Each week, MK2Fac3 and Henchman21 read a lot of comics. Seriously, a lot of comics. Maybe too many comics. 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 list, grab some issues and we’ll let YOU know what the top books to look forward to are for the week of April 13, 2011. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

MK2Fac3

ISSUES

The Infinite Vacation #2 (Image Comics – $3.50) – When the first issue of Infinite Vacation came out in January, I was elated with how good the comic was. Nick Spencer continued his reign over comics with another incredibly exciting creator-owned book published by Image. The concept behind the book is that a mobile app gives people the ability to travel throughout the multiverse. The concept of a multiverse is used in many different comics and publishers where there are separate universes with the same characters dealing with different circumstances. But very rarely has the concept of the multiverse been applied to non-superhero characters, but Infinite Vacation does just that. The series has unfortunately met a strong delay with the second issue coming out in April after the first issue came out in January, but the first issue sat with me so strongly, that I’m still excited about this follow-up. So, here’s hoping that the second keeps and amps up the excitement.

Batgirl #20 (DC Comics – $2.99) – Throughout all of the 20 issues of Batgirl, writer Bryan Q. Miller has yet to disappoint me. This title goes along with Secret Six as a book that I will always be looking forward to each month. If you’re not reading Batgirl, then you’re doing it wrong. Miller consistently delivers fun comics, and I really don’t know how to say it better. Every issue is so much fun, and it’s just flat-out good. When you’re not getting hilarity through Batgirl‘s witty dialog, you’re either getting kick-ass action or some truly great emotional moments. Issue 20 continues the current arc where Stephanie is meeting her new rogue’s gallery, while solidifying her own spot in Gotham City. I could write about this book all day, but why not have Bryan Q. Miller himself tell you why to read it?

Most excellent, Bryan. Most excellent, indeed.

Butcher Baker #2 (Image Comics – $2.99) – Oh man, Butcher Baker The Righteous Maker! The first issue only came out two weeks ago, but Joe Casey and Mike Huddleston created a world of an insane, hardcore former superhero who is morally questionable to say the least, which sounds a bit trite, but Joe Kasey’s approach doesn’t make it your “Bad Ass” comic. Kasey uses this character to explore a completely bizarre landscape where everything is insane. There are themes from Smokey and the Bandit, as well as lampooning popular late night talk show hosts. Seriously, this comic is a little hard to explain, but it’s a blast to read, and you won’t regret picking it up.

COLLECTION

Thor Omnibus by Walter Simonson HC (Marvel Comics – $125.00) – Walt Simonson’s run on Thor is, from what I hear, the ultimate run. It contains everything you could want from a Thor comic, including the introduction to Beta Ray Bill, and if you don’t know who that is, find out now. Marvel has previously collected these stories in trade paperback format, including a Thor Visionaries book featuring these issues. And while IDW is collecting part of Simonson’s run in an oversized format, the Thor Omnibus collects the entire run. Also, it has come to attention recently that this omnibus will be printed on incredibly nice matte paper. I have yet to read it, but this omnibus certainly makes me want to. WOOOO BOY!! Somebody buy me this!

Henchman21

ISSUES

Casanova: Gula #4 – (Marvel/Icon – $3.99) – This is the last of the reprint issues of Matt Fraction and Fabio Moon’s Casanova, which means we are not too far away from new Casanova. There’s no easy way to describe Casanova, but its best described as a James Bond movie on acid. It has been fun to catch up with the series and see how different it is in full color as opposed to the original two-tone look. This issue brings the second storyline to a close, but it also has a new short story that will bridge this series to the next one. Casanova has been one of my favorite books since it first came out, and I can’t wait for the new stuff to start showing up. Okay, so it’s not the best jumping-on point, but if you can find the other issues, give this one a shot.

Northlanders #39 – (DC/Vertigo – $2.99) – The fact that we have 39 issues of a quasi-realistic look at the lives of Vikings throughout the ages still kind of astounds me, but I’m so happy that this book exists. Northlanders is unlike anything else on my pull list. Writer Brian Wood presents us with a wide variety of looks at different civilizations and what life was like during this time. This issue is the last of the three-part Siege of Paris arc, and I’m excited to see how it ends. The art on this arc by Simon Gane has fit the brutal tone of the story perfectly. Northlanders has had a string of great artists on it, and this is a new name for me that is worth checking out. Again, not a great jumping-on point, but pick up any of the trades if you’re interested in history or just want to read something that’s not your normal comic book fare.

GI Joe Volume 2 #0 – (IDW Publishing – $3.99) – This is the start of the next major epoch in IDW’s GI Joe series. After events in the last issue of GI Joe: Cobra, Cobra Commander is dead and the Cobra Civil War begins. Cobra needs a new leader, and the Joes are going to have to stop them before that happens, or die trying. This issue serves as a lead in to the three main GI Joe series: GI Joe, GI Joe: Cobra, and the new Snake Eyes solo ongoing. GI Joe has been everything I could have hoped for since the reboot at IDW, and I know that it’s a nostalgia trip, but they have just been fun, well drawn comics with a lot of great characters and well done action. This one actually is a great jumping-on point, and if you haven’t been reading the Joe books recently, now’s a great time to start.
 
COLLECTION
 
Battle Chasers Anthology HC (Image Comics – $100.00) – Let me set the way back machine to 1998. Joe Madureira is one of the hottest artists in comics, coming off his big splash in the pages of the mega popular Age of Apocalypse crossover and a run on Uncanny X-Men. He could do any book he wanted, but what he decided was to launch his own property through Image. That book was Battle Chasers. Battle Chasers was a wild fantasy adventure and was a massive success. But then delays set in, and it took more time for each issue to come out. And then Madureira left comic books to work in the video game field, and we wouldn’t see any new comic work from him for almost a decade. This big fancy hardcover collects issues 0-9 of Battle Chasers in a glorious hardcover. It’s definitely pricey at $100, but you can find it cheaper online (currently at $57.47 at Amazon). As I remember it, the story for Battle Chasers was never that great, but Joe Mad’s art was everything his fans expected. I’m sure fans of the series will be looking forward to this new collection and reliving the series.