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Taking a Look at Another Stack of Comics

Welcome to another edition of the Why I Love column, where I, Eric Ratcliffe, pick something I've read, played, listened to or watched to discuss with you fair readers. This week we review the end of Siege, talk about Hellboy in Mexico, Mike Allred's new Vertigo book and what happens when Catman gets incredibly angry. It's another two weeks worth of comics here, so let's jump right in!

Top Cow's Broken Trinity Pandora's Box #2 continues the story of Finn and Glori continues to roll on as Glori's character is finally fleshed out and she stops being a one note villain and both characters do their best to find the mysterious box which all seems to be leading into Artifacts. I really enjoyed last issue and the creative team is doing a great job of fleshing out both characters. Finn seems to be struggling with this new life and it's great to have an actual everyman in the Top Cow Universe that has been gifted the odd powers that he now has. I also really appreciate Glori actually not being straight up evil as I honestly didn't see it coming.

Verdict: I really think this will be essential to artifacts and I think the cast is strong enough to continue to warrant a buy.

Pilot Season rolls on with Stealth by Robert Kirkman, Marc Silvestri and Sheldon Mitchell. Out of the three books so far, this is easily the weakest. At the core of the concept is a man doing his best to take care of his father who is getting worse as time goes on. What makes that bleaker is his father is a costumed hero who is going senile and injuring innocent people.

Verdict: The concept is interesting and the characters were all really strong but...I just don't see it winning. This is a skip.

My first Book of the Week goes to Hellboy in New Mexico! This is easily one of my favorite stories of 2010 so far and a beautiful one shot. For those that remember Angel Season 5 when Angel meets the Luchador who tells him the story of his brothers, it's very similar to that. Abe joins Hellboy for a memory of his past when he was still pretty fresh to fighting against the creatures that bump in the night. He meets a family of Luchador wrestlers who he hits it off with and they go hunting together until one of the brothers is kidnapped.

Its interesting seeing that even earlier on in his career, Hellboy was kicking as much ass as he could and making friends with some very unique characters. The brothers are all great and the one that is kidnapped was the closest to Hellboy who blames himself for what has to happen in the long run.

Verdict: This is a great one shot for anyone who loves supernatural stories with a unique twist, definitely worth the buy.

My second Book of the Week comes to us from Vertigo via iZombie by Chris Roberson and Mike Allred. We follow the story of Gwen who is apparently a zombie. But she's not a typical zombie and we are soon introduced to her supporting cast of a weredog, a hipster ghost and some mysterious vampire who is preying on people in a paintball field.

The artwork really fits the tone of the book perfectly and to me is truly Allred at his best. From the hipster ghost who I love to the scene of Gwen flashing on a murder that she will have to solve it's a true beauty to look at.

Verdict: It's a Mike Allred book, definitely worth the buy.

Deadpool Corps #2 continues right where left off last issue as Wade has tricked our antagonist into thinking he's part of the team. Mind you, this doesn't really please Lady Deadpool at all. My favorite gag in the issue comes at the expense of the Gardener who reveals his name similar to a scene wrote by Joe Kelly back in the early days of Deadpool. The dialogue manages to continue to be fun and pack a few laughs and this artwork is honestly the best Rob has been in a long time.

Verdict: I am hoping that things start to move faster next issue. It's a great book but feels like unless it picks up, I cannot recommend it to readers.

Book of the Week #3! Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert bring us a bi monthly ongoing series with Astonishing Spider-man and Wolverine #1! This was a great book and Jason Aaron has really shown a clear understanding of the relationship between the two heroes. Basically they end up thrown back in time and next thing they know they are back in New York...with a giant robotic T-Rex about to attack them. There is some incredibly strong characterization over all in the book as well. From Peter doing his science thing in the past to Logan finding peace with early Cro-Magnon men, I really enjoyed a lot of this issue.

Kubert really is at his best here showing a bearded Peter, an almost feral Logan and the insanity that surrounds them throughout the issue. The overall mystery seems exciting and I can't wait to see where things head next.

Verdict: It's a 3.99 book, but has a beautiful pin up gallery and is packed full of story. I give it a very cautious buy. Meaning...if you have the money, go for it!

Prince of Power #1 has Amadeus Cho fighting the Griffin and then doing his best to run the Olympus group all while getting help from Bruce Banner to find Herc in the Multiverse. If you liked Hercules, then you are going to love this series. Amadeus is really growing up and it's great to see the determination he has to set things right. I hope this leads into a new ongoing for the characters!

Verdict: it's a four issue miniseries that is starting off incredibly strong, though because it's a miniseries I would have to say it might be better to wait for the trade in the long run. Though my opinion might change depending on how the rest of the mini wraps up.

