Comic Nexus Weekly Buying Guide – December 19, 2012

Columns, Features, Roundtables, Top Story

The Nexus staff has been pouring over their notes to bring you their (sight unseen) recommendations for this week’s comics. Do not let our work and sacrifice be in vain. Ensure that our deeds are spoken in the annals of comic book shops and digital download bandwidth everywhere.

Top 10 Anticipated Comics for December 19, 2012

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

  1. HARBINGER #7
  2. X-O MANOWAR #8
  3. SAGA #8
  4. DAREDEVIL #21
  5. NIGHTWING #15
  6. FF #2
  7. HAWKEYE #6
  8. WONDER WOMAN #15
  9. CABLE AND X-FORCE #2
  10. CAPTAIN MARVEL #8

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

Matt

James

Joey

Mike

Avg

Marvel Comics A PLUS X #3 NOW

$3.99

2.0

3.5

3.5

1.0

1.0

2.20

Boom Studios ADVENTURE TIME #11 [DIG]

$3.99

1.5

0.5

1.5

2.0

0.5

1.20

IDW Publishing ALAN ROBERT KILLOGY #2 [DIG/P+]

$3.99

1.5

1.0

2.0

1.5

0.5

1.30

Marvel Comics ALL NEW X-MEN #4 NOW

$3.99

4.5

5.0

3.5

1.5

2.5

3.40

Image Comics AMERICAS GOT POWERS #4 [DIG]

$2.99

2.5

2.0

5.0

5.0

0.5

3.00

Dark Horse Comics ANGEL & FAITH #17

$2.99

3.0

3.0

1.5

3.0

0.5

2.20

Marvel Comics ASTONISHING X-MEN #57

$3.99

3.0

4.5

3.5

1.5

0.5

2.60

Marvel Comics AVENGERS #2 NOW

$3.99

3.0

2.0

5.0

1.5

3.0

2.90

Marvel Comics AVENGERS ARENA #2 NOW

$2.99

2.0

5.0

4.0

1.5

1.0

2.70

DC Comics BATWOMAN #15

$2.99

3.0

5.0

5.0

3.0

1.0

3.40

DC Comics BEFORE WATCHMEN MOLOCH #2 (MR)

$3.99

1.5

2.0

1.5

2.5

0.5

1.60

Archie Comics BETTY & VERONICA #263 [DIG/P+]

$2.99

1.5

2.0

1.5

2.5

0.5

1.60

Archie Comics BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #208 [DIG/P+]

$3.99

1.5

2.0

1.5

3.5

0.5

1.80

Dynamite Entertainment BIONIC WOMAN #6

$3.99

1.5

2.0

1.5

3.0

0.5

1.70

DC Comics BIRDS OF PREY #15

$2.99

2.0

1.5

1.5

3.0

1.0

1.80

Dark Horse Comics BLACK BEETLE NIGHT SHIFT #0

$2.99

1.5

2.0

3.5

3.5

0.5

2.20

DC Comics BLUE BEETLE #15

$2.99

3.5

1.0

3.5

2.0

1.5

2.30

Dark Horse Comics BPRD 1948 #3

$3.50

3.0

3.0

5.0

2.0

2.0

3.00

Dark Horse Comics BPRD HELL ON EARTH #102 RETURN O/T MASTER #5

$3.50

3.0

3.0

5.0

2.0

2.0

3.00

Boom Studios BRAVEST WARRIORS #3

$3.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.20

Aspen Comics BROKEN PIECES #5

$3.50

1.5

1.0

2.0

1.5

0.5

1.30

Marvel Comics CABLE AND X-FORCE #2 NOW

$3.99

4.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

3.0

3.80

Marvel Comics CAPTAIN AMERICA #2 NOW

$3.99

2.5

2.0

3.5

1.5

1.5

2.20

Marvel Comics CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BLACK WIDOW #640

$2.99

2.5

2.0

3.5

1.5

0.5

2.00

Marvel Comics CAPTAIN MARVEL #8

$2.99

2.5

5.0

3.5

3.0

4.5

3.70

Image Comics CARBON GREY VOL 2 #2 CVR A EVANS & LOH

$3.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.20

Marvel Comics CASTLE A CALM BEFORE STORM #1

$3.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

1.0

1.30

DC Comics CATWOMAN #15

$2.99

2.0

1.0

1.5

4.0

0.5

1.80

IDW Publishing CLASSIC POPEYE ONGOING #5 [DIG/P+]

$3.99

1.5

0.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.30

Image Comics COMEBACK #2 (MR) [DIG]

