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 June 1, 2011. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

Apparently, I took all the comics that MK2Fac3 wanted to talk about this week, which I can’t be held responsible for, so you fine readers will get an extra helping of my suggestions. I hope you enjoy.

ISSUES

Criminal: Last of the Innocent #1 (Marvel/Icon – $3.99): I’m very excited that Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips‘ Criminal is back with a new story. Criminal is consistently one of the best books on the market and it’s a shame that more people don’t give this book a shot. Every story arc is a self-contained story, but Brubaker also has created a universe where all of the stories exist and long-term readers are rewarded with Easter Eggs showing how the stories are connected. The art by Sean Phillips sets the perfect mood for this series and always impresses. If you’ve been reading Brubaker and Phillips’ Incognito but haven’t been reading Criminal, it’s time to jump on board. And if you haven’t been reading Criminal or Incognito, well then you have a lot of reading to do.

Flashpoint #2 (DC Comics – $2.99): The first issue of DC’s universe changing mini-series impressed me with its introduction of a world changed by the Reverse Flash. Writer Geoff Johns was able to set up how familiar characters had been changed in this new timeline and I enjoyed a lot of the elements introduced (I can’t wait to learn more about the Captain Marvel, who was seven kids with a different Shazam ability) and I’m really curious to learn more about what was revealed on the last page of the first issue. The art by Andy Kubert was pretty good, and I generally like his work. Between this and the tie-ins that are coming out today, Flashpoint is officially kicking into high gear.

Batman: Knight of Vengeance #1 (DC Comics – $2.99): Staying in the Flashpoint realm, we get the mini-series I was most excited about when it was announced. Batman: Knights of Vengeance reunites the 100 Bullets team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso. The team has worked on a couple of Batman stories in the past (Broken City, Wednesday Comics) and I can’t wait to see what they do with this alternate take on the Dark Knight. How will this tie-in to the main Flashpoint mini? I’m not sure. I hope that the mini-series are just there to flesh out the characters, and not be a vital part of the story. I’m sure the art by Risso will satisfy me enough to keep me reading.

Static Shock Special #1 (DC Comics – $2.99): If you’re a fan of the late, great Dwayne McDuffie, you will want to pick this issue up. The issue features work from many Milestone creators as they pay homage to one of the great talents that was taken away from the comic community too early.

Hellboy: The Fury #1 (Dark Horse – $2.99): I don’t normally read Hellboy in issues, so I’m a bit behind in the story, but apparently this is the start of a 3-part mini-series that will have a big effect on the overall Hellboy universe. According to Dark Horse, Hellboy is finally confronting the Queen of Blood, which I can only assume is a pretty big deal. Every Hellboy story I have ever read has been great, but I’ve never picked up the series on a regular basis. This may be the series that gets me into picking this up as the issues come out instead of waiting for the library editions.

COLLECTIONS

The Tooth Hardcover (Oni press – $24.99): This is a graphic novel that I don’t know a lot about but I was interested in because of the creative team. The Tooth is written by Cullen Bunn, the man behind one of my current favorite series, The Sixth Gun, and a writer who has always impressed me with his work. The artist on The Tooth is Matt Kindt, whose work on books like Super Spy and 3 Story I have not read myself, but I have heard other people rave about. The story deals with a tooth that jumps out of a normal guy’s mouth and then goes off to fight demons. The idea sounds insane but also sounds like its right up my alley. I don’t know exactly what to expect from this, but I think I am going to enjoy it.

Osborn: Evil Incarcerated Paperback (Marvel Comics – $16.99): I really enjoyed this mini-series from Marvel, written by Kelly Sue DeConick with art by Emma Rios (with help from Becky Cloonan on the last issue). Osborn features the ongoing adventures of Norman Osborn, disgraced at the end of Marvel’s Siege event, and stuck in a prison with criminals who are too dangerous to be placed in a normal jail. The story ties in to certain events in Amazing Spider-Man going on now, and I’m sure it will be important in any future Osborn stories. Emma Rios was a new artist to me when this was first coming out, but she is now a name that is on my radar. She has a style reminiscent of Paul Pope or Nathan Fox. It works well for the story, and has me excited to see what she does next. All in all, this is a great little story with some great new talent that may not have received as much notice as it should have. Give it a shot.