Comic Nexus Weekly Buying Guide – December 05, 2012

Columns, Features, Previews, Roundtables, Top Story

Well, it’s the holiday season, so maybe you’re pinching your pennies. It’s even a better time to check out the buying guide to help you pick out the best titles for the week.

So, these are the titles that the Comic Nexus staff recommends purchasing this week.

Top 10 Anticipated Comics for December 05, 2012

The following are the top 10 comics that are most likely to be purchased by the members of the Comic Nexus staff.

  • SHADOWMAN (NEW) #2
  • EARTH 2 #7
  • WORLDS FINEST #7
  • AVENGERS #1 NOW
  • X-FACTOR #248
  • ANIMAL MAN #15 (ROT)
  • AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #699
  • HAWKEYE #5
  • INVINCIBLE #98 [DIG]
  • IRON MAN #3 NOW

Bagged or Bored List

The Comic Nexus staff ranked their interest in the top comics for the week. The following is the full break down. Here is the ranking guide:

5.0 – Definitely will buy
4.5 – Likely to buy
4.0 – Thinking about buying
3.5 – Waiting to see reviews
3.0 – Will read story (trade, friend, discounted)
2.5 – Would buy, but not enough money
2.0 – Not interested enough
1.5 – Uninterested in this book.
1.0 – I wouldn’t buy this with your money.

 

Publisher Title Price Rob Grey James Joey Mike

Avg

DC Comics ACTION COMICS #15 $3.99

2.5

3.5

3.0

5.0

1.0

3.0

IDW Publishing ADVENTURES OF AUGUSTA WIND #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99

2.0

2.0

1.5

2.5

1.5

1.9

Marvel Comics ALL NEW X-MEN #3 NOW $3.99

4.0

5.0

3.0

2.0

4.0

3.6

Image Comics ALPHA GIRL #5 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

2.0

2.0

1.5

3.0

1.5

2.0

Marvel Comics AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #699 $3.99

4.0

4.5

4.5

1.5

5.0

3.9

DC Comics ANIMAL MAN #15 (ROT) $2.99

3.0

4.5

5.0

2.5

5.0

4.0

Archie Comics ARCHIE #639 [DIG/P+] $2.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

2.5

2.0

1.7

Archie Comics ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #22 [DIG/P+] $3.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.3

Marvel Comics AVENGERS #1 NOW $3.99

3.5

5.0

5.0

4.0

4.0

4.3

Marvel Comics AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #15 $3.99

2.5

2.5

3.0

1.5

2.5

2.4

DC Comics BATWING #15 $2.99

2.5

2.0

3.0

3.5

4.5

3.1

DC Comics BEFORE WATCHMEN COMEDIAN #4 (MR) $3.99

2.0

2.0

1.5

4.0

2.0

2.3

DC Comics BEFORE WATCHMEN MINUTEMEN #5 (MR) $3.99

2.0

2.0

3.0

5.0

2.0

2.8

Image Comics BLACKACRE #1 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

2.0

3.0

4.0

2.0

1.5

2.5

Image Comics BLOODSTRIKE #33 [DIG] $3.99

2.0

2.0

1.5

4.5

4.5

2.9

Dark Horse Comics BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER WILLOW WONDERLAND #2 $2.99

3.0

3.0

1.5

2.0

1.5

2.2

IDW Publishing CHASING THE DEAD #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99

2.0

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.7

Dark Horse Comics COLDER #2 (MR) $3.99

2.5

3.0

2.0

1.5

1.5

2.1

Image Comics CREATOR OWNED HEROES #7 (MR) [DIG] $3.99

1.5

2.0

5.0

1.5

1.5

2.3

Image Comics CYBER FORCE #2 [DIG] PI

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.4

Marvel Comics DAREDEVIL END OF DAYS #3 $3.99

4.5

3.0

5.0

1.5

1.5

3.1

Dynamite DARK SHADOWS VAMPIRELLA #5 $3.99

1.0

1.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.3

Marvel Comics DEADPOOL #3 NOW $2.99

2.0

4.0

1.5

4.0

4.0

3.1

DC Comics DETECTIVE COMICS #15 (DOTF) $3.99

4.0

3.0

3.0

5.0

1.5

3.3

DC Comics DIAL H #7 $2.99

3.0

1.0

5.0

2.5

1.5

2.6

IDW Publishing DOCTOR WHO VOL 3 #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99

