Each and every week “The American Dragon” MK2Fac3 and “Hall of Pain” 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 November 30, 2011. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

So, how was everyone’s Thanksgiving, huh? Did you get all full on your family dinners? Was it a lot of fun? Did you go out and shop at midnight on Black Friday? Or maybe you waited by your computer for all the Amazon Black Friday deals! I’ll bet that was a blast! Well, get over it! It’s a new week and hardly anything is coming out, so you can either be thankful that you don’t have to spend that much money this week, or you could head over to look at our Amazon wish lists and get US something! You ever think of that?? Sorry folks, I’m bitter and grumpy because I haven’t slept in days. Our editor has chained me to my laptop and it’s burning my arms. Make it stop!

MK2Fac3

Eve, let me sleeeeep!!!

ISSUES:

Batman: Odyssey, Vol. 2 #2 (of 7) (DC Comics – $3.99): I don’t know if “best comic of all time” applies to Batman: Odyssey, but I’m kinda pretty sure that it does. It’s absolutely 100% insane, and I can’t see why someone who loves to laugh and have a good time does not genuinely, or even ironically (hipsters, I’m looking at you), love this book! It’s so much fun! Batman is drawn all crazy like and he hangs out with a cavemanish Batman that kinda dresses like The Huntress who pals around with an evolved dinosaur version of Robin. And they live underneath the surface of the Earth and ride giant bats around subterranean dinosaurs. THIS IS THE BEST COMIC! I have literally no idea what’s going on the comic because… well, it doesn’t make any sense, but who cares about sense? Sense is overrated. I would like a milkshake, please.

Skullkickers #12 (Image Comics – $2.99): I’ve talked ad nauseum about Skullkickers. I’ve written about pretty much every issue since this whole thing kicked off. But if you’re getting tired of that, too bad, suckas! Seriously though, the title is going on a limited hiatus for a couple of months so that the creators can approach other properties, but in the meantime we have this excellent collection of short stories in what Jim Zub and company call “Four More Tavern Tales” which allows several different creators the opportunity to take control of our two heroes and apply their own spin. In the previous installment of “Tavern Tales” we saw brilliant takes on the characters from Brian Clevinger of Atomic Robo, Chris Sims of Awesome Hospital (and most recently, the fantastic Dracula The Unconquered) as well as many others. For this installment, however, we will be seeing the rock band Kirby Krackle, Street Fighter IV‘s Joe Ng, Schlock Mercenary‘s Howard Tayler, and several others take over the characters for a few pages and show off what they can do with this hilariously exciting comic book. I loved the first anthology issue, and I can’t wait for this one. But it’s going to be a sad few months when this title won’t have new issues for me to love.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4 (IDW Publishing – $3.99): I have absolutely loved this comic since it was recently relaunched. It’s pretty much perfect for any fan new or old. It takes a realistic, but not gritty, look at the Ninja Turtles and pretty much gives you exactly want you want out of a comic book like this. Ninjistu by mutated teen turtles. That’s what you what right? Oh, well, it’s also got the perfect amount of nostalgia factor to let you reminisce on how great it was to love TMNT as a kid, but it doesn’t focus all of it’s attention on that fact. No, instead the creators of this book are mainly concerned with telling a good story, and hopefully those letters pages are reminding them that they’ve done a great thing instead of the “more nostalgia” cries that I’m so terrified of seeing. Anyway, if you’re a comic loving child of the 80s, you will absolute love this book. If you’re not, give it a try anyway, you’ll probably dig it.

COLLECTION:

Morning Glories Vol. 1 HC Deluxe Collection (Image Comics – $39.99): Morning Glories is easily one of my favorite ongoing comics right now. They’ve released two trade paperbacks and approximately 14 issues of material. The two trades collect the first two story arcs in the first twelve issues, and the team behind Morning Glories has put together something of a yearbook. It’s the first 12 issues in an oversized, gorgeous hardcover. The stories in these issues is unbelievable and the presentation in this collection is even better. If you’re not into this book, or the way it’s being released, I’m pretty sure we can’t be friends because I love it that much. So, if not for yourself, make sure to pick this comic up for anyone you know that loves a great deal of suspense with a nearly impossible mystery to discover. It’s a book that I can’t stop thinking about and I’m shaking with anticipation to get my hands on this edition.

Henchman21

It’s not the best week for comics this time out, so I’m just going to focus on a couple of issues, since I’m not that excited, and both Marvel and DC only have a handful of books this week. So, this may be a good week to catch up on stuff that’s been sitting on the shelf, or just take some time to buy Christmas presents for the special people in your life, like the guys who recommend comics to you every week.

ISSUES:

Flash Gordon Zeitgeist #1 (Dynamite Entertainment – $1.00): I’ve spoken before in the GoD list that the kind of comics I am most enjoying these days tap into a certain sense of fun and action that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s what I’m hoping for from Flash Gordon Zeitgeist. From the solicits, it looks like writer Eric Trautmann and artist Daniel Lindro are bringing the characters back to their roots, and that is just fine by me. I’m always up for some good pulpy adventure and it looks like that is the feel this book is going for. I don’t need the story updated to the modern day, although I wouldn’t mind if Flash was a quarterback for the NY Jets and if Prince Barin was drawn to look like Timothy Dalton. Beyond that, as long as I have a good time with the issue, I’ll walk away happy. The price should also help to convince you to at least give this a shot.

Star Trek #3 (IDW Publishing – $3.99): Okay, I’m going to confess something that may shock some of my friends, but I have only seen a handful of episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series. What’s great about this new series is that even if I (or you) haven’t seen the original series before, we get a chance to see them in a slightly different way. Star Trek is taking the old episodes and remixing them with the cast from the reboot movie from a couple years back. The first couple issues impressed me with some decent art and the great characters we know and love. This issue kicks off the adaptation of “The Galileo 7.” It’s a great series for any Trek fan, new or old.

COLLECTION:

RASL Vol. 3 (Cartoon Books – $15.00): I’m sure I’ve said before how much I enjoy the work of Jeff Smith before, and I have been enjoying RASL, although the wait between issues is a bit problematic, which makes the trades of the series the perfect place to read it. The best thing about this version is that the art is WAY oversized, which works well with Smith’s detailed and expressive work. The giant pages accentuate all the best aspects of Smith’s style. It’s not just about the art when it comes to RASL though. Smith has crafted a mind-bending story of a cross dimensional art thief on the run from shadowy forces. There’s also a lot of great historical action as Smith goes into the lives of some of the greatest scientific minds of the 20th century. It is a challenging and adult story in a way that Smith’s earlier work never attained. Rasl is great, and I highly recommend checking it out.