Each and every week “Boom Boom!” Henchman21 and “Mr. Tuesday Night” MK2FAC3 read a lot of comics. Seriously you guys, a lot of comics. Maybe too many comics. I mean, it is possible. 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 August 31, 2011. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

Now, something is happening today in comics. I’m not exactly sure what it is, but… oh yeah! It’s the day that the new Locke and Key issue comes out! Oh, you expected us to talk about Justice League or Flashpoint? Get real! This feature is about comics that we are looking forward to the most, and the last time I checked, we’re way more interested in indie comics. Also, there’s not any Batman comics coming out this week, and I honestly don’t know where a lot of those will stand in my favorite comics. The Hench and I aren’t holding back this week, so if you’ll let me check my watch real quick… Yep. It’s clobberin’ tiiiiiiiime!!!!!!!!!

MK2FAC3

ISSUES

The Goon #35 (Dark Horse Comics – $3.50): Get Goon in the top 100! Let’s do it, folks! It’s only $3.50, so it’s less than both books from DC, and it’s freaking hilarious. To give you the gist of The Goon, it’s a big, tough guy and his little scrapper of a friend, and they go beat up demons, vampires, werewolves, ghouls and goblins. It’s an incredibly fun book that’s free of corporate chains, and I’m pretty sure that you’ll love it. It’s not PC. It doesn’t have superheroes. It doesn’t have tights (it doesn’t have piped armor, either). It’s a flat out, balls to the wall, kick ass comic. Not to mention that Evan Dorkin (writer of one of my favorite comics of all time, Beasts of Burden) is making a guest appearance! It’s a weird book with a lot of humor, so if you’re looking for a funny horror comic, then The Goon is for you. I haven’t read all of The Goon, but after the last issue, Eric Powell has got my money for good. And I should probably thank him for that. So, thank you, for taking my money, Eric Powell. I can’t wait to give you more.

Locke and Key: Clockworks #2 (of 6) (IDW Publishing – $3.99): I have been singing this book’s praises for as long as I’ve been reading it, and although you may not trust me because I have facial hair, I’m not wrong. Locke and Key is one of the best, if not the best comic that is coming out today. It still shocks me when someone I know isn’t reading it. If you are sick of in your face superheroes, or maybe you don’t want to see comics from the 90s being reborn in 2011, then do yourself a favor and buy this. There are so many things to say about this amazing book that tells the story of a family haunted by memories of their father, and what has resulted from his tragic death. It’s a supernatural comic book written by Joe Hill (Stephen King’s son, for Christ’s sake) and Gabriel Rodriguez, who should be doing art for almost every comic. For the past two years, I’ve been saying “read Batgirl and read Locke and Key,” and so far, no one I’ve talked to that have read either have been disappointed. Just take the four dollars you were going to spend on Justice League and spend it on a single issue of Locke and Key. If you don’t like it (you will), then don’t worry about the comic any more, and you can go back to the candy aisle of superheroes, but if you do like it (you will), then you’ve just opened the lock to an amazing series that you’ll fall in love with.

Skullkickers #10 (Image Comics – $2.99): Only got three bucks to spend this week on comics? Well, I can’t suggest a book more for your money than Skullkickers. As I’ve pretty much said each week this comic comes out, it’s a hilariously violent romp in a fantasy setting. If you like table top gaming, metal, humor, fun, battle axes or short, fat dudes with bushy beards, and really who doesn’t? Then this book should be at the top of your read pile. Not mine, though, since I’m weird. My most anticipated books are always at the bottom, because I like to have something to look forward to, but I understand and accept that you are not like me in that instance. But the similarity that I hope you share is taste. And I guarantee (my guaranty means nothing) that you will fall in love with this book. Issue ten is pretty much a perfect place to start, since it’s an indie showcase and the next issue starts a new arc. Seriously, go buy this book. I love it.

I’m not picking any collections this week, but Henchman is! So go check out what volume of GI Joe that he’s picking up this week!

Henchman21

ISSUES
 
This week, I kind of don’t care what’s going on in DC-land. Sure, I’ll be picking up Flashpoint #5 because I have been picking up the rest of the series and of course I want to see how it ends, but I’m not going in for Justice League #1. I’ll be more than happy to pick up the trade when it is released. Fortunately, there are plenty of other books for me to look forward to, including two of my favorite series.
 
Butcher Baker the Righteous Maker #6 (Image – $2.99): I love Butcher Baker the Righteous Maker. There, that is off my chest. I don’t know why I should be ashamed to love a comic book that so clearly wears its heart on it sleeve. This is a comic that exists so that the reader can have a good time and get a lot of bang for their buck. Writer Joe Casey excels at writing fun comics that get a little crazy at times but in the end are just eminently enjoyable. The real standout on this series has been artist Mike Huddleston and his magnificent color pallet. Huddleston’s art is hard to describe. It is cartoony in the best Looney Toons way while still telling the story well. It is expressive and different and a breath of fresh air in a sea of similar looking books. If you like your books looking the same as everything else, this won’t be for you. If you’re looking for something new and different, please pick up this book.
 
Secret Avengers #16 (Marvel – $3.99): Warren Ellis starts his run on this book and promises more secrets than you can shake a stick at. Secret Avengers has had a rough start and Ellis will be the third writer on the book already, so I’m hopeful that he can bring some stability to the book. To be honest I haven’t read this series in quite a few issues so I’m not sure who is on the team or what’s been going on, so I am also hopeful that Ellis will either make a fresh start or do a good job catching readers up. My bet is that he will make a fairly fresh start, as that seems to fit more with what he has done in the past. Art for this issue is by one of my new favorites, Jaime McKelvie. I’m not sure how his clean style will mesh with the generally darker subject matter but he has enough skill to pull this off. If Ellis can stick around for a while, he just may be able to get it on track.
 
The Sixth Gun #14 (Oni Press – $3.99): I don’t have a ton to say about this particular issue, but I still want to get more people reading this book. Not because I’m worried about it going away, I just think this is a great series and everyone should be reading it. This is the middle issue of the third arc and it has gunslingers and fair dames fighting zombies and mummies on a speeding train. This has been the most action packed arc so far of an already action packed series. Writer Cullen Bunn has created a world that is great fun to get lost in and a cast of characters to care about. This issue features guest art by Tyler Cook, and from other work I’ve seen by him, he has a similar style to regular artist Brian Hurtt, so I’m not worried about a drop off. I don’t care how you feel about cowboys, or horror comics or whatever kind of comics you like; if you read comics, you should be reading The Sixth Gun.
 
COLLECTION
 
Uncanny X-Force, Vol. 1 (Marvel – $15.99): I’ve been telling you for months how good the X-Men books are, and this volume is a prime example of the renaissance going on in the X-Men universe right now. This volume collects the first four issues of Uncanny X-Force (along with a couple other odds and ends) which has Wolverine recruiting a new team of mutants charged with eliminating the direst threats facing the world. Their first mission is to take out the reborn spirit of En Sabah Nur, otherwise known as the villain Apocalypse. Writer Rick Remender immediately taps into each character and gives them a reason to be on the team and establishes the right dynamic of the book. Remender is assisted by one of his long time collaborators, Jerome Opena. Opena’s art perfectly sets the mood, by being dark and mysterious, while still keeping the storytelling clear. If you haven’t checked out this story line yet, find the issues or pick up this trade and you’ll see just another reason why I am so high on the X-Books right now.