Siege #4 wraps up the series and gives us our new status quo in a really satisfying way. Over six years of planning have led to almost everything that happens in this issue. From the epic conclusion to the battle with the Void and the heartbreaking moment where Bob regains control to Steve Rogers getting the Superhuman Registration Act overturned, this is a strong read. This issue has a huge shocking death that I didn't see coming and the character gets a very moving speech that has to be some of Brian's strongest writing to date.

Verdict: I will be writing a spotlight column on Siege some point in the future but in reality this is a big reason why I love comics and is some strong storytelling. Definitely a buy!

Dark Avengers #16 is one of the endings to Siege and has some really great material in it to end Siege. From Victoria Hand's conversation with Steve to Osborn sitting in the jail cell getting haunted by the Goblin, it really puts a nice bow on the overall series as well as Siege.

We also get a very funny final letter from Brian thanking the fan base for giving the book a chance and the secret of what Norman's hair is about.

Verdict: Except for the X-Men crossover this was an incredibly strong series. I know I for one will be binding it together with Siege and some other stuff. Definitely a buy!

New Avengers Finale came close to being one of my Books of the Week but I decided not to. What I will say is this, one of the strongest endings Brian has written to anything in his career. I mean sure, the book is being relaunched with just a few minor changes to the team but this was really the end of the overall feel of the book. Beautiful Bryan Hitch artwork (I really love his Jessica Jones) From the Hood being taken down for good to Logan reentering the battle, this really hits on all cylinders.

Verdict: Everyone gets a moment to shine and the artwork is incredible. Whatever trade this gets put into is highly recommended and just like Dark Avengers, it fills in extra bits of the Siege ending.

Brightest Day #1 continues right where #0 left off and starts to add to the overall mysteries plaguing the lives of the recently returned to the living. Carol, Hal and Sinestro argue over the White Battery and what it could possibly mean, Arthur channels undead sea life, Black Manta returns, The Hawks investigate the disappearance of their bodies and J'onn has some questions about when he first came to the earth. Things are really shaping up nicely and the overall mysteries are really cool to follow.

I love Martian Manhunter and truly think he shines out the most in the series. The only thing that bothers me is that GL led right into this instead of the White Lantern stuff actually staying in that book for the most part.

Verdict: Definitely a buy. Especially for that final page.

Book of the Week #4! Red Robin #12 shows that Tim Wayne is someone that can go head to head with Batman's greatest Rogues and outsmart them. Chris Yost is at the top of his game here showing just how strong of a character Tim can be. Everything that he has set up is paid off for the most part. Using certain Titans as well as out smarting Ra's is just plain awesome. I love everything about this issue.

Verdict: Tim Drake in my mind is at the top of the Bat Family and really has come into his own identity again. We also see that scene from issue #1 in a different light and I cannot wait to see what Fabian does starting next issue!

Secret Six #21 is a dark issue packed with some great character building moments that you honestly have no idea how far Gail will take the character. Also I am madly in love with that cover as it's my favorite of the series so far. Catman leads a path of destruction to the people that kidnapped his son and it's truly horrific what he does to each one. Meanwhile, Floyd and the others do their best to find him before he goes too far and Bane make a substitute Six for a mission that has yet to be revealed.

The shots of Catman's past are slightly disturbing but overall add new levels to the character. The fight at the end of the issue is easily one of my favorite yet as Thomas does his best to find his son.

Verdict: Crazy action, Black Alice losing her damn mind and Giganta really make this an issue worth hunting down. It's a buy!

Justice League Generation Lost #1 has Booster doing his best to stop Max before its too late. Booster and Max's confrontation built the proper amount of tension and set the tone for the overall series. It was probably one of my favorite moments in these two weeks' worth of reading. I really love how the team was pulled back together as well.

Verdict: The JLI is back but will they truly be too late to stop Max? It's a really interesting set up that I can't wait to see Jaime get involved in and there is still a great chemistry between these characters. This will be a series I continue to read and keep you updated on its quality. Definitely a buy!

We end this column on the 5th Book of the Week! None other than Gail Simone and Ed Benes returning to Birds of Prey! Just like the JLI getting back together so do the Birds in a really interesting way. Gail has always made Zinda and Dinah two of my favorite characters and here it's no different. I'd say they are the real stars of the book in my mind and have always been. Dinah meets a mysterious foe and Zinda meets up with Hawk and Dove.

Over all the characters are awesome, Ed's art has never been better and Barbara does her best to reform the team that she separated in the first place. Over all a great new start for a series that needed to come back.

Verdict: It's a buy people!

So join us next column as we talk Avengers #1, Proof, Doomwar and the end of the Anchor! See you next time!

Eric Ratcliffe is a young writer/pop culture journalist/interviewer currently working on pitching a project named the Hunter chronicles. When not reading his weekly stack Eric can be found watching DVDs, playing on his 360 (gamertag: Zack Hunter) or just surfing online trying to find a scoop or two. Brand new to the Comic Related family, Eric is a fun new voice. Eric shops at TJ's Collectibles. Visit them on the web at www.tjcollect.com!