So Alpha Flight is Canada’s premiere super hero team. The entire team has been killed off at least once in the last couple of years, probably even more. Somehow though those resilient buggers are back to kick some butt in an all new miniseries coming from Marvel Comics.

Writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente and artist Dale Eaglesham will be offering up their take on the super team. This new 8-issue miniseries is a Fear Itself tie-in that finds Canada in the grip of fear and their greatest protectors named as enemies of the state. So it appears this story will follow Alpha Flight as they battle the fear and try to restore order to the Great White North.

Alpha Flight 1 of 8 hits store shelves on June 6, 2011. Check out these early images…

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 May 4, 2011. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

MK2Fac3

ISSUES

Blue Estate #2 (Image Comics – $2.99): When the first of this issue of this came out of nowhere to completely blow me away, I knew that I would be anticipating all following issues. The series centers around a bit of fumbling private detective that gets himself a bit over his head when he picks up a case concerning the Russian mafia. Blue Estate is extremely eccentric with a lot of mystery, but also with a perfect amount of humor to keep the series as one of the most unique books that I’ve ever read. We discussed the first issue on the podcast, but the creative force behind this comic is strong, and this Blue Estate promises to be a breakout series.

But don’t take my word for it, here’s a description of the book given to us straight from creator, Andrew Osborne!

So Marvel’s big Summer event Fear Itself is underway and it’s blowing up all over the Marvel Universe. We’ve got early looks at some of the biggest issues this Summer.

It all starts in May when Fear Itself #2 of 7 hits store shelves. Award-winning writer Matt Fraction and artist Stuart Immonen continue the mystery of who the Worthy are. Seven hammers have fallen to Earth each capable of seemingly endless power. The race is on to see who the Worthy will be and without the Asgardians who have left Earth, will the Avengers be able to save the day? Covers for this installment if the series were done by Steve McNiven and variant by Stuart Immonen. Early images from Fear Itself #2 and previews for other Fear Itself releases are waiting for you after the jump.

In July Fear Itself hits the shores of Utopia in Uncanny X-Men #540 & #541. Writer Kieron Gillen and artist Greg Land bring fear to the unsteady balance between humans and mutant-kind.

Fear Itself #1
Written by Matt Fraction
Pencils by Stuart Immonen
Inks by Wade Von Grawbadger
Colors by Laura Martin
Letters by Chris Eliopoulos
Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
Release date: April 6, 2011

There is a delicate line between the amount of realism that I am looking for in my fantasy escapism and Fear Itself, the newest event from Marvel Comics, straddles the line very closely. The series, written by Matt Fraction with art by Stuart Immonen, is the next in a line of Marvel books that have taken a more “realistic” look at the world in comics. Marvel has prided itself by taking place in a world very much like our own. The President in our world is the President in the Marvel U. Problems in our world become problems in their world. They have examined many real world issues, such as drug use in Spider-Man, racism in Uncanny X-Men, and a host of other topics. However, I have to question just how much realism can exist in a fantastic world filled with colorful characters fighting against villains who can be blamed for all of society’s ills. How much realism is too much, and can real world issues exist in a world where they could be conceivably solved by the characters within that universe? I don’t just read comics for fun, I want my mind to be involved and I want the comics I read to inform the world around me. On the other hand, I still want to have fun while reading my comics, and I will admit that they are a form of escapism from the reality of my everyday life. So when reading this issue, I had to decide how much realism do I want, and how much do I just want to escape into a world where problems can be solved by an Ultimate Nullifier.

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 6, 2011. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

MK2Fac3

ISSUES

Secret Six #32 (DC Comics – $2.99) – Secret Six is easily one of my favorite ongoing series, so don’t be surprised when you see this book on my list every month. Not enough people read this book, and that’s a crime. It’s one of the most consistently awesome comics to come out on a regular basis, and this current storyline is no exception. In this second issue of the current story arc, writer Gail Simone takes the Secret Six into Hell to solve one of the most exciting story lines that was set up at the very beginning of the series. This series continues to be a “can’t miss,” so don’t miss it!

Chew #18 (Image Comics – $2.99) – Chew is another one of those books that you don’t want to miss out on. I’ve read this series from the beginning, and although you need to read the entire series, each issue does have a catch-up prologue to explain what the series is about. It’s a really quirky title that’s a blast to read every month with great writing and art. It never disappoints, and with the recent announcement that Showtime will be adapting the series to a television show, you should really get in when you can.