Huge week for me this time out - thank god the freelance came through, ’cause my unemployed ass had no right buying this much stuff. The cream o’ the crop:

SECRET WARS #1: One word says it all: Bendis. OK, the art by one Gabriele Dell’otto sure didn’t things either. Possibly the best looking painted book in years, and easily in the top 5. The story is a nice solid one as well, with the DVD-esque extras at the back really adding to the entire package. The series has nothing to do with previous series with the same title, but that matters not - this book is off to a rockin’ start.

1602 #7: Still moving too slowly, albeit a little less so this issue, but the last page had a neat little payoff that made this issue much better than previous ones. Looking forward to seeing how things end up now, which is more than I could say 2-3 issues back.

ULTIMATE X-MEN #42: Again: Bendis. The last 2 seemingly stand-alone issues are tied right into the story arc seamlessly. As much fun as Millar’s run was on this title - and it was fun, like a big summer popcorn flick - Bendis and Finch’s run is going to be viewed as the definitive one for the forseeable future.

EPIC ANTHOLOGY FEATURING: #1: Kirkman’s re-imagined Sleepwalker is a lot more fun than you might imagine, and Khary Randolph’s art is a pleasant suprise as well. First-time comic scribe Rob Worley teams with Andy Kuhn for a pretty fun little Iron Monkey take on Doc Strange’s teacher in Young Ancient One. The dialogue throws you for a page or two, until you settle in and go with the flow. Odd-title out is Strange Magic which never seems to find itself, despite an interesting enough concept. Jason Henderson’s writing seems solid enough, but Greg Scott’s art just doesn’t suit itself to sequential storytelling.

ROUTE 666 #20: My sole CrossGen title these days, and for good reason - it’s a helluva neat title with clever writing and beautiful art. If CrossGen can’t get another Negation TPB out, Route 666 looks to remain my only CrossGen title for now.

FABLES #22: The last page of French-bashing dialogue aside (it just felt too forced to be funny), this is a fantastic example of why this title has become such a hit. Clever use of various Fables interacting in ways that are perfectly logical, yet leave the reader guessing and pleasantly suprised throughout the issue. I can’t recommend this title enough.

HAWKMAN #25: The finale of the Black Reign saga, and the end of Johns’ run on the title (is Rags still pencilling? I dunno….). As always, great character moments for not only the Hawks but for other JSA members and enemies as well. The ending manages to wrap things up in a thoroughly satisfying and non-clich? fashion. Should make for one damn fine TPB for those of you that skipped it.

FALLEN ANGEL #8: Definitely an underappreciated title right now, as Peter David explores a more serious and dark side of his writing. Neat characters, genuinely suprising and pleasing twists and turns and generally tight art from David Lopez (aside from the odd face or two) make this an easy nominee for Best Book You’re Not Reading right now. Hopefully DC has TPB plans for this, because it should be able to do well in collected form.

Also bought this week: Green Arrow, Teen Titans, Gotham Central, Incredible Hulk, Street Fighter, New Mutants and the third installment of Battle Royale.

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