Each and every week “Pugs Not Hugs” MK2Fac3 and “The Nachos!” Henchman21 read a lot of comics. Seriously you guys, a lot of comics. Maybe too many comics. I mean, it is possible… theoretically. They look forward to some more than others, I mean, who doesn’t? So, let’s take a look into the depths of their pull lists, grab some comics, and we’ll let YOU know what the top books to look forward to are for the week of June 27, 2012. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

“Some days, you just can’t get rid of a bomb.” Truer words were never spoken. It’s these words that summarize what was so great about Batman (1966). A higher level of social commentary was beautifully woven alongside a campy nature that is enjoyable on both a childlike mentality, while also appealing to the ironic appreciation of many adults. Yes, enjoying the ’60s Batman was hipster before hipster was a thing. But not only was this movie, and show, enjoyable, these worlds also perfectly embody the message that was in every episode. This quote, specifically, shows that no matter what you do, sometimes things are completely out of your control. Yes, despite what your parents and teachers told you as a child, everything is not possible. For example, it’s impossible for me to make any sense in the opening paragraphs of The GoD List, a weekly feature about new comic books, not the brilliant wonders of Batman (1966). Perhaps some day, but not this day. Take that, relevancy.

MK2Fac3

ISSUES:

Batman Incorporated, Vol. 2 #2 (DC Comics – $2.99): After its stunning return on the scene after an extended hiatus, Batman Incorporated blew readers away with the fresh take on the characters of Gotham City that seemed to stay in its own world and not necessarily a part of DC’s “New 52″ initiative, and I thank Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham for that. It honestly seems like the creators didn’t miss a step with the transition from pre-continuity shift Batman to post-Flashpoint DCU. Many of us, the readers and lovers of Morrison’s Batman run, were terrified that his story would be stalled as a result of this, so as I said, I’m relieved. But not only relieved, I’m absolutely excited to see where the comic is yet to go and with Morrison and Burnham together again, I have no doubt that it will be in my favorite comics each month.

Fatima: The Blood Spinners #1 (Dark Horse Comics – $3.99): Guys, I’m going to level with you, I have no idea what this comic is about and I haven’t read that many comics, if any, by Gilbert Hernandez, but if the cover is anything to go off of (it should, Hernandez is the writer, artist, and cover artist), I’m going to absolutely love this. Simply put, tis comic look completely insane, I expect crazy amounts of weirdly drawn characters with some truly bizarre violence, and possible ridiculous blood squirting everywhere. If it doesn’t deliver on these aspects, I’ll be completely shocked. Don’t shock me, Fatima the Blood Spinners.

Fatale #6 (Image Comics – $3.50): Fatale. Brubaker. Phillips. The return and new story arc of this brilliantly crafted horror/crime comic is here. Buy it.

COLLECTION:

Fatale, Vol. 1: Death Cases Me TP (Image Comics – $14.99): More Fatale! For those of you who have been slacking and not listening to us, you have the chance to atone for your sins with the first (inexpensive) collection of the “brilliantly crafted horror/crime comic.” Seriously, you need to get your attitude together and fix your problems. And like I specified above, the new story arc also starts today, so you can get the trade and the new single issue. Hooray! Fatale for everybody!!

Henchman21

ISSUES:

Atomic Robo and the Flying She Devils of the Pacific #1 (of 5) (Red 5 Comics – $3.50): I’ll let Red 5’s own solicitation for this issue speak for itself: “It’s called The Flying She-Devils of the Pacific. If there’s another combination of English words that could better sell you on a comic book than those, it probably involves ‘give you’ and ‘a million dollars.’” The seventh volume of Atomic Robo promises to be just as exciting and action packed as the previous volumes. Atomic Robo remains one of the finest comics being produced these days, and as I’ve said at the start of every new volume, there’s no better time to start reading than now. Each volume stands well on its own, so even if you haven’t read the series before, do be afraid to start with this issue. Just do it already!

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen III: Century #3 2009 (Top Shelf Productions – $9.95): If you’re not interested in reading a certain series of books which will go unnamed, you can always pick up something actually written by Alan Moore. The third volume of Moore’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen reaches its conclusion with this issue, and to be honest, it’s been a long road to the finish. It’s been just under a year since the last volume of Century came out, and you’ll be forgiven if you can’t remember what happened. I remember a lot of stuff about the swinging sixties, references to James Bond and The Avengers (the British ones). There was something about an unholy baby and the reincarnation of an Aleister Crowley analogue, and a whole bunch of other stuff. This volume looks to wrap everything up. At this point, I know I’m going to need to re-read the whole thing to really know what’s going on, but that’s okay. This is still going to be an interesting story written by one of the masters and will have more fantastic art by Kevin O’Neill. This is still a great series and I can’t wait to read the finale.

Manhattan Projects #4 (Image Comics – $3.50): If you’re looking for a series where you never know what’s going to happen next, look no further than Jonathan Hickman’s Manhattan Projects. The last issue included elements such as the strange history of Harry Truman, who really made the decision to drop the first atomic bomb, and what happened to FDR after his death. What will we see in this issue? Who knows? The basic premise of this series is that every famous scientist who defected to the United States in the era around World War II were not just at work on rockets and bombs, their work went into many other crazy experiments. When you think about it, the Manhattan Projects shares quite a bit with League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Both series have a very dark sense of humor. Both series take characters (or historical figures) that we know fairly well and spins them in an entirely new direction. I love the world that is emerging in this series and every issue introduces new elements that I just want to know more about. This isn’t a book that you just breeze through, you have to pay attention to everything. And I love that!

COLLECTION:

Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes Hardcover (DC Comics/IDW Publishing – $24.99): This is another week with a host of great collections to pick up. You’ve got the first volume of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillip’s Fatale, the Daredevil: Born Again Artist Edition (if you can afford it), a new volume of Morning Glories, and even more beyond those. But the one I think you’ll have the most fun with is this trade collecting the recent miniseries from IDW and DC. This series brings together the crew of the classic Star Trek, and mixes them with DC’s own futuristic space-farers, the Legion of Superheroes. The story sees both teams trapped in a world that mixes elements of both universes in surprising ways that will excite fans of wither properties. Writer Chris Roberson finds a way to bring together two groups that share a lot in common, but don’t exactly jump out as ideal candidates for a crossover. But it works. Oh man does it work. This is crazy aliens and space ships and time travel and alternate realities and “Dammit Jim” and anything else that you can think of. It’s easy to dismiss the Legion, but everything you need to know about all the characters is explained in the series. This is a fun, old-style crossover and I didn’t think this would be as much fun as it ended up being, but it was. If you want a story that will bring a smile to your face, make sure you pick this up.