This Week’s New Comics!

TWNC

 

5 Comics To Watch

Batman #22 (D.C.) – Part two of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Zero Year arc, where we see Bruce’s first days as Batman mixed in with the mystery of what the heck happened to Gotham?  This time The Riddler looks like he’ll be the one pulling the strings.  Part one was great, and after 21 issues of excellence, I’m anticipating a gem of a story.

 

Batman #22

Batman #22

 

East of West #4 (Image) – Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta are creating one heck of a series here. Three issues in and I am about as rabid about this book as I have been for any book in the last 3 years.  My early pick for Best New Series of 2013.  You heard it here first folks!  Still time to jump on the bandwagon…if you don’t mind second (and fourth) prints of previous issues!

East of West #4

East of West #4

 

Indestructible Hulk #10 (Marvel) – I am really digging this series.  The Thor/Hulk 3 issue arc with Walt Simonson really got me on board…and now it’s the Daredevil as Hulk’s Lawyer storyline that is keeping me at the party.  The first issue was ridiculously good, with one of the better team ups I’ve read in a while.  I guess that should be expected when the same writer (Mark Waid) works on both characters solo books.

Indestructible Hulk #10

Indestructible Hulk #10

 

Justice League #22 (D.C.) – Trinity War kicks off this week.  By now you know how I feel about ‘Events’ (not really a fan) but when the talent and the characters pass the initial taste test, you’ve got to at least see what the creators have up their sleeves.

Justice League #22

Justice League #22

 

Superman Unchained #2 (D.C.) –  Issue number one from Snyder and Jim Lee was a Superman book that even I could get excited about.  Great plotting, suspense, action, playing with alternate history elements, and some great art have me firmly on this bandwagon.

Superman Unchained #2

Superman Unchained #2

 

 

Hidden  Gems

Astro City #2 (Vertigo) – Being unfamiliar with the original series, I was intrigued by its past credentials as well as the look and themes of the series.  Issue #1 was quite good, and I’m very interested to see where this book goes with its main cast of characters.  Probably won’t be a hit series, but sometimes smaller books like this have occasional moments of brilliance that make it worth the trip.  I have a feeling Astro City will be one of those books.

Astro City #2

Astro City #2

 

Daredevil #28 (Marvel) – Issue #27 wrapped up the series’ overarching storyline with Daredevil finally coming face to face with the villain pulling the strings on his recent troubles.  With that done and dusted, it’s time for a  one shot where Matt takes on the case of a former bully from his childhood. I’ve been toying with the idea of dropping this series for a while now…but honestly, its just too good to drop.  Consider me a Daredevil fan for the foreseeable future.

Daredevil #28

Daredevil #28

 

 

 

Also Out This Week

D.C. has Batgirl #22, Batman Lil Gotham #4, Demon Knights #22, Green Lantern Corps #22, Katana #6, Nightwing #22, Suicide Squad #22, Smallville Season 11 #15 and Worlds Finest #14.

Marvel has Avengers Arena #12 NOW!, Fearless Defends #6 NOW!, Hawkeye #12, Secret Avengers #6 NOW!, Superior Spider-Man #13 NOW!, Uncanny X-Men #8 NOW!, Wolverine #6 NOW!, Young Avengers #7 NOW! and Ultimates #27.

 

There’s also Walking Dead #112, Peter Panzerfaust #12, Chew #35, America’s Got Powers #6, Sheltered #1, My Little Pony Micro Series #6, Star Wars #7, Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 9 #23, X #3 and True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys #2.

 

Trade Watch

There’s Before Watchmen Comedian/Rorschach HC and Before Watchmen Nite Owl/Doctor Manhattan HC, Justice League Dark Vol 2 TP, Supergirl Vol 2 TP, Prophet Vol 2 TP, FF NOW! Vol 1 TP and Gambit Vol 2 TP.

 

– S-1

This Week’s New Comics!

TWNC

5 Comics To Watch

Avengers #15 (Marvel) – The Prelude to Infinity issue was very, very good…bringing together the threads sewn into the Avengers title since issue #1. As with many Jonathan Hickman books, they get better and better the longer the series goes, as all his sidetracks start to point in one direction. I’ve got high hopes for Infinity, and am really looking forward to this issue.

