardevil tale as fine as anything Bendis has concocted in his four-year run---it wouldn't be surprising to learn that Hine is Bendis' replacement after his departure later this year. It also goes without saying that artist Michael Gaydos is as perfect a complement to Hines' storytelling here as he was to Bendis on "Alias".

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BATMAN: DARK DETECTIVE #1

One of the legendary Batman creative teams---Steve Englehart, Marshall Rogers, and Terry Austin---returns for this six-part mini-series pitting Batman against his classic rogues gallery, with the first issue featuring Joker. This book is a bit of an anachronism, with the Joker more happy-go-lucky than homicidal, more willing to make things difficult for Batman than leaving a bodycount in his wake. Batman himself also seems a little out of place, more the detective super hero that kids of the 70's grew up with than the ever-paranoid Dark Knight of today. These are not necessarily bad things however, as it is refreshing to see a Batman that hasn't been for quite some time. Fans of Englehart's run won't be surprised, nor will they be disappointed. Younger fans and newbies might find some strange novelty in this, as it is a Batman that is mostly unfamiliar in his attitudes and style.

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SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED #9

This book can be mediocre at best sometimes, but this is one of those issue that really hits the nail on the head in both featured stories. First off is a tale of comic woe as Spidey's powers go on the blink after a run-in with a supercharged Electro, written by Christopher Yost and penciled by Drew Johnson. When Spider-Man starts sticking to everything (or is that the other way around?), he makes a point of trying to solve the problem on his own. Yost is a natural with Spidey-banter, and Johnson, along with inker Ray Snyder, has both clear line work and a talent for visual comedy. The second story is a bit grittier, featuring the story of an amnesiac looking to Spider-Man to give him a hand. Petar Brudges and Cully Hammer do well to spin a story off the usual beaten path, with the humor a little darker than usual and a story more satisfying in 11 pages than most recent long-running Spider-Man sagas.

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