4.5

2.5

1.5

1.5

3.5

2.7

DC Comics EARTH 2 #7 $2.99

5.0

5.0

5.0

2.5

5.0

4.5

Image Comics EPIC KILL #7 [DIG] $2.99

1.5

1.5

1.5

4.0

1.5

2.0

DC Comics FAIREST #10 (MR) $2.99

3.0

2.0

3.0

2.5

1.5

2.4

Avatar Press FASHION BEAST #4 (MR) $3.99

2.0

1.0

3.0

1.5

1.5

1.8

Avatar Press FERALS #11 (MR) $3.99

2.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.9

Zenoscope FLY VOL II #2 A (MR) $2.99

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

Marvel Comics FURY MAX #7 (MR) $3.99

2.5

2.0

3.0

2.5

2.0

2.4

Boom Studios GARFIELD #8 [DIG] $3.99

1.0

2.0

1.5

2.5

1.5

1.7

DC Comics GI COMBAT #7 $3.99

2.5

1.0

2.0

2.5

1.5

1.9

IDW Publishing GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #185 [DIG/P+] $3.99

2.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

2.5

1.8

Image Comics GREAT PACIFIC #2 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

2.0

2.0

5.0

1.5

1.5

2.4

DC Comics GREEN ARROW #15 $2.99

2.5

1.0

1.5

2.5

1.5

1.8

Image Comics GUARDING THE GLOBE #4 [DIG] $2.99

3.0

3.0

3.0

4.5

1.5

3.0

IDW Publishing HAUNTED HORROR #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99

2.0

2.5

1.5

2.5

1.5

2.0

Marvel Comics HAWKEYE #5 $2.99

2.5

5.0

5.0

1.5

5.0

3.8

Dark Horse Comics HELLBOY IN HELL #1
$2.99

2.5

2.0

5.0

2.0

2.5

2.8

Dark Horse Comics HOUSE OF FUN ONE SHOT $3.50

2.0

2.0

1.5

2.0

1.5

1.8

DC Comics HUMAN BOMB #1 $2.99

2.0

2.5

3.0

4.0

1.5

2.6

Boom Studios HYPERNATURALS #6 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

2.5

2.0

1.5

5.0

2.0

2.6

Image Comics I LOVE TROUBLE #1 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

2.5

2.5

3.5

2.5

2.0

2.6

Image Comics INVINCIBLE #98 [DIG] $2.99

3.0

4.0

5.0

4.0

2.5

3.7

Marvel Comics IRON MAN #3 NOW $3.99

3.0

4.0

5.0

3.0

3.5

3.7

Archie Comics JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #187 [DIG/P+] $3.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

4.5

1.5

2.0

Archie Comics KEVIN KELLER #6 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.4

Boundless Comics LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #24 (MR) $3.99

1.0

1.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.3

Image Comics LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE #1 (MR) [DIG] $3.50

3.0

2.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

2.6

DC Comics LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #3 $3.99

2.5

3.0

3.0

2.5

1.5

2.5

DC Comics LOONEY TUNES #210 $2.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

3.0

1.5

1.7

Dynamite LORD OF THE JUNGLE #10 (MR) $3.99

2.0

1.0

1.5

2.5

1.5

1.7

IDW Publishing MAGIC THE GATHERING PATH OF VENGEANCE #1 [DIG/P+] $4.99

2.0

1.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

Marvel Comics MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS EARTHS HEROES #9 $2.99