Marvel Comics Avengers 15_cover

Avengers #15

This Week’s New Comics!

TWNC

It’s new comic day and I thought I would try moving the article to Wednesday’s, which is the traditional release date for comics, in order to address some questions we had about when books would be available.  If you’re reading this, then the comics mentioned are available for sale today, so go to the local comic shop and stock up on some of these amazing titles!!  – NB

 

5 Comics To Watch

Batman Superman #1 (D.C.) – Ummm…do I really have to try and sell this one to you all?  You’ve got Batman and Superman in the same book…with art by the amazing Jae Lee, written by Greg Pak.  This has hit series written all over it.  That is all.

Batman Superman #1

Batman Superman #1

Blending In

MPA

Wet Blending Master Class

There tends to be a natural progression when it comes to miniature painting that almost everyone follows.  You first learn how to base coat a model, keeping it clean and all your colours inside the lines like a kindergarten kid learns how to stay inside the lines in their colouring book.  Then you progress to drybrushing which provides a nice quick and easy way to add some depth to your painting.  The next progression tends to be layering, where you lay down your shadows first then progressively build up layers of lighter tones in increasingly  smaller areas until you have a gradation from shade to base colour to highlight.  The next level in the painting technique progression is what this article covers: Blending.

 photo 039d1510-d0ce-47ea-8f39-79a574ee2522_zpseec5a3f1.jpg

Blending in. Yeah… Not so much.

Gdaybloke on: Faction dabbling on a budget – Circle

Gdaybloke banner

Even for veteran players with expansive collections, there comes a time when the urge to dabble in a new faction hits, and inevitably it’s an urge for a faction that you don’t yet own models for. Okay, support the FLGS, more shiny toy army mans, I’m all for that… but the budget isn’t always so friendly, and then it can become a matter of balance – how can you dabble efficiently in a new faction without committing to purchasing ALL THE THINGS? Similarly, there’s the problem of finding room on the hobby desk. If you’re like me, you have a small mountain of silver metal and grey plastic that would love your attention, and here you are, thinking of adding to it. Again, no worries, but is it possible to satisfy that factional urge without adding too much to the collection of unpainted and unassembled models? Can you make room for a palette cleanser to entertain you for a month or so before you return to your beloved primary faction(s)?

This Week’s New Comics!

TWNC

5 Comics To Watch

Age of Ultron #10 (Marvel) – The final issue of the Marvel event that looked like it wouldn’t be good, and has turned out pretty good.  By no means a home run, it’s been a solid, if uneven series that looks like it ‘could’ have some impact on the Marvel Universe moving forward.

AgeOfUltron_10AI_CoverVariantRivera

Warning, Filler Ahead

banner_ToThePoint

So as happens, it’s a Monday after a wonderful Spring/Summer weekend which included Father’s Day here in Canada, a BBQ with friends, dinner out with another family of friends, and plenty of running around in preparation for everything before finally enjoying family time and the comforts of home, or bed.  That being said, someone has to get a blog article ready, and get it up on time, and that often falls upon the guy who is running the whole thing, as blog authors are known to be a cowardly and superstitious lot and I forgot my Batblade costume at work last week.  So no scaring up someone else to do an article for me, and I just never got around to doing one up properly.  So, where does that leave us for a Monday article?

Cat naps should be legal at work

Follow me after the jump to see what we discuss on a Monday morning….

Converging on tables!

banner_ToThePoint

So my goal, as stated last week, was to get my shiny new Deathbot Battle Box assembled, primed and painted in time to get some games at the battle box level in Thursday night at Heroes World.  After enlisting the help of a friend and mentor, as well as the dastardly enabler who got me into this whole tabletop miniatures fiasco in the first place, to help me paint my shiny new toys I managed over the course of the evenings Monday through Wednesday to get paint on models, and to succeed at my goal!

Convergence of Cyriss Battle Box

Convergence of Cyriss Battle Box