$3.50

1.5

2.0

5.0

4.5

0.5

2.70

Marvel Comics DAREDEVIL #21

$2.99

3.0

4.5

5.0

5.0

5.0

4.50

Dark Horse Comics DARK HORSE PRESENTS #19

$7.99

2.5

3.0

5.0

1.5

0.5

2.50

Dynamite Entertainment DARK SHADOWS #11

$3.99

2.0

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.30

DC Comics DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #15

$2.99

4.5

3.0

5.0

1.5

2.0

3.20

DC Comics DJANGO UNCHAINED #1 (MR)

$3.99

2.0

1.0

3.5

3.5

0.5

2.10

Dark Horse Comics EMPOWERED SPECIAL #3 HELL BENT OR HEAVEN SENT (MR)

$3.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.20

Dynamite Entertainment EVIL ERNIE #3

$3.99

1.0

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.10

DC Comics FABLES #124 (MR)

$2.99

3.0

2.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.70

Marvel Comics FF #2 NOW

$2.99

2.0

5.0

5.0

2.5

5.0

3.90

Boom Studios FREELANCERS #2

$3.99

2.0

3.0

2.0

4.5

0.5

2.40

Marvel Comics GAMBIT #7

$2.99

2.5

3.0

1.5

2.0

1.0

2.00

Zenescope GODSTORM #3

$2.99

1.5

1.0

1.0

1.5

0.5

1.10

Dynamite Entertainment GREEN HORNET #32

$3.99

2.0

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.30

DC Comics GREEN LANTERN #15 (RISE)

$2.99

5.0

2.0

1.5

5.0

4.5

3.60

DC Comics GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #15 (RISE)

$2.99

3.5

2.0

1.5

5.0

4.5

3.30

Zenescope GRIMM FAIRY TALES #80 A CVR CAFARO (MR)

$2.99

2.0

3.0

1.0

1.5

0.5

1.60

Image Comics HAPPY #3 [DIG]

$2.99

3.0

4.5

5.0

4.5

0.5

3.50

Valiant Comics HARBINGER (ONGOING) #7 SUAYAN CVR

$3.99

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.00

Image Comics HAUNT #28 [DIG]

$2.99

1.5

2.0

5.0

1.5

0.5

2.10

Marvel Comics HAWKEYE #6

$2.99

2.5

5.0

5.0

2.0

5.0

3.90

DC Comics HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #5

$2.99

1.5

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.0

1.50

DC Comics HELLBLAZER #298 (MR)

$2.99

3.0

4.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

2.10

Boom Studios HELLRAISER ROAD BELOW #3 (MR) [DIG]

$3.99

1.0

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.10

Aspen Comics IDOLIZED #4

$3.99

1.5

1.0

2.0

4.5

0.5

1.90

Marvel Comics INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #2 NOW

$3.99

2.5

3.5

4.5

2.0

3.5

3.20

IDW Publishing JOE PALOOKA #1 [DIG]

$3.99

1.5

1.0

2.0

1.5

0.5

1.30

Marvel Comics JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #647 NOW

$2.99

2.0

3.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.90

DC Comics JSA LIBERTY FILES THE WHISTLING SKULL #1

$2.99

2.5

1.0

3.5

4.5

0.5

2.40

IDW Publishing JUDGE DREDD #2 [DIG/P+]

$3.99

1.5

3.0

1.5

4.5

0.5

2.20

DC Comics LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #15

$2.99

2.0

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.30

IDW Publishing LOCKE & KEY OMEGA #2 [DIG/P+]

$3.99

3.0

4.0

1.5

1.5

4.5

2.90

Image Comics MACGYVER FUGITIVE GAUNTLET #3 [DIG]

$3.50

1.0

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.10

IDW Publishing MARS ATTACKS #6 [DIG/P+]

$3.99

1.0

1.0

3.5

1.5

0.5

1.50

Dynamite Entertainment MASKS #2

$3.99

2.5

1.0

1.5

4.0

0.5

1.90

Dark Horse Comics MICHAEL AVON OEMINGS THE VICTORIES #5 (MR)

$3.99

3.0

3.5

1.5

1.5

0.5

2.00

Image Comics MULTIPLE WARHEADS ALPHABET TO INFINITY #3 [DIG]

$2.99

1.5

1.0

5.0

1.5

0.5

1.90

DC Comics NIGHTWING #15 (DOTF)

$2.99

5.0

1.5

5.0

5.0

4.0

4.10

Image Comics NOWHERE MEN #2 [DIG]

