I’m baaack! With 2012 here, I return with the audio format until something I deem worthy of a video episode comes along. Pick Of The Week goes to Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips for Fatale #1 (Image). Fast Five picks include Animal Man #5 (DC), Swamp Thing #5 (DC), Sweet Tooth #29 (Vertigo), O.M.A.C. #5 (DC), and Justice League International #5 (DC). Spoilers!

Can I just say how great it feels to be back?

iZombie #21 by Michael Allred

Why communist ghouls want our purple-skinned protagonist to drink-up the brain coffee, I haven’t a clue. What I do know is that this unique cover intrigues me enough to keep on reading, and question if Starbucks has such a flavor of coffee. Would brain coffee be a bold, or a medium blend? Would you get smarter after consuming a pot, or would you gag after the first sip because you aren’t undead? Now I’m thinking of what you would name the brand; Exotic Einstein? Abby Normal Noche? Quick, someone get me Mr. Starbucks on the phone! Oh, and the cover looks great.

FATALE #1 by Sean Phillips

The latest pulp noir series from Brubaker and Phillips, and OH MY RAPTOR JESUS WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!  Did Al Capone have his way with a Beholder one night, skip town, and not pay child support? I’ve seen nudibrachs that were cuter than that…thing. Back to the cover, Phillips does an extraordinary job with this variant, really giving the viewer a better idea of what to expect inside. You thought you saw the crazier side of Brubaker and Phillips with Incognito, but this cover alone ensures you that you’re sailing into uncharted (yet exciting) waters. If the bullets in that gun don’t kill you, that face certainly will!

Penguin: Pain and Prejudice #4 by Szymon Kudranski

“He’s more machine now than man. His mind is twisted and evil.” – Ben ‘Obi-Wan’ Kenobi

Graveyard of Empires #3 by Paul Azaceta

Why anyone would want to try and grow human skulls as a viable crop is beyond me, but crops are crops, and you must constantly spray them with pesticides to keep the locusts away. What I really like about this cover is the striking use of white on the black and red background. The nice little touch is the glowing red eyes of the skulls, which seem to follow me no matter where I walk around the room. As soon as I heard issue three was coming out this week, I instantly knew I’d be in store for treat; a Paul Azaceta cover (plus interior art!).

Rachel Rising #4 by Terry Moore

It’s the simplicity of this cover that really makes me smile; red background, and charcoal pencils (I’m assuming). While red eyes usually symbolize evil, green eyes can have the same effect…if you’re a GINGER! If those jade eyes aren’t selling you on the whole ‘sinister’ vibe, then perhaps the cattle skull mask she’s wearing will seal the deal. Comic book cover, or metal album cover; this image can work both ways.

Back from Comic-Con, and I grace you all with a Fast Five! Picks include X-Men: Schism #2 (Marvel), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen – Century: 1969 (Top Shelf), Criminal: The Last Of The Innocent #2 (Icon), Detective Comics #880 (DC), and Amazing Spider-Man #666 (Marvel).

It’s good to be back!

Gotham City Sirens #22 by Guillem March

We’ve all been there; torn between both good and evil, stuck in the middle with that hard decision to make; drown all the lawyers, or just half to send a message to the others? With this cover it beautifully illustrates the situation Selina finds herself in this issue. While both wings are radically different, they fulfill that sense of unity perfectly. So while Catwoman is battered-down once again, you would think she’s figured out what side she’s on by now.

28 Days Later #22 by Sean Phillips

Sean Phillips is such a professional when it comes to catching my attention with these covers. Black and white loose-sketch in the foreground, skies of different reds in the background. Together, they make every detail of the black and white pop-out at the reader. What I particularly enjoy about the muddled reds in the background is they give me that sense of post-apocalyptic dread, that the situation is completely not okay anymore. Not that it has been for the past twenty-two issues, but that’s not the point! This is simply a beautiful cover.

Green Lantern #65 by Doug Mahnke and Keith Champagne

The thing about this cover is Hal Jordan fits-in with the Sinestro Corps perfectly, that I had to do a double-take to see what series I was reading. Obviously, the dominant color is going to be yellow, but it’s spread all over the cover in a way that doesn’t make it tiresome to look at. I just love Mahnke’s bold line-work and little details throughout, that this cover in particular would be one badass poster. That’s the great thing about Jordan; he makes any color look good.

