Altered States: Doc Savage
Written by David Avallone
Art by Dave Acosta
Colored by Adriano Augusto
Letters by Marshall Dillon
Cover art by Billy Tan
Cover colors by Alex Guimaraes
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: March 18, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

Altered States: Doc Savage explores what the character of Doc Savage might be like if he was a caveman in prehistoric times. Not only that, but what if the Doc Savage of modern times (ok, the 1930s) was a prehistoric caveman. I’ve really enjoyed the Altered States specials so far, does this one stack up? Let’s take a look…

Altered States: Red Sonja
Written by Brandon Jerwa
Illustrated by Juanan Ramirez
Colored by Rohvel Yumul
Letters by Marshall Dillon
Cover art by Billy Tan
Cover colors by Alex Guimaraes
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: March 11, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

Altered States takes some of Dynamite Entertainment’s well established characters and transports them into situation that they’re not used to. Take this one-shot comic, Altered States: Red Sonja, for example. Red Sonja gets whisked away from a battle in ancient times to a museum desk job in the heart of New York City. Sort of like an Elseworlds title, but different.

Miss Fury #3
Written by Rob Williams
Art by Jack Herbert
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Lettered by Simon Bowland
Covers by Joe Benitez, Paul Renaud, Billy Tan and Wagner Reis
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: June 5, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Miss Fury #3 is the latest chapter in Dynamite’s latest Pulp Hero revival and one of the MOST confusing comics that I’ve ever read in recent memory. And, I’m loving every minute of it.

I hope writer Rob Williams has a scorecard for this book at home, because I’ve long since tossed mine out. No, I’m not stupid, but you have to agree when you’re reading a comic book about a time traveling hero who blinks and goes from 70 years in the past to 70 years in the future, you’d tend to get a little confused too. Not to mention cyborg Nazis who’re hiding in disguise are political figures in 2013 and trying to start World War II. That’s right, 2. It is this kind of “lets throw everything at the reader just for fun” action that I absolutely LOVE and here, Rob Williams totally makes it work for this book and the universe that it’s set in. To say that there’s a lot going on would be the understatement of the year. To say it’s pretty darn entertaining? Right on the money.

The Black Bat #2
Written by Brian Buccellato
Art by Ronan Cliquet
Colored by Mat Lopes
Lettered by Rob Steen
Covers by Marcos Martin, Billy Tan, Jae Lee, Ardian Syaf and Joe Benitez
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: June 5, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Reading The Black Bat #2 will further cement what we now know as FACT. Dynamite Entertainment loves its pulp heroes and takes extra good care of them. I’m not sure just who it is, I’m guessing senior editor Joe Rybandt, but someone at DE goes the extra mile to see that all these books are treated with the utmost care and that they all have a genuinely sincere creative team working together to ensure that the best versions of these characters are hitting the stands.

Writer Brian Buccellato, best known for his work on DC Comics The Flash, takes what could’ve easily been a Batman rip-off and does something that’s not even remotely related to one of “those types of stories.” In fact, he goes out of his way to make the character unique and independent and stand out on his own. And we’re rewarded for all his hard work by having a great comic!!!

Thor #609
Written by: Kieron Gillen
Cover by: Mico Suayan
Art by: Billy Tan
Inks by: Mike Harris
Colors by: Scott Cohn
Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 28, 2010

Thor #609 continues the story arc of what is happening with all the Asgardians during Siege. We get a follow up to most of our stories and a hint of what is coming for all of Asgard. Mysteriously, there is no Thor in this issue at all but this isn’t surprising since he is still banished from Asgard. Kieron Gillen is doing a great job of juggling all of these storylines and I am extremely happy with this team even though I was very worried about the changeover back when it happened. I am happy to report that I am completely on board for everything that has happened and will happen in the Thor universe and that editorial has done a great job of letting the art transition and flow into Billy Tan‘s run.