$2.99

2.5

2.5

4.5

4.0

0.5

2.80

Dark Horse Comics NUMBER 13 #1

$3.99

3.5

3.5

5.0

5.0

0.5

3.50

Dynamite Entertainment PANTHA #5

$3.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.20

Abstract Studio RACHEL RISING #13 [DIG/P+]

$3.99

3.0

4.0

3.5

2.5

0.5

2.70

DC Comics RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #15 (DOTF)

$2.99

2.0

1.0

1.5

5.0

1.5

2.20

Dark Horse Comics RIPD CITY O/T DAMNED #2

$3.50

1.5

2.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.40

Zenescope ROBYN HOOD #4 A CVR GARZA (MR)

$2.99

1.5

1.0

1.0

1.5

0.5

1.10

Dark Horse Comics ROTTEN APPLE ONE SHOT

$2.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.20

Image Comics SAGA #8 (MR) [DIG]

$2.99

3.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

4.60

Marvel Comics SCARLET SPIDER #12.1

$2.99

2.0

1.0

3.5

2.5

3.5

2.50

Marvel Comics SECRET AVENGERS #35

$3.99

3.0

1.0

5.0

1.5

1.0

2.30

Bongo Comics SIMPSONS COMICS #197

$2.99

2.0

1.0

1.5

3.0

0.5

1.60

Oni Press SIXTH GUN #27

$3.99

3.0

3.0

5.0

3.5

0.5

3.00

IDW Publishing SNAKE EYES & STORM SHADOW #20 [DIG/P+]

$3.99

3.0

1.0

1.5

3.0

2.0

2.10

Archie Comics SONIC UNIVERSE #47 [P+]

$2.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

0.5

1.30

IDW Publishing STAR TREK 100 PAGE SPECTACULAR WINTER 2012

$7.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.20

IDW Publishing STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION HIVE #3 [DIG/P+]

$3.99

2.0

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.30

IDW Publishing STAR TREK TNG DOCTOR WHO ASSIMILATION #8 [DIG/P+]

$3.99

2.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

4.5

2.20

Dark Horse Comics STAR WARS AGENT O/T EMPIRE HARD TARGETS #3

$2.99

2.5

1.0

5.0

4.0

0.5

2.60

Dark Horse Comics STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI PRISONER OF BOGAN #2

$2.99

2.5

1.0

5.0

4.0

0.5

2.60

Image Comics SUPER DINOSAUR #16 [DIG]

$2.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.20

DC Comics SUPERGIRL #15

$2.99

2.0

5.0

1.5

5.0

0.5

2.80

Image Comics SUPREME #67 [DIG]

$3.99

1.0

3.0

1.0

1.5

3.5

2.00

DC Comics SWORD OF SORCERY #3

$3.99

4.5

5.0

1.5

3.0

2.5

3.30

Dynamite Entertainment THE SPIDER #7

$3.99

2.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.40

Image Comics THIEF OF THIEVES #11 (MR) [DIG]

$2.99

3.0

3.0

5.0

2.5

1.5

3.00

Marvel Comics THOR GOD OF THUNDER #3 NOW

$3.99

3.5

4.5

3.5

1.5

4.0

3.40

Marvel Comics THUNDERBOLTS #2 NOW

$2.99

2.0

3.0

1.0

1.5

2.0

1.90

IDW Publishing TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #12 [DIG/P+]

$3.99

3.0

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.50

IDW Publishing TRANSFUSION #2 [DIG/P+]

$3.99

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.20

Marvel Comics ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #18

$3.99

3.0

2.0

5.0

1.5

3.0

2.90

Marvel Comics ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #19

$3.99

3.0

2.0

5.0

1.5

2.0

2.70

Marvel Comics UNCANNY X-FORCE #35

$3.99

2.0

4.0

5.0

1.5

1.0

2.70

DC Comics UNWRITTEN #44 (MR)

$2.99

3.0

3.0

5.0

n/a

0.5

2.88

Dynamite Entertainment VAMPIRELLA #25

$3.99

1.0

1.0

1.5

n/a

0.5

1.00

Marvel Comics VENOM #28

$2.99

1.0

2.0

3.5

n/a

2.0

2.13

Oni Press WASTELAND #42 (MR)

$3.99

3.0

3.5

5.0

n/a

0.5

3.00

Image Comics WHERE IS JAKE ELLIS #2 [DIG]

$3.50

3.0

1.0

5.0

n/a

0.5

2.38

Image Comics WITCH DOCTOR MALPRACTICE #2 [DIG]