Dark Horse Presents #1 by Paul Pope

I remember when this title was first solicited many months ago, and people were getting excited for both the Frank Miller and Paul Chadwick covers. I’m sorry, but the real hidden gem is this Paul Pope cover. Does it have anything to do with one of the stories inside? Who cares! Look at this glorious cover; we have a mysterious looking pirate-tiger-lady with her pet tigers among the tiger ruins. The attention to details in the cover are mesmerizing, especially in the faces of both tigers and in the ruins behind them. Just like the tigers, Paul Pope can’t change his stripes; he’s still a fantastic artist.

Superman / Batman #83 by Travel Foreman

I’ve often lain awake at night wondering what it would look like if Superman and Batman were transported into Middle Earth. I then look at this cover, and all those long sleepless nights are suddenly put to rest. First of all, we have the goddamn Batman riding what appears to be a dragon / Nazgul hybrid. If anyone is capable of saddling one of those beasts, it’s Batman. Then we have Superman charging with a claymore-sized lightning sword, looking more extremely awesome than usual. He doesn’t even need a sword, but the fact that he’s proudly got one on display should make you fear him even more! Sauron better watch himself, because he’s got two super Hobbits on their way to Mt. Doom in a hurry, and they ain’t no Sam & Frodo!

Spoiler warning is definitely advised this episode. Pick Of The Week goes to Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard for The Walking Dead #81 (Image). Fast Five picks include R.E.B.E.L.S. #25 (DC), Incognito: Bad Influences #3 (Icon), Cinderella: Fables Are Forever #1 (Vertigo), Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #515 (Marvel), and Batgirl #18 (DC).

I would wish you all a Happy Valentines Day, but I’m a cold-hearted bastard with no date.

Longer than usual episode this week! Pick Of The Week goes to Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips for Criminal: The Sinners #5 (Icon). Fast Five picks include PunisherMAX #5 (MAX), Daytripper #4 (Vertigo), Prelude To Deadpool Corps #2 (Marvel), R.E.B.E.L.S. #14 (DC), and The Mystic Hands of Doctor Strange (Marvel).

Remember, you’re only eligible for the AWESOME WonderCon prize pack if you donate to the show!

Reminder: WonderCon this April!

In this 2009 wrap-up, I discuss my favorite Writers, Artists, Series, Story Arc, Single Issue, and Hardcover.

Best Writers – Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman, Peter Tomasi, Mark Waid, Geoff Johns

Best Artists – J.H. Williams III, Tony Daniel, Sean Phillips, Eric Powell, Gabriel Ba

Best Series – Detective Comics (DC), Scalped (Vertigo), Green Lantern Corps (DC), Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel), Green Lantern (DC)

Story Arc – Detective Comics #854-857 “Elegy”

Single Issue – Jonah Hex #50

Don’t agree with my picks? Complain about how wrong I am on the forum!

A great week for variety! Pick of the Week goes to Garth Ennis & Carlos Ezquerra for The Boys #34 (Dynamite). Fast Five picks include Incognito #6 (Icon), Irredeemable #6 (BOOM! Studios), Northlanders #20 (Vertigo), Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder #3 (Dark Horse), and Immortal Weapons #2 (Disney).

Remember, if you haven’t checked it out yet, the Cammy’s Comic-Con Corner 2009 video is finally up!

Holy crap what an amazing week for comics! Pick of the week (like you all didn’t see it coming) comes from Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis, Blackest Night #1 (DC). Fast Five picks include Deadpool #12 (Marvel), Batman: Streets of Gotham #2 (DC), The Walking Dead #63 (Image), Incognito #5 (Icon), and Scalped #30 (Vertigo).

A Point-Five episode will definitely be out this Sunday, that’s for damn sure!

Astounding week for comics!  It was such a good week, I had FIVE top picks!  Top picks include Incognito #1 (Icon), Green Lantern #36 (DC), Wolverine #70 (Marvel), Justice Society of America #22 (DC), and Scalped #24 (Vertigo).

The one thing I gotta complain about; these holidays $%#!ing up the shipping schedule!  Blue Lanterns, Wolverine, and super villains in the witness protection program all make this week one in a million, and a killer way to kick-off 2009!