2.5

1.0

1.5

2.5

2.0

1.9

Archie Comics NEW CRUSADERS RISE OF THE HEROES #4 $2.99

2.0

n/a

1.5

4.0

2.5

2.5

Image Comics PERHAPANAUTS DANGER DOWN UNDER #2 [DIG] $3.50

2.5

2.0

1.5

3.5

1.5

2.2

DC Comics PHANTOM STRANGER #3 $2.99

2.0

3.5

1.0

3.5

2.0

2.4

Boom Studios PLANET O/T APES CATACLYSM #4 $3.99

1.5

n/a

5.0

3.0

1.5

2.8

IDW Publishing POUND GHOULS NIGHT OUT #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.4

Marvel Comics PUNISHER WAR ZONE #2 $2.99

2.0

3.0

3.0

2.0

1.5

2.3

Marvel Comics RED SHE-HULK #60 NOW $2.99

1.5

1.0

3.0

2.5

1.5

1.9

Dynamite RED SONJA #72 $3.99

2.0

n/a

1.5

2.5

1.5

1.9

Dynamite ROBERT JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #31 $3.99

1.5

n/a

1.5

2.5

1.5

1.8

DC Comics SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #28 $2.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

1.5

1.5

Valiant Comics SHADOWMAN (NEW) #2 $3.99

5.0

n/a

4.0

5.0

5.0

4.8

Bongo Comics SIMPSONS WINTER WINGDING #7 $4.99

2.0

n/a

1.5

3.0

1.5

2.0

DC Comics SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #8 $3.99

2.5

5.0

1.5

2.0

4.0

3.0

Archie Comics SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #243 [P+] $2.99

1.5

n/a

1.5

2.5

1.5

1.8

Aspen Comics SOULFIRE VOL 4 #3 $3.99

2.0

n/a

1.5

2.0

1.5

1.8

Marvel Comics SPACEKNIGHTS #3 $3.99

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

Dark Horse Comics STAR WARS PURGE TYRANTS FIST #1 $3.50

2.5

2.0

1.5

3.0

1.5

2.1

Avatar Press STITCHED #10 (MR) $3.99

2.5

n/a

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.9

Image Comics STORM DOGS #2 (MR) [DIG] $3.50

2.0

2.0

5.0

2.5

1.5

2.6

DC Comics STORMWATCH #15 $2.99

3.0

2.5

3.0

2.0

2.0

2.5

Oni Press STUMPTOWN V2 #4 $3.99

4.0

n/a

5.0

1.5

1.5

3.0

DC Comics SWAMP THING #15 (ROT) $2.99

3.0

2.5

5.0

2.5

4.5

3.5

Dynamite THE LONE RANGER #11 $3.99

2.5

n/a

1.5

2.5

1.5

2.0

Dynamite THE LONE RANGER SNAKE OF IRON #4 $3.99

2.5

n/a

1.5

2.0

1.5

1.9

Marvel Comics THUNDERBOLTS #1 NOW $2.99

3.5

3.5

4.0

3.0

3.5

3.5

IDW Publishing TMNT COLOR CLASSICS MICRO SERIES MICHELANGELO $3.99

1.5

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.6

IDW Publishing TRANSFORMERS REGENERATION ONE #86 [DIG/P+] $3.99

3.0

2.0

1.5

2.5

1.5

2.1

Marvel Comics ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #18.1 $2.99

3.0

2.0

5.0

2.5

3.0

3.1

Dynamite VOLTRON YEAR ONE #6 $3.99

2.5

n/a

1.5

2.0

1.5

1.9

Zenoscope WAKE THE F#CK UP #1 (MR) $2.99

2.0

n/a

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.6

Dynamite WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #19 (MR) $3.99

2.0

n/a

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.6

IDW Publishing WOMANTHOLOGY SPACE #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99