$2.99

1.5

1.0

5.0

n/a

0.5

2.00

Image Comics WITCHBLADE #162

$2.99

1.5

4.5

1.5

n/a

0.5

2.00

Marvel Comics WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #22

$3.99

2.5

5.0

5.0

n/a

0.5

3.25

DC Comics WONDER WOMAN #15

$2.99

5.0

5.0

5.0

n/a

0.5

3.88

Zenescope WONDERLAND #6 A CVR SEJIC (MR)

$2.99

1.5

2.0

1.0

n/a

0.5

1.25

Marvel Comics X-FACTOR #249

$2.99

3.0

2.0

5.0

n/a

4.5

3.63

Marvel Comics X-MEN LEGACY #3 NOW

$2.99

2.5

3.0

4.5

n/a

0.5

2.63

Valiant Comics X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #8

$3.99

5.0

5.0

4.5

n/a

5.0

4.88

Marvel Comics X-TREME X-MEN #8

$2.99

2.0

5.0

1.5

n/a

4.5

3.25

DC Comics YOUNG JUSTICE #23

$2.99

2.0

1.0

1.5

n/a

3.0

1.88

Staff Picks of the Week

The following is a list of the books that we, the Comic Nexus staff, are most looking forward to this week.

Mike Mailaro: FF #2

Matt Fraction’s Fantastic Four run is shaping up to be something great, and both series have been a lot of fun. I did like FF’s first issue a little more than Fantastic Four (in no small part because of Mike Allred’s art), but both series are still head and shoulders above most other comics. 

Some commentary: Marvel seems to have made their shipping schedule even more insane than normal with several books coming out two or even three times this month. This required me to drop a few titles I really didn’t want to drop (Avengers, Thor, Hulk, Cable and X-Force). Bad enough paying 4 bucks a comic, but I can’t afford to pay that in back to back weeks. Marvel really needs to start price dropping their digital books like everyone else does.

Matt Graham: Avengers Arena #2

Avengers Arena #2 – Tough call, as I can’t wait to see where Cable and X-Force is going, but AA is laden with hooks. Getting #2 one week after the debut…okay, that part is sort of lame, but let’s not get into Marvel’s aggressive shipping schedule. The book is Marvel’s obvious stab at that Hunger Games (Yes, I’ve read Battle Royale, but face pop-culture facts) just like the X-Men vampire stuff coincided delightfully with vampire fever in other books and TV shows. Copying something isn’t always flattery, but Dennis Hopeless is a great writer, and the best writers can steal and still make it their own – and Avengers Arena certainly makes the most of its potential. Like Laura Kinney, it’s not a simple clone, it has its own heart and style. I don’t believe for a moment they’ll kill off my Laura, let alone Haz-Mat, and I still think the whole thing is a VR situation and our team is jacked into The Matrix, as it were. It doesn’t mean it’s not one of the best books to come out of Marvel all year, if only for Kev Walker’s pencils. It has a lot more going for it on top of Mr. Walker, though.

Joe Smith: Harbinger #7

I’m looking forward to this issue the most and I want to see what character is introduced this month as part of the Resistance. Last month’s issue was very strong and I want to see them continue with the momentum.

James Fulton: Uncanny X-Force #35

This has to be the biggest week for new comics in months, as all the publishers try to put out almost two weeks’ worth of titles and clear the decks for the end of the year. I can’t believe how many books I’m supposed to be buying this week. So which one am I most excited about? I think it has to be the final issue of Uncanny X-Force, which has been one hell of a series. Rick Remender took the concept of an X-Black Ops squad run by Wolverine, and actually did something with it, constructing plotlines that actually got resolved, and delivering some very exciting, very beautiful comics along the way. He’s also the guy that had AoA Nightcrawler teleport a shark into AoA Blob’s stomach recently. There’s no telling what could happen in this last issue (except I’m pretty sure Wolverine will survive whatever goes down).

Trade of the Week: Marvel Masterworks: X-Men Volume 5

1, Weird to recommend this, when I don’t even have Marvel Masterworks volumes 1-4. However, this always seemed like an interesting period of time for the X-Men, discarding the classic blue and yellow uniforms embracing the more funky costumes of the 1970s, which got to show off their individuality a bit more. 

Plus, the parallels between X-Men and Doom Patrol became very interesting during this time. I love the pencil lines of Marvel’s Essential series, but for $25.00 ($14.00 on Amazon) to have a year of early X-Men comics.

Final Word

The Comic Nexus staff are huge fans of Valiant comics, and are at the top of the list every week. Please let us know if there is any other information you’d like to see in the pages of the buying guide. (Post a comment below, or message me on twitter @rjschwabe)

 

 

 

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