On The Rack – February 19th, 2014

At first glance this week is going to look like a light week at the shop but that’s not going to make what hits the rack any less exciting.

It’s weeks like this that give us an opportunity to explore some titles we may have overlooked otherwise, or if you are feeling ambitious, you may even go bin diving for those back issue you need to scratch off your list. No matter what you choose to do this week, don’t pass up on some great titles, and trust me, next week is going to be a much heavier load. I’d tell you to stay home this week and just wait, but we both know that’s not going to happen! Let me show you a little of what you can expect this Wednesday.

Dark Horse Comics

B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #116

If you are a Hellboy fan, then you’ve probably been celebrating 20 years of Hellboy with the special variant covers. The second of 5 comes out this week.

“The BPRD joins a band of resistance fighters in the ruins of Manhattan to fight the Black Flame and his evil regime of Zinco troops and monsters!”

Terminator: Enemy of My Enemy #1

Since we seem to be in revamp mode and we all love some original stories with our classic movie heroes, then why not a new Terminator mini series?

“In 1984, Kyle Reese protected Sarah Connor from a cyborg that would stop at nothing to terminate her. In 1985, Skynet targets a scientist whose discoveries threaten its future, but this time there is no resistance fighter sent back to face it! With only enemies around her, what chance does Elise Fong stand against the perfect killing machine?”

The White Suits #1

This is one of those titles I may not have given a glance to on a heavy title week. After reading the synopsis, I was mildly intrigued and will probably pick this up. It’s only a mini-series so no harm in giving it a chance because I too would like to know who the White Suits are…

“Mysterious killers dressed in white, they savaged the Cold War Russian underworld-then disappeared. Now they have resurfaced in New York, leaving a trail of dead mobsters. In this bloody wake, an amnesiac and an FBI agent search for the answer to a single question: Who are the White Suits?”

DC Comics

Animal Man #28

Animal Man ends a great run this week and closes out the story here with the final issue coming at #29. I’m betting this won’t be the last we see of Animal Man.

“Evolve or Die!” concludes as Animal Man marshals every last bit of power he has to protect his daughter from Brother Blood! But will it be enough to save Maxine and the Red–or will Buddy lose another child?”

Harley Quinn #3

“It’s Valentine’s Day, and Harley is getting depressed watching happy couples walk by. Will a special gift from Poison Ivy turn things around for Harley?”

Justice League #28

No, Forever Evil has not concluded yet, and new developments are still unfolding.

“With the Justice League gone, new heroes continue to rise up throughout the DC Universe! The Crime Syndicate tried to kill him, but now Cyborg is back to settle the score — and with him are The Metal Men!”

Supergirl #28

It seems like the release dates are a little backwards, but if you read Red Lantern / Green Lantern two weeks ago then this issue is no big surprise. Definitely worth picking up if you’ve been following along the Super / Lantern stories.

“A RED LANTERN RING is coming to get Kara–and it will change her forever! No lie! Not an imaginary story! It’s really going to happen! “Red Daughter of Krypton” starts here!”

IDW Publishing

X-Files Conspiracy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1

These conspiracy titles are kind fun and keep on coming. Who doesn’t love the turtles?

“The Turtles are doing their best to avoid trouble in Northampton. Unfortunately, trouble finds them in the form of the Lone Gunmen! The fate of the world depends on the Gunmen getting the reclusive Turtles’ help. Add in an undead menace and things are going to get downright dangerous!”

Marvel Comics

Amazing X-Men #4

Marvels newer “X” title hits the shelves again this week with more Nightcrawler, afterlife, and X-Family adventures.

“Wolverine and Northstar are defeated and stranded in… Purgatory? Nightcrawler tries to rally the X-Men to help them and save the after-life from Azazel, but they are outgunned by the demon lord and his hordes!”

Daredevil #36

Seems like there’s more than one title hitting the shelves this week with a final issue. There’s not much to the storyline in the synopsis but Daredevil will be back almost certainly. Another final issue… for now.

“The Astounding Final Issue!”

New Warriors #1

The New Warriors are back with Nova on the front cover and … wait… is that Speedball? That should be enough to intrigue you into picking this up. If it doesn’t, then here’s one of those times you should hit the back issue bin and look though some of the old Marvel story arcs.

“WARRIORS REBORN! Adventurers SPEEDBALL and JUSTICE have come together with a group of young heroes including NOVA, SUN GIRL, and HUMMINGBIRD (and even a couple of new faces) to stop the latest threat to the Marvel Universe-the Atlanteans, Inhumans, clones and hundreds of other so-called “superior” beings are living among the humans of the Marvel Universe, but not everyone is pleased about it. THE HIGH EVOLUTIONARY has raised an army to combat the evolution of humanity–and the New Warriors are locked in his sights!”

Punisher #2

Sometimes you don’t have to wait long and that’s a good thing as well. Punisher hits the shelves again two short weeks later.

“For years, The Punisher has waged a war on crime in New York City with an array of very large guns, but a lead on a major source of drugs, weapons, and more has set his many sights due west. NOW! Frank Castle’s in the City of Angels, looking to give the devil his due. Things aren’t all they appear, though, with a highly trained military hit squad hot on Frank’s tail. Caught between a posse of Punisher predators and targets of his own one-man-war, Frank’s manifest destiny may be a shallow grave!”

2000AD

2000 AD Pack Jan 2014

Only because I know you cant get enough Dredd and 2000AD, there is a great anthology pack coming out this week.

“The critically acclaimed, Eisner-nominated SF anthology surges into the new year with a stunning line-up of stories. Judge Dredd leads a team to investigate what’s happened on the prison-colony of Titan, courtesy of Rob Williams and Henry Flint; the secret history of Happy Shrapnel is revealed in ABC Warriors: Return to Mars by Pat Mills and Clint Langley; the mutant revolution hots up in Strontium Dog: Dogs of War by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra; maniac-for-hire Ulysses Sweet crashes into a centre for enlightenment, courtesy of Guy Adams and Paul Marshall; and the officers of the Exo Transfer Control face more alien oddness in Grey Area by Dan Abnett and Patrick Goddard!”

That wraps up our light list this week. Be forewarned, next week has some great things hitting the rack and I’m sure you will not want to miss it. Drop me a line and let me know what you picked up this week new or old, and spread the word that you found it #OnTheRack!

Chat soon fellow geeks, and stay Elite!