4.5

2.0

3.0

2.5

1.5

2.7

DC Comics WORLDS FINEST #7 $2.99

5.0

5.0

3.0

n/a

5.0

4.5

Marvel Comics X-FACTOR #248 $2.99

3.0

5.0

5.0

2.5

5.0

4.1

Marvel Comics X-MEN #39 $3.99

2.5

2.0

3.0

1.5

2.0

2.2

Staff Picks

The following section, the members of the Comic Nexus Staff give their opinions of the book they are most looking forward to this week:

Jim Lang: Avengers #1
Avengers #1 – Jonathan Hickman is the one writer at Marvel who can do no wrong – all of his previous titles, Secret Warriors, and Fantastic Four and FF, to say nothing of his independent work (The Nightly News, Pax Romana, Manhattan Projects), have been fantastic. He puts together very large, complex stories and is able to juggle a multitude of characters and sub-plots, and unlike his immediate Avengers predecessor, Brian Michael Bendis, he manages to pull it all off in the end, crafting big epic tales that have satisfying conclusions. Even before seeing the vast line-up of characters he’s including in this book, I was excited to see what he can do with it; now, knowing that he’s brought some X-characters like Sunspot into Avengers Tower, I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us. Also, Jerome Opena is one of the best artists Marvel works with. Should be great!
Joey Smith : Hypernaturals #6
Hypernaturals 6: This is the book I’m most looking forward to this week and it will be the first one I’m buying this week. It’s been consistently good and I’m getting more invested in the characters each month. I’m just as anxious for Shadowman though as Valiant continues to bring it every week (that they release a book). I’m still interested to see what happens in the next issue as I want to find out more about the mythos of this book.
Mike Maillaro: Amazing Spider-Man #699
Amazing Spider-Man #699: This was a tough week. Quite a few books I am really excited to buy this week, like X-Factor and Hawkeye, not to mention Animal Man and Earth 2. And I am definitely curious about Avengers and Thunderbolts. But at the end of the day, I really had no choice but to give the nod to Amazing Spider-Man. Last issue’s ending was a huge kick in the stomach, and with just three issues left in Amazing Spider-Man, I am really excited to see where Dan Slott is taking us as we head in to Superior Spider-Man.
Grey Scherl: All-New X-Men #3
I never thought I would see the day where I was putting over Bendis for writing the X-Men, and AVX solidified that….so why do I love this book? Because Marvel’s chosen Golden Boy has been off to an uncanny start. His pacing is perfect, the characters are spot on, and he’s actually found a way to weave gold out of Scott’s status quo. So far this is the best Marvel NOW! book and I am totally cool with the accelerated shipping.
Matt Graham: Creator Owned Heroes #7
This is what comic books are all about. Artists and writers showcasing their talents with imaginative, original material. When I talked to Jimmy Palmiotti last August here in Toronto, he gave me a free issue and I scrambled for the two issues I had missed. This book is a callback to the old anthologies and the glory days of fanzines and magazines: two serial stories of original material from creators like Phil Noto, Steve Niles, and Darwyn Cooke, along with con photos, art galleries, fan art, and exclusive interviews and showcases with talent like Amanda Conner and Mark Waid. And don’t just enjoy it, the community behind this book is all about giving you the confidence and examples to get your own creator-owned content out there.
Trade Paperback of the Week: Fury Max: My War Gone By vol 1
For me, Garth Ennis is like the ex who you’ve moved past, but you still care about her and want to check in every once in a while to see how they are doing. After his run on Preacher, I read lots of Garth Ennis titles, but each time I was reminded of a better version of the story in either Preacher or Hellblazer.That being said, I’d like to check in on him. Being able to take a mature stance on classic Marvel characters is a perfect fun little gig for him. And bringing back Nick Fury to the cold war era always seems like a fun time. So, I’d drop the 20 bucks (or more likely the $11.17 at Amazon) and revisit an old friend.

 

RJ Schwabe is a man who just cracked his fourth decade, and has yet to put his toys away. He is a life-long comic book fan, who is enjoying digital comics more than he ever thought he would. Big fan of nerdy television and comic books, and is a recovering pro-wrestling addict. His review blog can be found at http://looksat40.wordpress.com